Head coach Bryan Easson has made two changes to the starting line-up from the Fiji match, both in the front row, as Scotland look to do the unthinkable and try to unseat World-Ranked Number 2 team Canada from the top of Pool B.
Lisa Cockburn makes her first Rugby World Cup start at tighthead prop, alongside the returning Lana Skeldon at hooker and Leah Bartlett at loosehead. Sarah Bonar continues in the second row with Emma Wassell and will be set for her 50th cap in the process.
The back row is unchanged as mega-captain Rachel Malcolm starts on the blindside, Rachel McLachlan on the openside, and Evie Gallagher, Player of the Match against Fiji, at No. 8.
The backline also remains the same with scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden and fly-half Helen Nelson in the half-backs. Lisa Thomson and Emma Orr continue in midfield, while Rhona Lloyd and Francesca McGhie, who both scored twice last week, are joined by full-back Chloe Rollie to complete the starting XV.
On the bench, Easson has again opted for a 6:2 split of forwards and backs. Molly Poolman could make her Rugby World Cup debut if called upon, joining Anne Young and Elis Martin as front row cover. Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart and Jade Konkel complete the forwards, with Evie Wills and Caity Mattinson named as the back replacements.
Canada have been in dominant form throughout the pool stages. They opened with a commanding 65–7 win over Fiji, with Julia Schell scoring six tries in the second half – though currently only one ahead of McGhie in the scoring charts – before defeating Wales 42–0. That result sealed their place in the quarter-finals and leaves them unbeaten in Pool B heading into the meeting with Scotland, but it wasn’t that much more than Scotland put on them.
With the winner set for a much easier – ie not all-destroying England – quarter final it is all to play for.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Lisa Cockburn, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher.
Replacements: Elis Martin, Anne Young, Molly Poolman, Jade Konkel, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
1 response
Posting this on the correct page….
Canada is a massive game for Scotland given the QF tie after. From what I’ve seen so far, Scotland have a squad which, if everything goes right, are capable of beating them. If they do, all bets are off on the way to the final. If not, however well they’ve played so far, they cannot halt the English juggernaut. I hope the team goes in with the same attitude they had against Wales but with the same ability to play off the limited possession they had against Fiji. It would be fantastic to see this team win the group but I can’t watch the game as I’m in Zakynthos on holiday, so BBC updates only. Good luck tomorrow.