THE Scotland Women’s team, without a win in the Six Nations Championship since 2010, are out to end that unwanted record in Neath today when they take on an injury-hit Wales side. After the morale boost of beating Spain in a friendly late last year, Shade Munro’s team received a reality check when they lost 32-0 to England last week, but the squad - all part-timers - are confident they are steadily improving.
Lauren Harris, the Eccles winger, has been promoted from the bench to the right wing, while Megan Gaffney, who played there in that defeat by England at Broadwood, moves into the centre in place of the injured Hannah Smith. The pack is unchanged from that loss at Broadwood, while Abi Evans of Hillhead/Jordanhill takes Harris’s place on the bench.
Wales also lost their first match in this year’s tournament, going down 21-3 to Ireland in Donnybrook. Their team includes flanker Sian Williams, who this week became the first woman to sign a professional contract with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Rhys Edwards, Munro’s Welsh counterpart, has made four changes to his team from that loss in Ireland. A rib injury to captain Rachel Taylor has forced a reshuffle in the pack, while stand-off Kerin Lake’s concussion means Robyn Wilkins moves to centre and Elinor Snowsill comes in at stand-off.
Scotland (v Wales at The Gnoll, tomorrow, 2pm); C Rollie (Murrayfield Wands); L Harris (Eccles), M Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill), L Thomson (Melrose), R Lloyd; L Martin, S Law (all Murrayfield Wands); T Balmer (Worcester), L Skeldon, L Smith (both Hillhead/Jordanhill), E Wassell (Murrayfield Wands), D McCormack (Richmond), J Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill), K Dunbar (RHC Cougars), J Konkel (Hillhead/Jordanhill). Substitutes: S Quick (Murrayfield Wands), D Falconer (Stirling Co), H Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), F Sim, A Stodter (both Saracens), J Maxwell (Leeds Beckett Univ), A Evans (Hillhead/Jordanhill), E Sinclair (Murrayfield Wands).
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