Scotland full of desire to improve

It’s been a tough 6 Nations for Scotland who are still searching for their first win, but the 61-times capped Lockhart remains hugely upbeat.

“Although the results  this season aren’t what we are looking for, we have been improving and anyone who saw our first half or so against Ireland would have seen that," she said.

"We showed what we are capable off with strong defence and getting on the scoreboard but we weren’t able to stand firm for 80 minutes and convert the pressure we had early into points. We need to have a stronger mindset and not be so affected by an error or the other side getting on top and stick to our game-plan.”

Lockhart made her debut back in 2004 and has gone on to represent Scotland in two World Cups. The former Oxford and Edinburgh University student was always destined to play sport at a high level (she has also played international tennis and hockey) with her father Brian having played rugby with Glasgow, her mother having played hockey for Scotland and her brother also playing international cricket.

She says Scotland’s transition into once again becoming a competitive force in the women's international game was always going to take time.

“There was a lot of change in the squad after the 2010 World Cup and it’s going to take time but we are making progress. We have got to be patient and the results that we have had of late haven’t really shown what potential we believe we have. The seeds are being sown here for the future and it was fantastic to see our U20s girls playing last weekend against Finland. My own club (Hillhead/Jordanhill)  has a junior girls side and there are opportunities there for young girls that certainly weren’t there when I started playing.”

Lockhart says playing this weekend at Scotstoun will also be a boost.

“A lot of our girls play in and are from Glasgow so playing at Scotstoun will be great and it’s a fantastic home venue for us. There is a massive desire in the squad to improve and we know we’ve got to be patient and we will get those wins we need.”

“We’ve watched some footage of Wales and we know it’s going to be incredibly tough this weekend. They are very physical up front and our set piece is going to have to be right and we will need to keep our defensive shape for 80 minutes.”

Lockhart, who started playing as a student and was then enticed back into the game when spotted out training with the Hillhead hockey side, says she isn’t thinking too much about the future and taking each game as it comes despite being one of a rare breed of players over 40 in the international game.

“I play because I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of it and I really just think one game at a time. I don’t think about when I might stop, I am still enjoying it.  I have been lucky enough to play in a couple of World Cups and in some great games since I started. Both World Cups were terrific experiences, and England was really a great tournament to be involved in. It was a tournament where the growth of the game hit home to a lot of people and my parents too found it a real eye opener because it was just a great celebration of women’s sport."

She adds, that there has never been a better time for girls to get involved in the sport now.

"There are phenomenal opportunities for girls coming into rugby now. Sevens is obviously a big draw and that wasn’t there when I started playing – though I am not sure my skillset would be right for it! It's a very good time to boost playing numbers with that sort of pull and I was very impressed with our girls who came from playing Sevens last summer and what they had picked up."

Scotland play Wales this Sunday at Scotstoun at 14.00