Scotland's Lisa Thomson Eyes Top Five in World Rankings After Victory Over Wales

Scotland centre Lisa Thomson believes her team’s pursuit of breaking into the top five in the world rugby rankings is a testament to how far the national side has progressed in recent years. Bryan Esson’s squad, currently ranked sixth, is inching closer to surpassing fifth-placed Australia following their impressive six-try triumph over Wales last Friday.

With a home match against Fiji looming this Saturday at Edinburgh’s DAM Health Stadium, the Scots are poised to continue their climb up the rankings. The match, which will be broadcast live on BBC Sport, presents another opportunity for Scotland to showcase their recent improvements.

For Thomson, who earned her first Scotland cap in 2016, the team's current standing is a world away from where they once were. Reflecting on the growth of the squad, she said, “I think to even say we’re pushing top five is just a world away from when I came into the squad. It's huge for us to keep pushing performance-wise and getting results at the same time. I think we're starting to get results."

While the Scots have demonstrated clear progress, Thomson acknowledges there is still work to be done. “We need to put everything together and keep building and keep learning,” she added. “We need to be able to close out big games, which we've been starting to do, and we just need to keep pushing it to get into that top five.”

Thomson, a seasoned player with international experience, has recently returned her focus to the 15-a-side game after representing Great Britain in rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was her second Olympic experience, having also competed in Tokyo in 2021. Comparing the two events, Thomson highlighted the difference in atmosphere.

“It was an amazing experience to be playing in front of 68,000 people in the Stade de France compared to the Tokyo Olympics when there was nobody in the stadiums,” she said. “We were obviously a bit disappointed with some results, but the whole experience and getting to play in front of that many people was pretty cool.”

Thomson’s participation in the Olympics underscores her versatility as a player, and she has continued to develop her career with English club Ealing Trailfinders, which she joined over the summer.

As Scotland prepares for their clash with Fiji, the team’s sights are firmly set on building on their recent performances. A victory on Saturday could further strengthen their push towards the top five, reflecting the progress the team has made under Esson’s leadership.

For Thomson and her teammates, the drive to compete at the highest level remains strong. "It's just huge for us," she reiterated, highlighting Scotland's determination to continue their upward trajectory in the world rankings. The push for top five has never seemed more realistic for a team brimming with confidence and ambition.