Scotland Women's Six Nations campaign has taken another setback as captain Rachel Malcolm has been ruled out of this Saturday's clash against France. The back-row star, who missed last round's defeat to Italy in Parma with a knee injury, was forced to withdraw on matchday morning after being named in the starting lineup.
Assistant coach Claire Cruikshank confirmed Malcolm remains sidelined but hasn't been ruled out for the rest of the championship. "Rachel's currently not fit for selection for this game. It's just a continuation of that knee issue," Cruikshank explained. "We're hopeful she'll be back by Ireland."
The good news for Scotland fans is that Malcolm remains an integral part of the squad despite her injury. "She's still with the squad. Rachel's still here and is a very key component in everything we're doing this week in the build-up to the France game," Cruikshank added. "She's very much in and around and still leading by example in everything she does in terms of her rehab and just being around the group."
In other injury news, wing Rhona Lloyd and back-row Emily Coubrough are going through return-to-play protocols following concussions, while Evie Wills, Rachel McLachlan, and Hannah Walker have all been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.
There's a silver lining, however, as midfielder Lisa Thomson returns to the squad. Her experience will be crucial for a side looking to bounce back after heavy defeats to England and Italy. The French, World Cup semi-finalists, represent a formidable challenge for the Scots.
"France are a top quality side for a reason," Cruikshank acknowledged. "They're a brilliant opponent. We're excited to get back to Hive and play there in front of our home fans again and build on the experience from playing at Murrayfield because the fans were fantastic that day."
The assistant coach emphasized the need to stop France's momentum early. "We know they're a real tough team to stop if you let them get momentum, so we have to try and stop that. But it's a brilliant opportunity for us as a squad to put some wrongs right."