SCOTLAND’S women kick off their Six Nations campaign against England at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld tomorrow night, with a new coach and new captain driving a bid to achieve greater consistency in their performances.
Former Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Shade Munro is the man at the helm, while Murrayfield Wanderers stand-off Lisa Martin has taken over as skipper.
Ahead of the match, which kicks off at 6pm, Munro said: “We’re focusing on us, improving the team we have, and looking forward to the challenge of the Six Nations.
“The tournament will give the players and staff a benchmark of the areas we need to focus on – both as a team and as individuals – to ensure our future development.
“Overall we have to centre on the players we have and how we can improve our consistency.”
Full-back Chloe Rollie, who made her debut in last season’s Six Nations, starts alongside the more experienced half-back pairing of Martin and scrum-half Sarah Law, who returns from injury.
Winger Megan Gaffney, who was recently included in the Team GB Sevens squad, is partnered on the left wing by the uncapped Rhona Lloyd, who impressed for Scotland Women’s Under-20s last season.
The centre pairing is made up of Hannah Smith, who made her first start at Broadwood last year against Wales, and the uncapped Lisa Thomson.
The pack features an experienced front row of 30-times capped loosehead Tracy Balmer alongside the Hillhead-Jordanhill duo of hooker Lana Skeldon and tighthead Lindsey Smith. Emma Wassell and Deborah McCormack – an English Premiership winner with Richmond – make up the second row.
In the back row, Murrayfield Wanderers’ open-side Karen Dunbar is joined by Jemma Forsyth at blindside and Jade Konkel at No 8.
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