Undervalued Scotland chase historic upset as World Cup quarter-final looms

Scotland will enter Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Bristol as heavy underdogs but with belief that an upset over long-time rivals England is possible.

The Scottish side has not beaten England since 1999 and the average margin in their last 10 meetings is close to 50 points, yet Scotland’s recent performances at the tournament have prompted talk of their best rugby in a decade and encouragement that they can challenge the overwhelming favourites.

Former Scotland captain Lisa Martin, speaking on the Scotland Rugby Podcast, said there was "zero expectation" on the current squad and that the players were thriving in the underdog role. "Just go and make it a spectacle," she added, urging the team to try to "spoil the party." Martin described the standard of play as the best she had seen from Scotland in years, but warned that on-field gains must not mask deeper problems within the women’s game in Scotland.

Several members of the squad have sounded exhausted during the tournament, Martin said, citing physical, emotional and mental fatigue after a pre-tournament dispute over contract renewals with the Scottish Rugby Union. Some players were informed their contracts would not be renewed while preparing for the World Cup, a decision that captain Rachel Malcolm publicly criticised and that, Martin said, left parts of the squad wanting the tournament to be over to escape the "noise".

Scotland have produced notable individual performances at the World Cup. Francesca McGhie is joint-top try scorer with six tries and ranks second for metres gained. Evie Gallagher leads the tournament for tackles made, and captain Rachel Malcolm ranks third. Those contributions helped Scotland a produce a spirited showing in a recent loss to world number two Canada.

Despite the results, Martin and others have questioned how the governing body plans to build a lasting legacy from the team’s progress. "You want this moment to not just be a flash in the pan, you want this to be the start of a legacy," Martin said, adding concern that the current squad relies heavily on a core group of players with 60 to 80-plus caps who will soon move away from playing and need replacement. BBC rugby commentator Sara Orchard, who reported on the contracts row, said she had not heard about legacy planning for Scottish women’s rugby and questioned the sport’s preparedness for the next four years.

Martin also criticised management and player welfare, saying players should "be treated as people first and players second." There is internal uncertainty about the future leadership of the team: head coach Bryan Easson is due to leave his post after the World Cup, though accounts differ over whether that departure is his decision.

On-field, England arrive as overwhelming favourites but have not always looked fully fluid in attack at this tournament, leaving room for a Scotland side that has shown marked improvement in recent weeks. England’s depth and recent record in major tournaments make them a daunting opponent, but Scotland officials and former players alike framed Sunday’s match as a chance to test that reputation.

Martin said the squad’s achievements must be the start of a longer story rather than an isolated high point. "History, obviously, isn't in our favour, but just try and spoil the party," she said. How Scottish rugby responds to the contract controversy and plans for succession and player welfare will determine whether the progress at this World Cup can be translated into sustained development.

With England widely tipped to lift the trophy, Scotland head to Bristol with little expectation but a clear incentive: deliver a performance that extends beyond a single match and forces the governing body to commit to a long-term plan for the women’s game. The quarter-final will be both an immediate sporting test and a potential inflection point for the future of Scottish women’s rugby.