French-based trio are key as Scots seek improvement
Scotland captain Lisa Martin is confident that the experience of the side’s three Francebased professionals – Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson and Jade Konkel – can ensure that her team is at the very least more competitive against the French at Scotstoun tonight than they were in last year’s Six Nations Championship.
Shade Munro’s team lost 55-0 in La Rochelle last February, and although they also lost 64-0 to England, they won two of their home games. Martin believes that the squad has changed considerably since then, and that her team-mates are now well aware of the need to put in an 80-minute performance after starting far too tentatively in last week’s 18-17 defeat in Wales
“It was a bit of a stumbling block in terms of the Six Nations, but we did kick on again last year off the back of it,” the stand-off said of that loss to France 12 months ago. “We’re a completely different team now, as are France. Having Chloe, Lisa and Jade over there has helped massively in terms of how they aim to play the game.
“We know France are going to be physical up front, and they’ve got a good young, fast back line, but if we can negate their power up front then I think their backs are going to struggle with back-foot ball.
“If we can put them under pressure with back-foot ball I think we can reap some rewards there. Get balls kicked over to the back three and then fun times.”
SCOTLANDWOMEN (vfranceat
Scotstoun, tonight, 7.05pm): C Rollie (Lille); E Musgrove (Edinburgh Uni), L Thomson (Lille), H Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), R Lloyd (Edinburgh Uni); L Martin (DMP Sharks), S Law (Edinburgh Uni/murrayfield Wanderers); J Konkel (Lille), L Skeldon (Watsonians), M Kennedy (Stirling County), E Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Mccormack (Harlequins), R Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning), H Smith (Hillhead/jordanhill), S Bonar (Loughborough Lightning).
Subs: J Rettie (Thurrock), S Mcmillan, L Smith (both Hillhead/jordanhill), M Lowish (Loughborough Lightning), L Mcmillan (Hillhead/jordanhill), S Cattigan (Stirling County/ Stirling Uni), J Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning), L Harris (Edinburgh Uni).