The Opener That Could Define World Cup For Scotland And Wales

Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v Wales

Venue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BST

Coverage: Live connected BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds

Rachel Malcolm and Hannah Dallavalle shared a wry grin erstwhile Scotland and Wales were erstwhile again pooled together during nan unrecorded tie for nan 2025 Rugby World Cup.

The 2 captains were opinionated broadside by broadside connected BBC One's The One Show past October erstwhile it was revealed they would beryllium successful Pool B alongside Canada and Fiji.

It instantly stirred memories of nan 2022 World Cup successful New Zealand erstwhile Keira Bevan kicked Wales to triumph against Scotland successful nan opening fixture.

It was a footwear which subsequently sent Wales done to nan quarter-finals and nan Scots connected nan level home.

Fuelled by that grudge match, nan 2 sides person continued to look disconnected successful tourney openers. They were each other's first opponents successful some nan 2024 and 2025 Women's Six Nations, and arsenic destiny would person it they are owed to meet again successful their Rugby World Cup opener successful Salford connected Saturday.

If immoderate of nan caller fixtures are to spell by, fans tin expect different adjacent brushwood betwixt nan Celtic cousins, pinch some sides knowing this could beryllium nan fixture connected which their knockout hopes hinge.

Scotland's astir capped subordinate Lana Skeldon has been passed fresh aft recovering from nan ankle wounded she suffered successful nan last warm-up lucifer against Ireland.

Her World Cup had been successful doubt, but nan knowledgeable hooker, who has a wont of scoring against Wales, is named successful nan beforehand statement pinch Leah Bartlett and Elliann Clarke.

Sarah Bonar returns to partner Emma Wassell who continues to make her measurement backmost into world rugby aft having a benign tumour removed past September.

Captain Rachel Malcolm is joined successful nan backmost statement by Rachel McLachlan and Evie Gallagher, who will make her World Cup debut.

Leia Brebner-Holden is besides poised for her first quality and will shape nan half-back pairing pinch Helen Nelson, while centres Lisa Thomson and Emma Orr proceed a threatening midfield partnership.

Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd and different World Cup debutant, Francesca McGhie dress up nan backmost three.

Wales person mostly reverted to nan starting XV which claimed a celebrated triumph complete Australia successful nan first Test successful Brisbane past month.

Alex Callender, for illustration Skeldon, had been a uncertainty aft limping disconnected successful nan 2nd Test conclusion successful Sydney, but has been declared fresh to lead Wales alongside Kate Williams. The brace are joined successful nan backmost statement by Bethan Lewis.

Alaw Pyrs comes successful astatine fastener alongside Gwen Crabb, while Rose packs down successful nan beforehand statement pinch Kelsey Jones and Gwenllian Pyrs.

Lleucu George is preferred astatine 10 and resumes her half-back business pinch Keira Bevan, while Hannah Dallavalle returns to nan midfield pinch Courtney Keight.

Lisa Neumann will triumph her 50th headdress connected nan wing, pinch Nel Metcalfe and Jasmine Joyce-Butchers joining her successful nan backmost line.

Carys Phillips is group to make her 4th World Cup quality from nan bench.

Scotland's World Cup preparations person been little than perfect pinch players facing statement uncertainty and Bryan Easson departing arsenic caput coach aft nan tournament.

But Easson said each nan issues person been "pushed aside" and that they person been "firmly focused connected this Rugby World Cup."

"We're not looking beyond this game, we're not looking astatine thing that's travel before, we're not looking astatine thing that's coming after, it's this game. If we return our oculus disconnected this game, we could fail," he said.

"It's been really bully to beryllium capable to person a afloat week's training pinch these guys. It's a beardown side, astir apt nan strongest I've been capable to prime complete my clip pinch nan nationalist squad."

Scotland skipper Rachel Malcolm said contempt off-field distractions, nan group were successful bully spirits.

"This is ever a beautiful excitable bunch. We're beautiful fortunate that power isn't thing that we person to effort and create retired of nowhere," she said.

"We've sewage a group filled pinch characters some connected and disconnected nan pitch, truthful my occupation is gauging wherever I request to benignant of almost temper nan excitement and power a small bit."

Wales' preparations person been soft successful comparison, caput coach Sean Lynn has enjoyed a afloat pre-season aft being catapulted into nan Six Nations little than a week aft leaving Gloucester-Hartpury.

"I'm really looking guardant to it because my first world crippled was against Scotland away. I vanished pinch my nine connected Sunday, I was successful pinch them [Wales] connected Monday and past it was 'wow, I'm playing Scotland'," Lynn said

"We've had a really bully training week, nan girls are positive, they're buzzing for it, it's astir making judge that we tin get a performance."

Wales co-captain Kate Williams said: "It's really important that we deed nan crushed moving consecutive distant and build momentum from nan first game.

"Scotland will beryllium a bully Test for america but we're besides bringing successful truthful overmuch assurance and belief from nan squad that we've go successful this past year.

"I deliberation our defence has travel connected miles, we've sewage a due strategy successful spot now. It's a strategy that we person to spot and it's a strategy that I deliberation tin grip what Scotland tin propulsion astatine america successful attack, pinch their large midfield runners and their guardant pack."

BBC Radio Wales commentator Nick Webb: "It's nan first crippled for some Wales and Scotland, but it could besides beryllium a defining 1 for both.

"These 2 teams are some expected to dispatch Fiji (14th successful nan world) and struggle against second-ranked Canada, truthful nan victor could beryllium heading for nan dubious spot of a quarter-final against hosts and favourites England.

"The instruction for supporters from nan past fewer years of fixtures has been to support everything crossed until nan past infinitesimal - Keira Bevan belting complete a last-minute punishment to triumph their 2022 World Cup brushwood successful New Zealand, a conversion sliding wide that would person earned Wales a tie successful nan 2024 Six Nations, and a constrictive three-point conclusion successful Edinburgh successful Sean Lynn's first lucifer successful charge.

"The Six Nations didn't get immoderate amended for Wales while Scotland besides put distant nan Irish, but events since past person tilted nan equilibrium arsenic Wales earned Lynn a first triumph successful Brisbane (before collapsing successful Sydney), while Scotland suffered 2 warm-up defeats amid discontent complete contracts, an rumor Wales were only excessively acquainted pinch previously.

"Both teams person cardinal figures passed fresh aft wounded successful Alex Callender and Lana Skeldon, while Wales person cardinal ball-carrier Sisilia Tuipulotu to unleash disconnected nan chair aft being sadly missed successful nan Six Nations done injury.

"Familiar foes meet successful an unfamiliar venue - conscionable expect a acquainted one-score game."

Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon,Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher

Replacements: Elis Martin, Molly Wright, Lisa Cockburn, Jade Konkel, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock.

Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt).

Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox.

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)

Assistant referees: Holly Wood (RFU), Jess Ling (RA)

TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

FPRO: Rachel Horton (RA)