Scotland must concentrate on themselves and not worry about France when the two sides meet in round two of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations on Saturday.
Rather than trying to take anything from last year’s game, which was a heavy defeat [Scotland lost 55-0], they should look at the game two years ago to give them a more like-for-like comparison.
Playing France away is an incredible experience, but it is very difficult, so I think that game at Scotstoun two years ago [France won 8-28] will give them a much better idea of where they’re at.
We drew with France four years ago at Scotstoun. There’s still a number of players around who played that day, and there’s lots they can take from that performance.
A few of the squad – Helen Nelson, Lisa Thomson and Chloe Rollie – have played in France too so they know the players and they’re used to playing that style of rugby.
You can never be quite sure what France team is going to turn up on the day, but for Scotland I think it will be a similar approach to Wales that they’ll want to produce an 80-minute performance.
The focus will be on managing their own game and not getting too caught up in France’s gameplan because what the Scotland team has been doing in recent games has worked well.
It was great to see the girls come out on the right side of the result against Wales last weekend. That shows how much they’ve come on in the past couple of years.
Winning is a habit and they know they can grind games out. That was really pleasing to see. It’s such a good start to the competition.
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Meryl [Smith] was brilliant. Having her at 15, you have someone who’s happy at first receiver with Helen Nelson. You really saw the impact of that with how much ball Coreen Grant and Rhona Lloyd got on the wings.
I know how frustrating it can be out on the wing when you don’t get much ball so it was great for them.
Coreen has been about the squad for a couple of years, but she’s not had that consistency of game-time, but she really took her opportunity.
Saturday will also be a great occasion for Louise McMillan, who will win her 50th Scotland cap. I am super proud of her - she has been such a consistent part of the squad since she made her debut against Spain in 2016. She's really put Glasgow on the map.
Alex Stewart also had a great game on her debut. She did not look like it was her first cap. She was unlucky with the yellow card at the end, but you don’t get those without being right in the middle of the action, and it’s something I’m sure she’ll learn from.
It has also been great to see the girls’ surnames added to their strips for the first time this Six Nations. For something to happen in the men’s game and be reflected so quickly in the women’s game shows how far things have come.
It is a nod to the backing the players have and the respect the team has earned.
Read the rules here