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Demi Swann, Fiona McIntosh et Holly McIntyre, trois joueuses encore non sélectionnées au niveau international, ont suivi des chemins très différents pour arriver dans le groupe de l’Écosse. Elles ont toutes récemment impressionné à l’entraînement pour gagner leur place dans le groupe de joueuses qui participera au WXV 2.
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Ces dernières semaines, un groupe d’entraînement écossais élargi a beaucoup travaillé en vue d’un test contre l’Espagne au Hive Stadium d’Édimbourg le 30 septembre et du tout premier tournoi WXV 2 en Afrique du Sud le mois prochain.
Les Écossaises débuteront leur campagne du WXV 2 contre les Sud-Africaines à Stellenbosch le 13 octobre, avant des matchs au Cap, contre les États-Unis le 20 octobre et le Japon sept jours plus tard.
Swann, pistée aussi par le Canada
L’équipe de 30 joueuses sera conduite par la troisième-ligne Rachel Malcolm. Trois noms en particulier sont ressortis de la liste présentée lundi 18 septembre 2023 par le sélectionneur Bryan Easson : Demi Swann, Fiona McIntosh et Holly McIntyre.
Demi Swann est pilier gauche et joue actuellement pour les Warriors de l’Université de Worcester en Angleterre ; elle a grandi au Canada.
Elle a commencé à jouer au rugby pendant ses études à l’université Carleton d’Ottawa et à l’université de Toronto. Elle est éligible pour jouer pour l’Écosse grâce à sa mère, originaire de Troon, dans le comté d’Ayrshire.
« Demi est une joueuse qui a été portée à notre attention juste à la fin du Tournoi des Six Nations au début de l’année », a expliqué Easson.
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« Elle venait du Canada pour jouer à Worcester et nous savions qu’elle avait des origines écossaises. Moi-même et notre manager Ellen Dickson sommes allés à Troon parce que ses grands-parents y ont une maison et que ses parents y étaient aussi.
« Nous avons eu de très bonnes discussions à ce moment-là. Elle est arrivée dans l’équipe avec un passif dans la lutte où elle a pratiqué des combats de haut niveau.
« Elle a joué au rugby au Canada et l’équipe nationale canadienne s’intéresse à elle aussi, mais elle apprécie son Irn Bru et son haggis et se sent pleinement écossaise.
« Plus sérieusement, Demi s’est bien intégrée au groupe et nous avons hâte de voir comment les choses vont évoluer avec elle. »
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La deuxième-ligne tapait à la porte depuis un moment
Fiona McIntosh joue deuxième-ligne pour les Saracens en Angleterre et peut jouer pour l’Écosse grâce à son père, qui est originaire de Govan à Glasgow.
« Elle joue aux Saracens et a fait partie de l’équipe qui a remporté le titre [en 2021-22] », a indiqué Easson.
« Elle voulait vraiment venir jouer pour nous depuis un moment, mais elle connaissait le niveau d’engagement nécessaire.
« Maintenant qu’elle a terminé ses études, elle voulait absolument intégrer le groupe, elle a bien travaillé, elle s’est bien entraînée et elle mérite cette chance.
« Elle est une deuxième-ligne à part entière, donc l’avoir elle, Emma Wassell et Sarah Bonar dans cette zone, ainsi qu’Eva Donaldson et Louise McMillan – qui peuvent toutes deux jouer à ce poste et troisième-ligne – nous donne une bonne force. »
Enfin, Holly McIntyre joue principalement trois-quarts centre, mais peut jouer aussi à d’autres postes dans les lignes arrières. Elle est actuellement co-capitaine de l’équipe féminine de rugby de l’Université d’Édimbourg et a participé avec les Thistles au Celtic Challenge et a représenté Scottish Futures.
« Holly est passée par notre système en Écosse et s’en est très bien sortie. Elle fait partie de notre équipe depuis 2020 environ », a précisé Bryan Easson.
« J’ai toujours été impressionné par elle en termes d’athlétisme et de facilité à entraîner ; elle est vraiment facile à entraîner car elle se remet toujours en question et réfléchit beaucoup à son rugby pour voir comment elle peut s’améliorer.
« Je pense que le fait de jouer régulièrement à XIII l’a aidée, elle est arrivée dans ce camp sur une bonne dynamique. Elle a vraiment donné un bon coup de collier pour gagner sa place. »
L’EQUIPE D’ÉCOSSE POUR LE WXV 2 :
Avants : Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers), Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears), Lisa Cockburn (University of Worcester Warriors), Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers), Evie Gallagher (University of Worcester Warriors), Jade Konkel (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, capitaine), Elis Martin (Leicester Tigers), Fiona McIntosh (Saracens), Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks), Louise McMillan (Saracens), Lana Skeldon (University of Worcester Warriors), Demi Swann (University of Worcester Warriors), Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning), Anne Young (Sale Sharks).
Arrières : Beth Blacklock (Saracens), Coreen Grant (Saracens), Caity Mattinson (University of Worcester Warriors), Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers), Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh), Rhona Lloyd (GB Sevens/Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais), Liz Musgrove (Ealing Trailfinders), Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, vice-capitaine), Emma Orr (Heriot’s/Biggar), Lisa Thomson (GB Sevens), Chloe Rollie (Loughborough Lightning), Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears).
(Crédit photo : Scottish Rugby/SNS)
Comments on RugbyPass
That is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
5 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe guy had just beasted himself in a scrum and the blood hadn't yet returned to his head when he was pushed into a team mate. He took his weight off his left foot precisely at the moment he was shoved and dropped to the floor when seemingly trying to avoid stepping on Hyron Andrews’ foot. I don't think he was trying to milk a penalty, I think he was knackered but still switched on enough to avoid planting 120kgs on the dorsum of his second row’s foot. To effectively “police” such incidents with a (noble) view to eradicating play acting in rugby, yet more video would need to be reviewed in real time, which is not in the interest of the game as a sporting spectacle. I would far rather see Farrell penalised for interfering with the refereeing of the game. Perhaps he was right to be frustrated, he was much closer to the action than the only camera angle I've seen, however his vocal objection to Rodd’s falling over doesn't legitimately fall into the captain's role as the mouthpiece of his team - he should have kept his frustration to himself, that's one of the pillars of rugby union. I appreciate that he was within his rights to communicate with the referee as captain but he didn't do this, he moaned and attempted to sway the decision by directing his complaint to the player rather than the ref. Rugby needs to look closely at the message it wants to send to young players and amateur grassroots rugby. The best way to do this would be to apply the laws as they are written and edit them where the written laws no longer apply. If this means deleting laws such as ‘the put in to the scrum must be straight”, so be it. Likewise, if it is no longer necessary to respect the referee’s decision without questioning it or pre-emptively attempting to sway it (including by diving or by shouting and gesticulating) then this behaviour should be embraced (and commercialised). Otherwise any reference to respecting the referee should be deleted from the laws. You have to start somewhere to maintain the values of rugby and the best place to start would be giving a penalty and a warning against the offending player, followed by a yellow card the next time. People like Farrell would rapidly learn to keep quiet and let their skills do the talking.
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
5 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
7 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
33 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
33 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
2 Go to commentsEveryone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
5 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
33 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
33 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
5 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
2 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
4 Go to commentsNo longer able to except the excuses offered up for Rob. The red jersey has lost it’s mana and become a joke. I do not wish Mr Penny any wrong but it is time to go. Do the right thing Rob and retire, PLEASE.
31 Go to comments