RWC2025 | Head coach Bryan Easson and captain Rachel Malcolm react after Scotland lost 40-8 to England in the quarter-finals

Head coach Bryan Easson and captain Rachel Malcolm react after Scotland lost 40-8 to England in the quarter-finals at Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday.

Rachel Malcolm, captain

On the match:
"I'm extremely proud. We came to this tournament to compete, we wanted to get to the knockout stages and that's exactly what we did. We always knew that playing against England was going to be a humungous challenge. We battled for parts of that game, but they definitely played the conditions and showed their class for the most part. But I couldn't be prouder of the fight, we've given everything for the last I-don't-know-how-many weeks."

On finishing with a try:
"Nothing will keep this group down. As a playing squad and management team, we're immensely tight. We will fight no matter what. We came to make the most of this opportunity and I think we've taken a huge step forward for Scottish rugby."

On saying goodbye to the head coach and some retiring teammates:
"Yes, there's been massive emotions behind the scene, losing the likes of Jade Konkel and Lisa Cockburn, it's huge. Feels a little bit like the end of an era today but we'll go out and celebrate that and celebrate those amazing people."

Bryan Easson, head coach

On how he's feeling, this being his last game:
"A lot of emotions at the moment. Pride. That game doesn't define us. We said we wanted to get to the knockout stages and we did that. And just to see Rhona Lloyd finishing it off at the end and the tears and the joy and the happiness of this group, I'd rather lose with this group. They're a special bunch, the deserve everything that they've fought for, and I'm sure they'll keep fighting. It's been a real privilege for me to work with them."

On what it will take to get Scotland competing with the world's best:

"Games like that. You have to learn from them. You don't get into World Cup knockout games and win the first time you ever do it, you've got to take the pain sometimes. That's a tough lesson for us, but we've competed at this level now, so it shouldn't be the end, it should be the start of something."