Border Telegraph | Sport | American dream

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 18th January, 2006 10:39

American dream

By Border Telegraph Sport

SCOTLAND women’s rugby star, Paula Chalmers, believes this weekend’s clash with the USA at Murrayfield is the perfect test before the Six Nations campaign gets underway.

Scotland go into the game on the back of victory in the recent Dubai Sevens, and scrum-half Chalmers is optimistic they can take that form into Saturday’s game at Netherdale.

She said: “The USA are in the top six in the world, and they beat us last year so it will be a pretty tough game.

“We had a tour to Canada this year, which cleared out a lot of cobwebs, and we took some big steps forward.

“America are a very strong, physical side, but not brilliant technically. It will be a massive test of our fitness to see where we are at this point in the season.”

Looking ahead to the Six Nations, Chalmers believes Scotland can go better than last season’s third-place finish.

She said: “I think we are optimistic that we can finish second in the Six Nations.

“We have France and England at home, and France don’t tend to travel well. I think we have to be looking at taking them at home and winning our away games against Spain, Wales and Ireland.

“Obviously England don’t have too far to come, but they have never played at Murrayfield before.

“They had a tour to New Zealand, and probably found out a lot about their team and set themselves some high targets to achieve.

“They will be wanting to make amends for the past two seasons, where they haven’t won a Six Nations, and I think they will be the side to beat this year.”

Chalmers is joined in the squad by fellow Borderer Louise Dalgleish, but youth co-ordinator for women’s rugby in the Borders, Lesley Robertson, is certain more local players will break through in the future.

She said: “The cities are more popular for senior women’s rugby, but we have a lot more under-16s playing in the Borders than in others parts of the country.

“I set up a Queens of the Sevens tournament two years ago, and that has been very popular. Teams from other parts of the country are becoming interested in that now.

“We also get support from the Borders pro team, who come and take coaching sessions for the girls.

“With the under-16 squad, there are ten girls from the Borders out of 24 players. The rest are all scattered all over the country.

“They are all going into the senior game now, but you have to work up to the full squad.”

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