Scotland kick off their first tour of South Africa in Cape Town today with a first test that flanker Rachel Malcolm describes as "a massive test" that shows them where they are.

"Any opportunity to play for your country is an amazing one so I’m absolutely delighted to be playing in the first test.

“We’ve not had a huge time together but it’s been real quality time.

“What we’ve focussed on in these last couple of camps is us and really trying to develop the way we want to play and the way we impose ourselves on teams.”

The Loughborough Lightning star will be making her 12th appearance for Scotland and knows what a huge challenge they face.

“It’s going to be a massive test, and we’re very aware of that. It’s going to show us exactly where we are," she said.

“That’s how we need to learn, by putting ourselves up against teams who are above us or close to us [in the rankings]. We need to challenge ourselves and to push on from where we are now."

South Africa and Scotland are next to each other in the world ranking. Scotland are 12th and South Africa are one place ahead.

"Challenging ourselves and adaptability has been something we’ve spoken about, especially as a player group. We’re quite a young squad so that’s something that we need to work on, and hopefully with the second test, we can right some of the wrongs that we know will happen in the first.”

This game comes as preparation for their upcoming World Cup qualification matches in September next year, where they will face Italy, Ireland and the winner of the 2020 Rugby Championship. Only one team will qualify.

The World Cup is being held in New Zealand in 2021.