'World's on-form player': Scotland look to talisman in quadruple-header showdown

Scotland Women captain Rachel Malcolm believes her team-mate Evie Gallagher is the form player in world rugby at the moment and has backed the Bristol Bears back-rower to help end the national side’s seven-game losing run.

The Scots take on Australia in Sydney on Saturday in the second of a three-Test sequence against the Wallroos which forms part of the WXV Global Series.

It’s the first time the sides have met on Australian soil and the visitors are looking for revenge after losing 30-10 in Edinburgh last month.

Scotland's Evie Gallagher in action against Australia during the WXV Global Series match at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on September 26, 2026. | SNS Group / SRU

The dynamic Gallagher has scored four tries in three WXV matches this season.

“Evie's for me the on form player in the world at the minute and I don't think that is something I would ever say lightly,” said Malcolm.

“She's just class in every single aspect and I think the way in which she carries the ball and punches above her weight in that area is testament to the nuances of what she does in and around that contact area.

It’s part of a quadruple-header

“Defensively, well that's always been her trademark. Her ability to tackle but probably most importantly, the ability for us to get the ball back with her over the ball is quite literally second to none in the world at the minute and I think to have that in our team and in our armoury is huge.”

Gallagher was yellow-carded against the Aussies in Edinburgh but Malcolm believes the defeat was more down to a general drop-off in the second half. Scotland had led 10-5 at the break.

Saturday’s game is part of a quadruple-header at the famous Stadium Australia, now known as the Accor Stadium, a venue for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Scotland and the Wallaroos kick things off at noon local time followed by the Australia sevens sides taking on Fiji (men) and New Zealand (women).

The Wallabies will then host the All Blacks in the second and final Bledisloe Cup match.

“Obviously, playing ahead of the Bledisloe is a really cool one,” said Malcolm. “But I think for me, these occasions are all about harnessing that energy and using it as an opportunity to create a pretty cool memory.”

Australia v Scotland teams for Sydney

WXV Global Series, Accor Stadium, Sydney, Saturday, kick-off 2am BST/12pm AEDT

Australia: 15. Desiree Miller; 14. Maya Stewart, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 12. Faitala Moleka, 11. Amelia Whitaker; 10. Waiaria Ellis, 9. Samantha Wood; 1. Brianna Hoy, 2. Brittany Merlo, 3. Faliki Pohiva, 4. Kaitlan Leaney, 5. Michaela Leonard, 6. Siokapesi Palu Sekona (capt), 7. Piper Duck, 8. Pia Tapsell. Replacements: 16. Tania Naden, 17. Allana Sikimeti, 18. Eva Karpani, 19. Jemma Bemrose, 20. Emily Chancellor, 21. Lily Bone, 22. Piper Simons, 23. Cecilia Smith.

Scotland: 15. Hannah Ramsay; 14. Rhona Lloyd, 13. Evie Wills, 12. Meryl Smith, 11. Katie Buchanan; 10. Helen Nelson, 9. Leia Brebner-Holden; 1. Anne Young, 2. Lana Skeldon, 3. Elliann Clarke, 4. Holland Bogan, 5. Sarah Bonar, 6. Rachel Malcolm (capt), 7. Rachel McLachlan, 8. Evie Gallagher. Replacements: 16. Aicha Sutcliffe, 17. Leah Bartlett, 18. Molly Poolman, 19. Hollie Cunningham, 20. Eva Donaldson, 21. Ceitidh Ainsworth, 22. Shona Campbell, 23. Chloe Rollie.

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