Scotland were always going to be forced into changes following the win in Italy and the last minute Chloe Rollie yellow card, later upgraded to red. However the changes Bryan Easson has made are possibly more drastic than anticipated.
Player of the match Lana Skeldon has dropped out through injury meaning Elis Martin deputises at hooker while Emma Wassell comes back into the second row after a bereavement absence last weekend. In the backs, Coreen Grant replaces Rhona Lloyd who has returned to GB7s in a pre-arranged move.
At fullback Meryl Smith replaces Rollie, meaning the backline is brand new for the tournament; you can’t spell “potential” without “potent”.
It’ll be the last game for a while but a big chance for Scotland to do something really exciting and secure that World Cup spot earlier than perhaps expected.
Ireland: M Deely; K Corrigan, E Higgins, E Breen, B Parsons; D O’Brien, A Reilly; L Djougang, N Jones, C Haney; D Wall, S Monaghan; A Wafer, E McMahon, B Hogan.
Replacements: C Moloney, N O’Dowd, S McGrath, F Tuite, S Ikahihifo, M Scuffil-McCabe, A Dalton, K Heffernan.
Scotland: Meryl Smith, Coreen Grant, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson (vice-captain), Caity Mattinson; Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin, Christine Belisle, Emma Wassell, Louise McMillan, Rachel Malcolm (captain), Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher.
Replacements: Molly Wright, Lisa Cockburn, Elliann Clarke, Eva Donaldson, Rachel McLachlan, Mairi McDonald, Cieron Bell, Nicole Flynn
