Malcolm counts memories not caps as she closes on 50th

WXV2: Italy v Scotland

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Date: Saturday, 28 September Time: 15:00 BST

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected nan BBC Sport website & app and nan BBC iPlayer

Captain Rachel Malcolm prefers to "count nan moments" alternatively than caps arsenic she prepares to make her 50th Scotland quality against Italy connected Saturday.

The back-row will commencement nan WVX2 opener successful Cape Town, pinch nan Scots opening their defence of nan title they won successful South Africa past season.

Malcolm says it is "surreal" to scope a half-century of caps and is relishing being portion of a Scotland squad connected nan up.

"I'm really fortunate successful each this that I've had immoderate unthinkable times, immoderate unthinkable memories, and immoderate reliable times, which person made those memories moreover much special," Malcolm, 33, said.

"To get to tally retired for my 50th, it's ace typical for me, but astir apt much importantly for nan group that person supported maine done those reliable times.

"I consciousness fortunate to person been a portion of that benignant of tail-end of nan non-professional era and capable to past really admit what we person now.

"We've deed truthful galore cool milestones complete nan past 2 years successful particular, and this group has truthful overmuch imaginable it's yet to fulfil."

Scotland person won 10 of their past 13 matches and person risen to 5th successful nan world ranking for nan first time.

Malcolm believes nan squad are good placed to clasp nan WXV2 title.

"Ultimately we're present to win," said nan Loughborough Lightning flanker, who made her Test debut against Spain successful 2016.

"There's not galore times I've sat successful a property convention and had nan courageousness to opportunity those words, but I deliberation that's decidedly wherever we're astatine arsenic a group.

"We've go a group who person learned a look to win. We've learned a batch astir what we request to improve.

"Over nan Six Nations, complete their past 2 games [victories complete Wales and Fiji], we've had a really bully trajectory of improvement, but I deliberation there's a batch still successful there. I deliberation that's a really breathtaking spot to be."