Six Nations: Without a single score, women’s campaign is looking pointless

WHEN the Scotland Women’s team conclude their Six Nations campaign against their Italian counterparts today, it won’t take much to finish the campaign on a high. Just registering on the scoreboard would be a cause for celebration because, after four games, the Scots have yet to even score.

It is a remarkable record. And what is perhaps even more astonishing is that the Scots do not go into today’s match propping up the Six Nations table. Instead, their hosts occupy bottom spot, because although the Italians have scored 26 points in their four games to date, they have conceded more points than Scotland, giving them a worse points difference than the Scots. In the pantheon of sporting wooden spoons, this one is destined to be a prize exhibit in the National Museum of Outsize Kitchenware.

Yet the Scotland team retain belief in their ability, and full-back Steph Johnston knows they can take something out of today’s fixture, having played in the drawn match two years ago.

“I’m really looking forward to the game - I feel more confident now,” said Johnston. “I’ve now got two years under my belt and feel really settled in the squad and just know what I’m going to do with regards to my job in the team.

“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. We are getting consistently better both in defence and attack and in the chances we’ve had to attack we’ve shown that we can break the gain line and make yards.”