Serene Scot Skeldon won't be intimidated by England
In her 15 years as a Scotland player, Lana Skeldon has played more games and scored more tries than any of her predecessors in the number two jersey. She's fired over conversions, she's kicked a penalty, she's worn the hooker's jersey 85 times and it'll be 86 times when England visit Murrayfield on Saturday. She has seen it all.
In the beginning, the lows and then the lowest of lows and now, well, a different planet to how it used to be when she came into the team first in 2011. Scotland are just off the back of a promising win over Wales in Cardiff that followed on from a strong World Cup. Skeldon is in a pretty good place to judge where the team is at and she says it's never been better.
More resources, young blood coming through, a record crowd expected against England - it won't be far off 30,000 they reckon - and a whole lot of excitement among an extremely close group of players. Skeldon is a survivor of some grim days against England - 32-0, 53-0, 64-0, 80-0 - but she fights on. Age 32 and happy to be called a veteran, she's entering England week on a high after victory at the Principality at the weekend.
Saturday will be different, of course. The arrival of the world champions is always a daunting moment. World Cup winner Kildunne reveals body dysmorphia struggle 'Would it happen in the men's game?
' Women's Six Nations programme has wrong names Last time they met was at the World Cup; 40-8 to England. A landslide, for sure, but one that contained some really encouraging things for Scotland. Lost in the bottom line, yes, but not to the people who were part of it.