Anybody who saw this Red Rose 23 coming deserves a large medal.
15. Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 32 caps)
14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 46 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (captain; Loughborough Lightning, 92 caps)
12. Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 6 caps)
11. Jess Breach (Harlequins, 15 caps)
10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins, 40 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins 56 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
3. Bryony Cleall (Saracens, 1 cap)
4. Abbie Ward (Harlequins 45 caps)
5. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 16 caps)
6. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 20 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 74 caps)
8. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 43 caps)
Bench
16. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 53 caps)
17. Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
18. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 20 caps)
19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 58 caps)
20. Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens Women, 76 caps)
21. Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 12 caps)
22. Megan Jones (Wasps FC Ladies, 10 caps)
23. Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 11 caps
The two crucial choices are 3 and 12. Bryony Cleall at last has a chance to add to her solitary cap gained against Ireland two years ago. It’s a big challenge for her as she returns from a long injury absence to a position she does not occupy for Sarries.
With Zoe Harrison missing from proceedings Lagi Tuima is called up at inside centre, a position where Gerard Mullen has picked her only when Rachael Burford was absent injured. She is a powerful performer with deft hands, unpredictable lines of running and a big right boot.
Simon Middleton cunningly gets round the unusual problem of having all three of his gifted locks, Abbie Ward, Cath O’Donnell and Zoe Aldcroft, available at the same time by switching Aldcroft to the blind side. She was a No 8 in a former life, so may enjoy licence to exploit the open spaces.
Scotland’s Squad
15. Chloe Rollie (Harlequins)
14. Rachel Shankland (Stirling County)
13. Hannah Smith (Watsonians)
12. Lisa Thomson (unattached)
11. Megan Gaffney (Heriots)
10. Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
9. Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill)
1. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning)
2. Lana Skeldon (unattached)
3. Christine Belisle (Cartha Queens Park)
4. Emma Wassell (Corstorphine Cougars)
5. Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill)
6. Rachel Malcolm (captain, Loughborough Lightning)
7. Rachel McLachlan (unattached)
8. Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County)
Bench
16. Molly Wright (Watsonians)
17. Panashe Muzambe (Edinburgh University/Watsonians)
18. Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park)
19. Evie Gallagher (Stirling County)
20. Jodie Rettie (Saracens)
21. Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning)
22. Sarah Law (unattached)
23. Liz Musgrove (unattached)
The extent of Scotland’s problems is shown by the presence of five ‘unattached’ players in the 23. That is no sort of preparation for a contest against the top ranked team in the world. Far fewer Scottish players are operating in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s though it’s hard to discover a reason. It means that only seven have enjoyed regular match-day competition over recent months.
We have to fear a result to match the 80-0 thrashing of two years ago at Twickenham. Unlike last year there won’t be a snowstorm to limit England’s scoring chances.
