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20 mins: A first scrum, with Scotland putting in and winning the ball through Brebner-Holden, whose kick-through has Natasha Hunt under pressure. She can’t afford a mistake behind the posts, but tidies up effectively.
19 mins: A big cheer as Ilona Maher appears on the big screen, and downs a couple of drinks to get the fans going. Mary Earps is also watching on from the VIP seats.
17 mins: Scotland have to clean up their set pieces in these challenging conditions, and they win the next lineout at the halfway line. Can they make any inroads? Helen Nelson is well marked and Lloyd’s kick-through is collected by Aitchison.
TRY! England 14-3 Scotland (Talling 15')
Galligan’s anticipation has Scotland firmly on the back foot, and she offloads to lock Morwenna Talling, who won’t be stopped from crashing over. Aitchison converts, and England are in control after a shaky start.
14 mins: Scotland have lost three lineouts so far and will be under more pressure here, as Aitchison finds the corner with a crafty kick. It’s not taken cleanly and Rosie Galligan pounces on the loose ball …
TRY! England 7-3 Scotland (Clifford try 12')
This is where England are so hard to resist, and Maud Muir simply goes through a Scottish tackle before setting up fellow prop Kelsey Clifford, who finds a gap between three navy shirts to touch down under the posts. Aitchison converts.
10 mins: Safer hands help England carry the ball into the Scottish 22, Jones bursting through a gap as the hosts set up their forwards to carry …
9 mins: Sarah Bonar forces a penalty in midfield, with England’s Aitchison penalised for not releasing. The wet ball is causing some issues, with England spilling it before Meg Jones heaves it downfield.
7 mins: We’re back under way and Aitchison – back on familiar turf in Bristol – tries a floating, diagonal kick towards Dow – but it’s just overcooked and drifts a metre into touch.
6 mins: Abby Dow is heaved into touch, and there’s a pause in play as Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm receives treatment for a facial injury.
5 mins: Scotland must beware an immediate response from England, and Chloe Rollie invites pressure by not calling a mark under the high ball. Can they clear their lines? Nelson clears but it’s straight into Jess Breach’s path …
England 0-3 Scotland (Nelson pen 4’)
The fly-half slots it over from close range, and Scotland get the first points on the board.
3 mins: Scotland have backs lined up on the right but Fran McGhie can’t get the ball away and knocks on. They come back for the penalty, which Helen Nelson will kick …
2 mins: Skeldon’s lineout is claimed by Emma Wassell, and Evie Gallagher breaks the line with a jinking sidestep. Scotland within five metres, and they have a penalty advantage …
Kick-off
Scotland kick off and move upfield, forcing Rowland to kick for touch close to her own try-line. The pre-match rain has eased a little.
Both teams head out on the field to a raucous reception at Ashton Gate. Time for both national anthems, and then it’s game time.
John Mitchell: “We’re excited, knockout rugby is what you work towards for the whole cycle. We’ve got to earn another week in this tournament. The conditions will play a factor, territory and building pressure through the set-piece will be key. Helena [Rowland]’s got a job to do at full-back, Hollie [Aitchinson] will start on the kicking tee, but we’ve got plenty of kickers if we go to extra-time or anything like that.”
More on Sunday’s early quarter-final, as France fought back to break Ireland’s hearts, rallying from 13-0 down at the break to win 18-13 in Exeter.
Also worth noting that Scotland have progressed to the quarter-finals despite an ongoing pay dispute, which could see half the squad without central contracts after this tournament.
If you’re passing by the London Eye in the next couple of weeks, it’s worth stopping at this rugby-themed art installation. The Trail of Roses features a flower for every England player to earn a cap for the women’s team, and is in place until 28 September.
Pre-game thoughts from Bryan Easson, who is departing as Scotland coach after this tournament. “We’re in a good place, training has been good, and eight days since the Canada game which is a good turnaround. The weather might help us, we’ve got a forward pack who will want to get stuck in.
“[England] are formidable, world No 1s, but we want to leave it all out there. It’s a World Cup quarter-final.” How is he feeling on his potential swansong? “It’s not about me, it never has been. It’s about the players out there today. There will probably be a bit of emotion today, win, lose or draw.”
Scotland, beaten 59-7 by England in their last meeting at the Six Nations, make two changes from the team that lost to Canada. Jade Konkel returns at No 8 in what could be her final international appearance, while Christine Belisle starts in the front row. Having retired before the tournament, the prop was called into the squad after Elliann Clarke suffered an injury.
England captain Zoe Aldcroft is back in the starting XV for the first time since the tournament opener against the USA. Holly Aitchinson replaces Zoe Harrison at fly-half, with Helena Rowland slotting in at full-back with Ellie Kildunne ruled out due to concussion. Another potentially big miss for the hosts is prop Hannah Botterman, who suffered back spasms against Australia and is replaced by Kelsey Clifford.
Pre-game reading:
Full time: France 18-13 Ireland
France survive an almighty scare in Exeter! Down to 14 players, they had to fend off a late Irish maul and lineout to scramble into the semi-finals. It’s a devastating near-miss for the underdogs, who didn’t even qualify for the last tournament but left everything out there in pursuit of a famous upset.
Team news
England: Rowland, Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach, Aitchison, Hunt; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Gallingan, Aldcroft (c), Kabeya, Matthews.
Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Bern, Ward, Feaunati, Packer, Harrison, Sing.
Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, Bonar, Malcolm (c), Gallagher, Konkel.
Replacements: Martin, Wright, Poolman, Donaldson, McLachlan, Stewart, Mattinson, Wills.
Preamble
As the hosts and favourites for this World Cup, England have had to tread a careful path through the tournament. John Mitchell and his players know anything other than their name on the trophy is a failure, but need to slowly build up steam on the five-week journey to their required destination.
So far, the Red Roses have stuck to their task well, save for a brief early wobble against Australia. They topped Group A with three wins and 208 points scored, setting up this derby date against Scotland. Huge underdogs in Bristol today, Scotland haven’t beaten their neighbours since 1999 – but Ireland’s efforts against France will give them hope.
France have fought back from 13-0 down to lead 15-13, a reminder that nothing comes easy at a World Cup. If they can hold on, they’ll face today’s winners in the semi-finals. Just as in that game at Exeter, wet and windy weather could be a leveller at Ashton Gate. England’s expectations remain sky-high, but there is another job to do first.
