Bryan Easson targets quarter-final stage for Scotland at World Cup

Easson’s side have been drawn in a pool alongside world number two side Canada, perennial Six Nations rivals Wales and Fiji at the tournament, which will be played across England next year.  

“It’s a really exciting draw,” Easson said before offering an assessment of Scotland’s three pool-stage opponents.  

He continued: “Canada are obviously a team that are on top of their game at the moment. I thought they played really well in WXV1. 

“I watched their games. I thought they pushed England really hard in that final game. They’re physical. 

“The Welsh we know inside out. We’ve got them in the first game of the Six Nations come in, and having played them in the last Six Nations and also in a warm-up game for WXV2, we know them very well. 

“The fact that we just played Fiji prior to going out there is really exciting for us.” 

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While keen to stress there is still plenty of rugby still to be played, Easson believes his side’s experience against different opposition will stand them in good stead for the tournament.  

He added: “WXV2 has been really good for us to play against teams we wouldn’t normally play against. It’s allowed us to look at different styles and to play against different styles.  

“The key thing for us is that we now plan for Canada, Wales and Fiji.” 

He said continuing the team’s upward trajectory until the World Cup is foremost in his mind, as is building depth in the squad.  

“We’ve just got to keep making sure that we move forward and make sure that we’re ready for the physicality of Canada and the Welsh, as well as the unpredictability of Fiji.” 

And he believes getting out of the pool would represent a successful campaign.  

Easson stated: “Our target is to get out of the group and to get the knockout stages of the World Cup. 

“That would mean everything to us. I think it would show exactly where we are, where we’re going.  

“That’s the plan now is to keep moving forward, is to make sure that we’re building this group as best we can, making sure that players are ready and prepared for a Rugby World Cup whilst also performing well within the Six Nations ahead and then making sure that we’re ready for what’s to come.”