Rachel Malcolm: 'It feels like there’s hope again'

Rachel Malcolm insisted Scotland can take positives from their 66-14 defeat against the Black Ferns.

Whitney Hansen’s New Zealand scored 10 tries at Hive Stadium to win their first-ever fixture in the Scottish capital. Scotland’s points came thanks to a pair of Evie Gallagher tries that were both converted by Helen Nelson.

The hosts have now conceded 130 points in their two WXV Global Series matches this autumn and will welcome the Wallaroos to Edinburgh next weekend. It will be the first of three Tests between the two teams over the next four weeks.

“We pride ourselves on our character, and there were spells in that game where we let it get away from us – at the start of the game and then the 10 minutes after half-time,” Scotland’s captain said at full-time.

“But the bit that I’m just so proud of is how we found a way to come back, how we found a way to problem-solve. Like we said before the game, the circle stays tight, no matter what. In the 80th minute, I had my teammates coming, lifting me up, saying, ‘go again’. We’ve got so much we can build on.”

It has also been a short turnaround for Scotland, who only installed Dave Butcher as their interim head coach shortly before WXV Global Series 2026 got underway.

With him came new assistant coaches in the form of Craig Laidlaw and Robbie Fergusson. Tom Luke was seconded from Premiership Women’s Rugby club Bristol Bears.

Two matches into the new era following Sione Fukofuka’s departure after eight months in charge, Malcolm and her Scotland teammates have found a renewed sense of optimism.

Next up are the Wallaroos, who will be looking to respond after surrendering a 14-point lead against France. At one stage, Australia led 26-12 in Aix-en-Provence, but France fought back to secure a 29-26 win.

Edinburgh will host the first Test between the two teams this year, before matches in Sydney and Canberra in October to conclude WXV Global Series.

“We’ve got a whole new coaching team, a new system, and I think we’re just seeing, through these two games, so much progress,” Malcolm said.

“We just need a bit more time together, a bit more game time, but we’re seeing improvements week on week, and it feels like there’s hope again, which is really nice.

“We just need to find a way to minimise those errors so that they don’t come time after time.”