RWC2025 | Head coach Bryan Easson, captain Rachel Malcolm, Francesca McGhie and Lisa Thomson speak after Scotland announced their matchday 23

Head coach Bryan Easson, captain Rachel Malcolm, Francesca McGhie (pictured) and Lisa Thomson speak after Scotland announced their matchday 23 to face England in the quarter-finals at Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday.

Bryan Easson, head coach

On Jade Konkel starting in the back row instead of Rachel McLachlan, who moves to the bench:
"It was a tough call because Rachel’s been outstanding. When you’re playing against a team like England, with the physicality they have, we looked at the ball carrying and destructiveness of Jade, and that came into our decision-making. It was tactical; it certainly wasn’t performance-based."

On Rachel Malcolm becoming the most capped Scotland captain ever:
"It feels like every press conference I’m talking about Rachel. Rachel is Scotland. She epitomises what we are about: leadership, passion, pride, power. If you look at the progress of the last three years, she’s been at the heart of it; it’s been the Rachel Malcolm era."

On previous losses against England:
"They’re a very difficult side to play against; they’re world number one for a reason. They can look at games tactically and operate in the way they want to play. We’ve probably not performed the best we can against them, but this is a great opportunity in terms of a World Cup quarter-final in their backyard, and performances would suggest that we are improving."

Rachel Malcolm, captain

On her pride in the group:
"This group makes me proud every day, regardless of the performance, just because of what we go up against and what we fight for to be a part of this team. To see what we've known has been building for a really long time come into fruition in the last couple of weeks has probably been the happiest time I've had, as part of this squad.

On Bryan Easson as he faces his final weeks of the Scotland job:
"We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs, but Bryan always led from a player-first point of view. He’s always focused on our happiness and how to get the best out of us as individuals."

On whether this is the biggest moment in her career:
"It's a tough one to answer because there have been a lot of times when there's been a huge amount of pressure on my shoulders. Not qualifying for a World Cup for 12 years was up there with one of the darkest times of my life. This game is huge, but it’s a different type of pressure; no one expects us to win, and that’s where we thrive."

On whether she’s cut off contact with any English club teammates this week:
"I’d be lying if I said yes. I’ve actually been for a couple of coffees this week with them, but minimal rugby chat, more catching up on life." 

On how the group have switched off from the rugby:
"We have a bit of everything to be fair. We have a social team that organises it, so every Thursday we have a mystery social. In our last one, we did a murder mystery, but the timing couldn’t have been better because the women came in to describe what we were doing, and as they left the room, the anti-doping people came straight in and had to pull some of us for testing."

Francesca McGhie

On how she has handled newfound acclaim and attention:
"Probably don’t look at much on social media! My mum does send me every article, but most of my tries have come from well-worked team tries." 

On being on the social committee:
"I can’t share anything because our social is tonight. Being part of the committee is so funny because we take it far too seriously."

On inspiring a generation of younger girls in Scotland:
"This World Cup is going to be a big swing for women’s sport, and that’s a good way to talk about it. My idol growing up certainly wasn’t in rugby, but for all of us to be seen as role models is something I didn’t see five years ago. So, I feel very proud of what my team has done and what all the women have done to promote women’s rugby."

Lisa Thomson

On whether there is a sense of freedom being underdogs and how they balance it with the belief they can win:
"We’re not going to shy away from the history of our games against England, but this is the most we’ve ever been prepared to play them. Our attack and defence have been firing, and this is the most confident we’ve ever felt in our game plan."

On, as an ex-captain, Rachel Malcolm’s leadership:
"She’s been incredible. We’re very good friends and talk non-stop about rugby. She’s worked so hard to make this tournament special and make it memorable off the pitch, because in years to come, nobody will be talking about the results; they’ll be talking about how amazing our time in England was, and Rachel is at the forefront of that."