World Cup dream keeping Scots ‘level-headed’ – Nelson
Helen Nelson says the chance to play in the World Cup is keeping Scotland women “level-headed” as they prepare for the Autumn Tests against Wales and Fiji, and then the WXV2 campaign.
The Scots are all but qualified for the World Cup and Nelson says the players are keeping one eye towards the tournament in England.
“We’ve been talking about that 14-month journey and everything is building towards the World Cup,” the Scotland vice captain said.
“Building our depth in the squad is really important and also that base fitness. pre-season is all about getting that, working hard but also just knowing we’ve got that World Cup as the end goal in sight.
“That’s been really good to keep up level-headed and know that we’ve got that in our sight.”
Scotland second-row Sarah Bonar praised the impact of forwards coach Fraser Brown since he joined the national team set-up.
Brown was brought in on a short-term basis for the Autumn Tests against Wales and Fiji, and then the WXV2 campaign.
With a World Cup on the horizon, Bonar says peaking for that is the team’s main focus, and she believes they are well placed to continue their “remarkable” development.
“Fraser coming in has been class, real intensity around how we want to drive our set-piece but also attacking contacts as well,” she said.
“Just giving that clarity around what we want to do has been great. [Pre-season] has been tough, but good. A block of four weeks before a Test window has been good for us to come together and work on conditioning and also our game play.
“This year is ultimately about the World Cup, and the next couple of Tests are building blocks towards that. Our progress has been remarkable, our results are more consistent and we’re contending against the best teams in the world.”
Bonar also spoke candidly about a difficult few months earlier this year, when a shoulder injury in the first game of the Six Nations against Wales ruled her out of the rest of the championship.
“Tricky, especially off missing the previous Six Nations campaign with my other shoulder,” Bonar added.
“From a personal point of view, you want to have that consistency of game time and I’ve struggled with that internationally. over the last couple of seasons.
“From a personal note, it was gutting, but then being able to support the girls in a different capacity was great.”
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Australia tighthead prop Sam Talakai has agreed to join Glasgow Warriors, subject to visa.
The URC club say the 32-year-old will arrive at Scotstoun “in the coming weeks”.
Former Waratahs player Talakai has made a century of Super Rugby appearances and was most recently with Melbourne Rebels. He won his solitary senior international cap in a 2022 win over Wales.
As well as representing Australia A and the Barbarians, the prop also had a four-year spell in Japan with Tokyo Sungoliath.
Head coach Franco Smith says Glasgow have signed “a proven performer” in Talakai.
“Sam is a proven performer who we believe can add to our squad this season,” Smith said.
“To play 100 matches in Super Rugby shows the consistently high levels of performance he brings, and to have someone with that experience in our squad that our young, Scottish-qualified front-rowers can learn from can only benefit both the club and Scottish rugby in the long term.
“Adding Sam also allows us to manage the workload of our senior international front-rowers, across what will be a long and physical season.”
Talaka says the “direction the club is heading” was a key factor in the move.
He added: “There’s a great squad assembled and my kids getting to experience a new culture – both as part of Glasgow Warriors and in the city of Glasgow – is the cherry on top.
“I’m someone who just goes to work and executes my core role for the team.”
