SARAH Law became the latest member of the Scotland squad to reach the 50-cap milestone on Sunday - but admitted afterwards that it was a day she had feared would never come.

Still only 27, the versatile back made her debut as long ago as 2013, and would have racked up far more than 50 appearances by now but for some lengthy injury-induced absences. Rather than dwell on such misfortune, however, Law preferred after the 28-8 defeat by France to express her gratitude to those who had helped get her back on her feet.

“There probably were some moments when I didn’t think it would happen again,” she said after the TikTok Six Nations match at Scotstoun. “But it has been really special coming back and being involved now this squad is more together than they’ve ever been, stronger than they’ve ever been. It’s an honour to be part of it.

“There have been a lot of physios who have had a lot of input over the years, and it was nice to get good-luck messages from some of them. I’m not sure if any of them would have thought we’d get to 50 either.

“My family have been everything. They’ve been at just about every game since we started, not just playing for Scotland. So it was great to have them there on Sunday as well.”

Law should in fact have completed hre half-century eight days earlier against Wales, only to be ruled out of the match in Cardiff because of illness. “My individual rugby career has been a series of ups and downs, so it was probably appropriate that last week I was out and unavailable,” she accepted. 

Sunday’s match was not the ideal setting for a celebration as France secured the try bonus point before the break and remained in control despite a much-improved second-half performance from the home team. Yet although it was a third defeat in three games for Scotland, Law has been around long enough to have experienced far greater adversity, and is still convinced that the squad is heading in the right direction, not least because they have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

“None of this current squad has played at a World Cup before,” she added. “We’re in the best place that we’ve been as a squad, and I’m just excited to kick on in the last games of the Six Nations then see what we can do at the World Cup in October.”