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Rachel Malcolm insisted Scotland can take positives from the 66-14 loss to the Black Ferns.
Whitney Hansen’s New Zealand scored 10 tries at the Hive Stadium to win his first match in the Scottish capital. Scotland’s points came thanks to a pair of tries from Evie Gallagher, both of which were converted by Helen Nelson.
The hosts have now conceded 130 points in their two overs WXV Global Series games this autumn and will welcome the Wallaroos to Edinburgh next weekend. It will be the first of three tests between the two teams over the next four weeks.
“We pride ourselves on our character and there were spells in that game where we let it slip away – early in the game and then 10 minutes after half-time,” the Scotland captain said afterwards.
“But what I’m so proud of is how we found a way to come back, how we found a way to solve the problems. As we said before the game, the circle stays tight, no matter what. In the 80th minute, my teammates came up to me, picked me up and said: ‘go again’. We have so much to build on.”
It was also a short turnaround for Scotland, who only appointed Dave Butcher as their interim head coach just before the start of the 2026 WXV Global Series.
With him came new assistant coaches in the form of Craig Laidlaw and Robbie Ferguson. Tom Luke has been transferred from Premiership Women’s Rugby Club Bristol Bears.
Two matches into a new era following the departure of Siona Fukofuka after eight months in charge, Malcolm and her Scotland team-mates have renewed their sense of optimism.
Next up are the Wallaroos, who will be looking for a response after surrendering a 14-point lead against France. in one phase, Australia led 26-12 in Aix-en-Provence, but France fought back and secured a 29-26 victory.
Edinburgh will host the first Test between the two teams this year, before matches in Sydney and Canberra in October to conclude the WXV Global Series.
“We’ve got a whole new coaching staff, a new system, and I think we’re just seeing, through these two games, so much progress,” Malcolm said.
“We just need a little more time together, a little more playing time, but we’re seeing improvements week by week, and there seems to be hope again, which is really nice.
“We just need to find a way to reduce those errors so they don’t come up every now and then.”
