Injured Bonar will miss rest of the Six Nations
Sarah Bonar has been ruled out of the rest of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations with a shoulder injury as Louise Mcmillan comes into the Scotland starting XV to replace her and earn her 50th cap versus France tomorrow at Hive Stadium.
Second-row Bonar, the 30-year-old with 37 caps, was forced off in the second half of the opening round win over Wales last weekend in Cardiff.
“She will see a surgeon, it is her AC joint so she will be out for the full Six Nations,” head coach Bryan Easson confirmed yesterday.
The other change in the starting team sees hooker Lana Skeldon, who also went off at Cardiff Arms Park, missing out with a knee injury with Elis Martin stepping up off the bench to take her place.
There is better news on 30-year-old 67-times-capped Skeldon than Bonar though with Easson stating: “We are still hopeful it isn’t as bad as first expected. She certainly misses this game, but if we can get Lana back for a couple of games [later in the tournament] that would be a real bonus.”
Mcmillan has been around the squad since 2016 and reaching the half century mark will be a big moment for the Saracens player.
“What a journey she has been on. I cannot speak highly enough of Louise, ” Easson said.
“She is one of those players who you can rely on, she has so much energy and she is always bringing energy to everything we do whether it is on or off the pitch. ”
The head coach also praised Martin’s work ethic as the 24-year-old prepares for a seventh cap and a first start, while her Leicester Tigers team-mate Lisa Cockburn has joined the bench alongside Fiona Mcintosh and Nicole Flynn.
The latter two could debut this weekend, with 24-yearold Mcintosh of Saracens covering second-row and centre/wing Flynn of Edinburgh University replacing Shona Campbell who is with GB Sevens.
Flynn, who came through the youth teams at Stirling County, is just 18.
“We are putting no pressure on her and we are excited to have her involved, ” Easson concluded.