After that historic first win in Italy, Scotland’s women take on Ireland in Belfast on Saturday with a huge prize at stake, namely qualification for the 2025 World Cup. I can’t make it to the Kingspan Stadium but I will be glued to the television screen and willing them on to victory.

Every international match should carry the ‘must win’ label, but realistically in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations there is no prospect in the foreseeable future of Scotland beating England and though our women did so well against France, there are clearly two divisions in the Championship with England and France out in front and Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Wales playing for third to sixth places.

It just so happens that this year World Rugby has decreed that the ‘best of the rest’ that finishes in third place will be rewarded with qualification for the World Cup in England next year. England, as hosts, and France, Canada and New Zealand have already qualified as they were the top four in the 2021 World Cup, which of course was Covid-postponed until 2022.

You would think the stakes could not be higher, then, as a much-improved Scotland prepare to face Ireland, and........

© Herald Scotland