The Scotland squad first:
15 Rollie, 14 Lloyd, 13 Orr, 12 Smith, 11 McGhie, 10 Nelson, 9 McDonald; 1 Bartlett, 2 Skeldon, 3 Belisle, 4 McMillan, 5 Bonar, 6 Malcolm (captain), 7 McLachlan, 8 Gallagher.
Bench: 16 Martin, 17 Young, 18 Cockburn, 19 Wassell, 20 Donaldson, 21 Mattison, 22 Thomson, 23 Musgrove
There are plusses and minuses for the Scots. They welcome back Rhona Lloyd and Lisa Thomson from Sevens, but only Lloyd is picked as a starter. That is a sign of Scottish prosperity
in the centre.
It’s distinctly unusual to find Emma Wassell’s name missing from the second row, but once again it’s an encouraging sign that the first-choice team is no longer dependent on one or two outstanding individuals.
But the absence of Jade Konkel from No 8 can’t be covered up with fine words.
Spain
Juan Gonzalez has chosen a party of 24 to make the trip to Edinburgh. They are:
María del Castillo, Inés Antolínez, Marta Estellés, Cristina Blanco (captain), María de las Huertas Román, Sidorella Bracic, Laura Delgado, Anna Puig, Alba Capell, María Calvo, Olivia Fresneda, Carmen Castellucci, Bingbing Vergara, Maider Aresti, Inés Bueso-Inchausti, Zahía Pérez, Alba Vinuesa, Icíar Pozo, Amalia Argudo, Clara Piquero, Claudia Pérez, Jimena Blanco-Hortiguera, Vico Gorrocha Tegui. Leyre Bianchi.
It means that six of his WXV selection remain at home.
The squad is remarkable for its youth: an average age of 22. But this is part of a clear-headed approach; the management is aiming at three wins in WXV3 and an optimum achievement at the 2025 World Cup.
Their performance against a Six Nations team in Edinburgh will indicate how likely they are to overcome their strongest opponents in WXV3, Ireland.
Match details:
30 September, The Hive, Edinburgh, KO 17.45
