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Scotland change three for Ireland, name two uncapped players as sub
By Liam Heagney
Scotland have made three changes for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale versus Ireland in Belfast. The Scots bounced back from their round three disappointment against England to defeat Italy 17-10 in Parma last Saturday, a victory that lifted them to third in the championship with one game remaining.
A third-place finish would qualify Scotland for the WXV1 tournament later this year, as well as next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, and they have changed two of their backline and one of their pack for the trip to the fifth-place Irish, who can also finish third if they win and the Wales-Italy result also goes their way.
With the absence of Rhona Lloyd, who has a pre-agreed release to Great Britain Sevens ahead of the Singapore SVNS, and Chloe Rollie, who received a three-week ban earlier this week after receiving a red card against Italy, there are two changes to the backs.
Coreen Grant steps back into the starting team on the right wing and Meryl Smith returns to full-back after both featured off the round-four bench.
The one change to the starting forwards sees Emma Wassell linking up with Louise McMillan in the second row. She is returning having had time away after her mother Pauline sadly passed away.
On the bench, which has a five/three forwards/backs split, there are two potential debutants after coach Bryan Easson included winger Cieron Bell and centre Nicole Flynn.
Scotland (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. Meryl Smith – Bristol Bears (16)
14. Coreen Grant – Saracens (10)
13. Emma Orr – Heriot’s Blues (18)
12. Lisa Thomson – GB Sevens (59)
11. Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (11)
10. Helen Nelson (vice-captain) – Loughborough Lightning (59)
9. Caity Mattinson – Gloucester-Hartpury (22)
1. Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (22)
2. Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (69)
3. Christine Belisle – Loughborough Lightning (34)
4. Emma Wassell – Loughborough Lightning
5. Louise McMillan – Saracens (52)
6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) – Loughborough Lightning (46)
7. Alex Stewart – Corstorphine Cougars (4)
8. Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (26)
Replacements:
16. Elis Martin – Leicester Tigers (9)
17. Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (34)
18. Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (10)
19. Eva Donaldson – Leicester Tigers (10)
20. Rachel McLachlan – Sale Sharks (42)
21. Mairi McDonald – Exeter Chiefs (22)
22. Cieron Bell – University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
23. Nicole Flynn – University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
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Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
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