Scotland Suffer Baptism Of Fire On Emotional Murrayfield Occasion

ByThomas Duncan

BBC Sport Scotland astatine Scottish Gas Murrayfield

When nan lone piper connected nan Murrayfield tile stopped playing to let nan crowd to return Flower of Scotland to a finish, location were goosebumps everywhere.

Scotland players had tears successful their eyes arsenic nan grounds number of group who turned retired to backmost them raised nan roof.

Even England's world champions, who had played successful beforehand of 77,000 astatine Twickenham a week ago, looked astir keenly, taking it each in.

More group had turned up to watch a standalone women's sporting arena successful Scotland than ever before. It was a infinitesimal successful Scottish sporting history which was charged pinch emotion and significance.

Then, nan rugby started. Scotland were bludgeoned by 12 English tries, arsenic nan Red Roses put successful an unsparing capacity to spoil nan party.

Captain Rachel Malcolm, nan heartbeat of this Scotland team, afterwards called it a "baptism of fire" for this caller group. It was surely that.

A landmark time which could beryllium nan springboard for much besides delivered a sadistic reality cheque for Scotland. It was a time of mixed emotions.

A batch was made of really galore England players were absent, but Scotland were besides missing immoderate talismanic figures.

The gnarly number 8 Evie Gallagher, powerful 2nd statement Sarah Bonar, prestigious centre Emma Orr, and nan knowledgeable and wily Lisa Thomson, to sanction a few.

Eight players successful Scotland's matchday squad had less than 10 caps, astir of them connected nan bench. The players themselves picture this arsenic a "new team" nether nan stewardship of caput coach Sione Fukofuka.

As England brought connected Sarah Bern, an 80-cap prop, and Marlie Packer, a 112-cap back-row, to people 3 tries betwixt them, positive different 2 from replacements, Scotland toiled.

That is not to opportunity young players specified arsenic number 8 Emily Coubrough and debutant Rianna Darroch did not show up well. Just nan standard of nan task was excessively large for a squad getting to grips pinch caller faces and coaching.

"I deliberation it was a spot of inexperience crossed nan committee - we are each still learning each other," Malcolm told BBC Sport.

"Today was a baptism of occurrence and they exposed our weaknesses. This was a superb trial for america but we hoped we would retired successful a amended capacity today."

Malcolm and Fukofuka some insisted nan emotion of nan juncture did not impact Scotland's performance, it was much astir execution and their deficiency of aggression successful defence. A full of 52 missed tackles adds credence to that.

But fixed really galore players talked astir nan swell of emotion arriving astatine Murrayfield and during nan anthem it is difficult not to deliberation it played immoderate part.

Hooker Elis Martin said afterwards location astir apt were "jitters", but that it should beryllium forgiven because of nan quality of nan occasion.

What was clear is nan beingness spread betwixt England and astir of nan remainder remains huge. How Scotland lick that immoderate clip soon is difficult to spot correct now.

England's caput coach John Mitchell besides cited that arsenic nan area Scotland request to amended connected astir erstwhile asked.

For Fukofuka, it is astir building much depth. That is his ngo complete nan adjacent 4 years, to find much powerfulness and tons of it.

So what to make of a time which delivered history for Scottish women's sport, arsenic good arsenic a 12-try demolition?

It is true, England are not nan benchmark for Scotland.

Victory distant to Wales past week was a coagulated start, and now it is each astir nan consequence successful Italy adjacent week and trying to hit Ireland successful nan last game, either broadside of a location crippled against France.

But each performances are important to building momentum and keeping nan fans coming back, arsenic Malcolm herself said.

Just inquire nan Scotland women's shot team, who person seen crowds shrink backmost astatine Hampden amid a struggle to suffice for awesome finals.

The Scotland captain, arsenic ever, sewage nan reside spot connected erstwhile summing up a unusual day.

"Today was astir truthful overmuch much than conscionable nan game," Malcolm said. "For those of america that person been astir 10 years positive - we've travel from backmost pitches pinch a mates of group successful stands.

"To moreover get coming and get nan reception we sewage was phenomenal. It's a consequence of nan activity we've done arsenic players connected nan transportation to put successful performances that make group want to travel back.

"Today wasn't 1 of them. But that doesn't return distant from what we've created complete nan past 10 years to make this happen.

"We're astatine nan opening of a caller journey. We're going to support pushing to get backmost to that constituent to put successful a capacity successful that stadium that fans tin beryllium proud of."