Scotland Women Head Coach Shade Munro has brought in fresh legs and shuffled the squad ahead of the France fixture at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld this Friday (11 March, kick-off 6pm).
Murrayfield Wanderers duo Lisa Robertson and Helen Nelson have joined the squad and could feature for the first time in this year’s Women’s Six Nations if they come off the bench.
While there are some familiar faces in the backs, several players have changed position including Megan Gaffney, who has moved from centre to wing.
Lisa Thomson in action against England (Photo: Scottish Rugby / SNS Group)
Lisa Thomson (pictured right), the 18-year-old who made her debut against England and scored against Italy in Bologna, moves from inside centre to outside centre and captain Lisa Martin (header photo above), who has 27 caps, shifts from stand-off to fill the gap in the centre.
Murrayfield Wanderers full-back Chloe Rollie and 19-year-old winger Rhona Lloyd retain their starting positions, which they have held in all three previous Women’s Six Nations games this year.
Scrum-half, Jennifer Maxwell holds her post and is set to add to her six caps and Sarah Law starts at stand-off, while the changes mean Eilidh Sinclair returns to the bench.
The forwards remain settled with just one change – the experienced Heather Lockhart moves from the bench to start at loosehead prop following her 80th cap in Bologna.
Emma Wassell (Photo: Scottish Rugby / SNS Group)
Her Hillhead/Jordanhill clubmates Lana Skeldon and Lindsey Smith join her in the front-row, while Emma Wassell (pictured left) and Deborah McCormack, both on 14 caps, return to the second-row.
Following powerful performances, number 8 Jade Konkel is again flanked by Karen Dunbar and Jemma Forsyth.
Wing Lauren Harris returns to the squad as a replacement after missing the Italy game due to injury.
She is joined on the bench by prop Tracy Balmer, hooker Sarah Quick and Saracens forwards Fiona Sim and Anna Stodter.
Scotland Women Head Coach Shade Munro said: “It’s great to be back in camp and working with the players to build on the many positives from our game against Italy. While our discipline let us down at times, we created plenty of opportunities and played some fluid rugby.
“There is a massive desire to improve, and we’ve seen that in the way the team has performed in each game. They’re proud to play for Scotland and are doing everything in their power to close the gap with other nations.
“It’s exciting to see the team grow and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do against France, who will no doubt be physical and another challenge, but one I know the players will relish.”
Scotland Women team to play France Women at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Friday March 11 (kick-off 6pm)
15. Chloe Rollie* (Murrayfield Wanderers)
14. Megan Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
13. Lisa Thomson* (Melrose RFC / Edinburgh University)
12. Lisa Martin* (Murrayfield Wanderers) CAPTAIN
11. Rhona Lloyd (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University)
10. Sarah Law* (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University)
9. Jennifer Maxwell (Leeds Beckett University / Lichfield RFC)
1. Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
2. Lana Skeldon* (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
3. Lindsey Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
4. Emma Wassell* (Murrayfield Wanderers)
5. Deborah McCormack (Richmond RFC)
6. Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
7. Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars / Edinburgh University)
8. Jade Konkel* (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
Substitutes
16. Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers)
17. Lisa Robertson* (Murrayfield Wanderers)
18. Tracy Balmer (Worcester RFC)
19. Fiona Sim (Saracens RFC)
20. Anna Stodter (Saracens RFC)
21. Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University)
22. Lauren Harris (Melrose RFC)
23. Eilidh Sinclair* (Murrayfield Wanderers)
* BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 2 players 2015/16
Scotland Women Six Nations
Friday 11 March: Scotland v France, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld (kick-off 6pm)*
Sunday 20 March: Ireland v Scotland, Donnybrook (kick-off 1pm)
*Scotland Women and Scotland Under-20 return to Broadwood Stadium on Friday 11 March for a double-header against France. Tickets are £10 (adult entry to both matches) with seniors, under-18s and Scotland Season Pass holders free. Tickets available here.
For those unable to get to Cumbernauld for the match Scottish Rugby will be streaming the match on their You Tube channel – SRTV.
Report courtesy of SRU via RBS 6 Nations
