BRISTOL - Head coach Bryan Easson, captain Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Wright and Evie Gallagher react after Scotland lost 40-8 to England in the quarter-finals at Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday.

Rachel Malcolm, captain

On the match:
"I'm extremely proud. We came to this tournament to compete, we wanted to get to the knockout stages and that's exactly what we did. We always knew that playing against England was going to be a humungous challenge. We battled for parts of that game, but they definitely played the conditions and showed their class for the most part. But I couldn't be prouder of the fight, we've given everything for the last I-don't-know-how-many weeks."

On finishing with a try:
"Nothing will keep this group down. As a playing squad and management team, we're immensely tight. We will fight no matter what. We came to make the most of this opportunity and I think we've taken a huge step forward for Scottish rugby."

On saying goodbye to the head coach and some retiring teammates:
"Yes, there's been massive emotions behind the scene, losing the likes of Jade Konkel and Lisa Cockburn, it's huge. Feels a little bit like the end of an era today but we'll go out and celebrate that and celebrate those amazing people."

Bryan Easson, head coach

On how he's feeling, this being his last game:
"A lot of emotions at the moment. Pride. That game doesn't define us. We said we wanted to get to the knockout stages and we did that. And just to see Rhona Lloyd finishing it off at the end and the tears and the joy and the happiness of this group, I'd rather lose with this group. They're a special bunch, the deserve everything that they've fought for, and I'm sure they'll keep fighting. It's been a real privilege for me to work with them."

On what it will take to get Scotland competing with the world's best:

"Games like that. You have to learn from them. You don't get into World Cup knockout games and win the first time you ever do it, you've got to take the pain sometimes. That's a tough lesson for us, but we've competed at this level now, so it shouldn't be the end, it should be the start of something."

Rachel McLachlan

On the emotions shown by the players at the end of the match:
"We feel an immense amount of pride for the journey that we’ve been on this World Cup, but also some sadness for it to have ended that way. The last World Cup in New Zealand left a bitter taste in our mouths after not reaching the quarters, so I’m really proud of the girls this time round."

On coming on and facing that England pack:
"I’ve faced them quite a few times now, so I knew what was coming, but I was more excited to get going, really. They are dominant, but I think we showed up today."

On Scotland’s set-piece:
"They (England) were really clinical, especially in their lineout and lineout defence, and we needed to be better around those areas. It’s very hard to win games without set-piece dominance, so unfortunately, we needed to be better in that area."

On the future of Scottish rugby:
"I hope it’s bright. We need support for all our girls, no matter their situation and I hope that’s what will come."

Molly Wright

On the difference between this group and previous Scotland squads:
"This squad, for the last five, six years, to me has felt like a family. That’s the bit that I hope continues, when the older ones of us retire, making sure it still feels like a place that you can come in and be yourself, and become a great rugby player. It’s a really special environment."

On Scotland’s outlook on their tournament as a whole:
"Our goal was to exit the group stages, and that’s better than how we performed in New Zealand. I think our attack is coming together better than it has previously, so we’re showing the growth that we needed to see. I think we can only be proud of how much we’ve grown in the last three years."

On whether Scotland can ever compete with the likes of England:
"For sure. England has had the benefit of an academy performance system and investment for a lot longer than almost every other team in the world. We’ve not had as long; we come from a smaller country, just sheer numbers mean we can’t, at the moment, provide that kind of platform for Scotland."

On whether there will have a few drinks tonight:

"There certainly will be!"

Evie Gallagher

On the game:
"I think we came out of the box well. England obviously took it to us. A little bit disappointed we couldn’t fire some more shots; we definitely wanted to put a bit more of a stamp on the game, like we did earlier in the tournament."

On inspiring a generation of Scottish girls:
"I can’t quite believe that we are the heroes for girls growing up in Scotland. It doesn’t feel like I have quite earned that right. Some of the girls in the squad have definitely earned that right; they’ve been in the squad for 10 years during the toughest of times, when they were basically playing amateur rugby for the national side. I’m one of the lucky ones who had the luxury to join as a professional, and so some of the girls in the squad are those role models; they were my role models, and now I get to play with them."

On the attendance today for a Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final:
"Incredible to see the growth of the game, and we can’t thank enough the work that has been done behind the scenes to get it to that place. The atmosphere as a whole was so loud, and that was incredible."

On the team's plans tonight:
"Back to the hotel tonight, reflect a little, and just enjoy the time with the team because we won’t be together until the Six Nations. It’s indescribable how special this group is. I feel very lucky to be a part of this generation of Scotland women."