Round Two Saturday Games
There are two Saturday games this weekend
Scotland v France, The Hive, Edinburgh; KO 14.15 Teams
Scotland
15 Meryl Smith 14 Rhona Lloyd 13 Emma Orr 12 Lisa Thomson 11 Coreen Grant 10 Helen Nelson 9 Caity Mattinson 1 Leah Bartlett 2 Elis Martin 3 Christine Belisle 4 Emma Wassell 5 Louise McMillan 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain) 7 Alex Stewart 8 Evie Gallagher
16 Molly Wright 17 Lisa Cockburn 18 Elliann Clarke 19 *Fiona McIntosh 20 Eva Donaldson 21 Mairi McDonald 22 *Nicole Flynn 23 Chloe Rollie
* uncapped
France
15 Emilie Boulard 14 *Kelly Arbey 13 Nassira Konde 12 Gabrielle Vernier 11 Marine Ménager 10 Lina Queyroi 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus 1 Annaëlle Deshayes 2 Agathe Sochat 3 Assia Khalfaoui 4 Manae Feleu (captain) 5 Madoussou Fall 6 Axelle Berthoumieu 7 Gaëlle Hermet 8 Romane Ménager
16 Manon Bigot 17 Ambre Mwayembe 18 Clara Joyeux 19 Charlotte Escudero 20 Emeline Gros 21 Alex Chambon 22 Lina Tuy 23 Morgane Bourgeois
A Sign of the Times
A clear indication of Scotland’s recent advance comes with Bryan Easson’s latest selection. One of his most celebrated players, Chloe Rollie, has to wait her turn again on the bench. So strong is the competition in some positions that Francesca McGie would not have regained her place on the wing, if she had been fit. Coreen Grant’s performance in Cardiff assured her of her place. Likewise, Alex Stewart’s debut was so promising that she remains first choice on the flank.
Whether that will be enough to get the team closer to a win in Edinburgh is another matter. For the moment they are living the dream: seven consecutive victories (an all-time record) and sixth place in world rankings (a second all-time record).
It’s said a wounded animal is even more dangerous, and les Bleues haven’t been at their best for quite a while. Sure, they came away with a decisive win against the Irish in Le Mans, but most of the plaudits went to the losing side.
The French selectors have made minimal changes. Axelle Berthoumieu replaces Charlotte Escudero on the blind-side; Kelly Arbey retains her place on the wing. On the bench Manon Bigot of Blagnac replaces Elisa Riffonneau at hooker. She was one of the 18 forwards called up for extra training sessions at Marcoussis.
So the message is: ‘Steady as she goes’, plus an urgent plea to ensure they get on top of the opposition straight away and stay there.
England v Wales, Ashton Gate, Bristol; KO 16.45 Teams
England
15 Ellie Kildunne 14 Abby Dow 13 Meg Jones 12 Tatyana Heard 11 Jess Breach 10 Holly Aitchison 9 Mo Hunt 1 Hannah Botterman 2 Lark Atkin-Davies 3 Maud Muir 4 Zoe Aldcroft 5 Rosie Galligan 6 Sadia Kabeya 7 Marlie Packer (captain) 8 Alex Matthews
16 Connie Powell 17 Mackenzie Carson 18 Kelsey Clifford 19 Abbie Ward 20 Maddie Feaunati 21 Lucy Packer 22 Zoe Harrison 23 Sydney Gregson
Cymru
15 Jenny Hesketh 14 Jasmine Joyce 13 Hannah Jones (captain) 12 Kerin Lake 11 Carys Cox 10 Lleucu George 9 Sian Jones 1 Gwenllian Pyrs 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Donna Rose 4 Abbie Fleming 5 Georgia Evans 6 Kate Williams 7 Alex Callender 8 Bethan Lewis
16 Kelsey Jones 17 Abby Constable 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu 19 Natalia John 20 Alisha Butchers 21 Keira Bevan 22 Kayleigh Powell 23 Nel Metcalfe
Take your ear-plugs
A crowd of over 18,000 is promised at Ashton Gate, new English record away from HQ.
I’m glad to say I got most of my English choices right. I just thought John Mitchell might want to save his front door being hammered down by a few thousand west countryfolk demanding Emma Sing’s inclusion at 15. The three who returned from long-term injuries (Scarratt, Harrison and Ward) all move to the bench. If Sydney Gregson gets game-time, it will be her first appearance for nine years.
It will be Zoe Aldcroft’s fiftieth cap; congratulations to her. She’s the sort of player you prefer to see in your side rather than the opposition’s.
The backs offer yet another centre-combination (Jones and Heard); almost impossible to count up the variations of the last few years. One prime task for them is to ensure the wingers are given the ball with an inch of space. Last time out it didn’t happen.
The post-match news from Parma centred mostly on Sarah Beckett’s red card. Head coach Mitchell added his name to the few who defended her. Other opinions offered less consolation. Giovanni Raineri called the tackle dangerous.
It’s a pity that women’s rugby is coming to look more like other team sports where coaches and managers automatically side with their own player, whatever the evidence.
You could call Ioan Cunningham’s strategy rotational: he has made six changes. Or you could say he is facing facts. So players you and I might have written down first, like Keira Bevan and Sisilia Tuipulotu, wait their turn. Of course, if England play their 40-minute game once more, the introduction of those two players in the second half could be even more productive.
The Welsh know they didn’t do themselves justice at the Arms Park. It was a narrow defeat, but a defeat nonetheless. They are unlikely to be able to sort matters out straight away – it’s nine years since they last beat the English – but Ioan Cunningham must find a way of planning a tournament-long recovery programme for his charges. Over the past two years they have proved the best of the pack chasing the two leaders, England and France.
After the mid-tournament break they are away to Ireland, then home to France and Italy. It will be a hard slog for them to retain that third place.
