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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.
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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.
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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)
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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)
"We didn't put on a performance that crowd deserved…"
– Bryan Easson on Scotland hosting a record home Six Nations attendance of 7,774 in Edinburgh, from Liam Heagney ?? #GuinnessW6N #SCOvENG #ScottishRugby #rugby pic.twitter.com/uC48BmtRHx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 14, 2024
