Organisers are fond of the phrase A Fresh Start, and in the case of the TikTok Six Nations it’s well merited. A new title partner, all-embracing media coverage and more contracted players than ever before. It is the tournament’s first chance to display its wares after the privations of the pandemic. Lockdown in some countries began exactly two years ago.
Round One is as close to a game of Neighbours as you can get (see fixture-list below); only Wales have to cross choppy seas to reach Dublin. But that is where neighbourliness will end; rivalries will be tenser than ever; five of the six teams will want to set out their stall for the World Cup to come.
Bryan Easson and Simon Middleton have announced their squads for the opening match of the tournament.
Scotland
15. Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps), 14. Rhona Lloyd (Stade Bordelais, 33 caps), 13. Hannah Smith (Watsonians, 30 caps), 12. Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks, 40 caps), 11. Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lightning, 39 caps), 10. Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, 37 caps), 9. Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning, 36 caps), 1. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning, 12 caps), 2. Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors, 48 caps), 3. Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning, 12 caps), 4. Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning, 52 caps), 5. Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill, 31 caps), 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain, Loughborough Lightning, 24 caps), 7. Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks, 24 caps), 8. Jade Konkel (Harlequins, 49 caps)
Bench:
16. Molly Wright (Sale Sharks, 10 caps), 17. Lisa Cockburn (Worcester Warriors, 23 caps), 18. Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury, 15 caps), 19. Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors, 15 caps), 20. Eva Donaldson (Edinburgh University, 1 cap), 21. Sarah Law (Sale Sharks, 48 caps), 22. Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University, uncapped), 23. Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University, 2 caps)
England:
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 18 caps), 14. Heather Cowell (Harlequins, 2 caps), 13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 96 caps), 12. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 4 caps), 11. Abby Dow (Wasps, 22 caps), 10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 10 caps), 9. Leanne Infante (Bristol Bears, 48 caps), 1. Maud Muir (Wasps, 4 caps), 2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 35 caps), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 40 caps), 4. Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 1 cap), 5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 50 caps), 6. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 50 caps), 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 79 caps), 8. Sarah Hunter (captain; Loughborough Lightning, 130 caps) Bench: 16. Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap), 17. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 64 caps), 18. Bryony Cleall (Wasps, 5 caps), 19. Sarah Beckett (Harlequins, 22 caps), 20. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 45 caps), 21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 1 cap), 22. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 58 caps), 23. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Scotland
The Scots’ triumphant run to RWC qualification has given them enormous impetus. The coming 6N is a vital staging-post for them to prove how far they have travelled in real terms. The crucial game against Ireland was agonisingly close; the one against Colombia the reverse. Bryon Easson has been slowly building up his reserve strength which has long been a Scottish weakness.
The fixture card sees them at home twice, against the two big beasts. They meet all the three sides they can more confidently hope to beat away from home. That is the challenge they need as they look forward to even bigger events.
Last year in Doncaster they halved their losing margin of 2020, and Hannah Smith scored a well deserved try. They will want to build on those advances.
The full training squad contained 12 home-based players, which is excellent. But of the 22 now in England only four represent a top-4 club, and not all of them are first-choice selections. Jade Konkel will claim a deserved 50th cap. It is vital for Scotland’s interests that the openings she creates are exploited by the rest of her team.
They are missing Sarah Bonar in the second row, and the new recruit, Caity Mattinson, does not yet appear on the roster.
England
Simon Middleton has outlined his selection policy for the five matches: everyone (all 40?) may have a chance of staking their claim in the first three rounds; performance in the training sessions will be rewarded. Then the net will tighten; rounds four (v Ireland) and five (v France) will give a sharper idea of who is in line for a World Cup call-up.
His first call reveals fascinating selections. Maud Muir is asked to start at loose-head for the first time. Vickii Cornborough is on stand-by just in case. If Muir does prove to be equally capable on either side of the scrum – even some of the greatest props couldn’t claim that – then that is a huge plus for England as well as for her personal career.
The 3-year gap between Rosie Galligan’s first and second caps was filled with pain and frustration for her. She deserves enormous congratulation on her return to the white shirt.
Equalling intriguing is the line-up behind; the midfield axis reads Rowland-Aitchison-Scarratt. Yes, Scaz is fit enough to be restored to the strength. She will add calmness and experience to a unit that has already had the beating of the World Champions twice. Another welcome return sees Amber Reed called on to the bench.
Of all the uncapped players brought into the training squad only Emma Sing has the chance of entering the field. In the continued absence of Sarah McKenna, the only other alternative to Ellie Kildunne in the rear areas was Abby Dow – unless Scarratt was required to repeat her last RWC performance – so Sing must hope she has enough game-time to prove a point.
It is likely that only a few of the newer elements in the squad (0-4 caps) will figure in the one that matters, for the World Cup. Holly Aitchison is an obvious exception, plus players helped by unfortunate injuries. Up to Round 16 of the AP 15s three of the back five were unavailable: Jess Breach, Kildunne and McKenna. That makes Heather Cowell’s inclusion important.
Zoe Aldcroft, Amy Cokayne and Hannah Botterman are all unavailable for this game. Sad as their absence is, it does help the selectors in their attempt to be fair to everyone.
A Reminder of the Fixtures
Saturday 26 March
Scotland v England, DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh, KO noon
Ireland v Wales DMS Stadium, Dublin
RDS Arena, Dublin, KO 16.45
Sunday, 27 March
France v Italy, Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, KO 16.00 (local time); 15.00 (UK time)
