Women's

Scotland name starting XV for Ireland clash

Inpho
Deborah McCormak will make her Scotland return as the only personnel change to the starting XV for their Women’s Six Nations clash against Ireland on Friday night.

Deborah McCormak will make her Scotland return as the only personnel change to the starting XV for their Women’s Six Nations clash against Ireland on Friday night.

The second-rower has recovered from an injury that kept her out of the Autumn Tests and Scotland’s 28-7 defeat to Italy in the opening round of the Championship last weekend.

McCormack, who made her debut back in 2014, will win her 29th cap when she lines up against Ireland at Scotstoun Stadium.

The only other positional change sees Sarah Bonar move from second row to No.8 to replace Siobhan Cattigan, who picked up an injury in the match versus Italy last week.

Centre Lisa Thomson continues as captain in an otherwise unchanged matchday 23 for the hosts, who will be looking to replicate their win on the road in Dublin in last year’s Championship.

With Ireland currently ranked tenth in the world and Scotland 11th, it should be a close encounter at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night.

Both teams will be looking for their first win of the Championship, having suffered defeats on the opening weekend of the Women’s Six Nations matches last time out.

Head coach Shade Munro said: “It will be good to welcome Debs McCormack back onto the field on Friday. Our scrums were good last week but Siobhan Cattigan sustained an injury so will be out this week.

“She has been playing well at No.8, but Sarah Bonar is comfortable in this position as well. Debs will bring some experience into the second row in Sarah’s absence.

“We put in a gritty performance on Friday against a strong Italian team. The result was not in our favour but there are plenty of positives that we have taken into training this week and hope to improve on ahead of Friday.

“Ireland are an extremely physical and tough team to play against and performed very well in the set piece against England. We are very much looking forward to the challenge and to performing again in front of our home crowd at Scotstoun Stadium.”

Scotland team to face Ireland on Friday 8 February (kick off 7.35pm)

15. Chloe Rollie (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios) 14. Liz Musgrove (Hong Kong RFC) 13. Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill) 12. Lisa Thomson (captain) (Darlington Mowden Park) 11. Annabel Sergeant (Heriots Rugby Club) 10. Helen Nelson (Montpellier) 9. Mhairi Grieve (Firwood Waterloo)

1. Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park) 2. Lana Skeldon (Watsonians) 3. Megan Kennedy (Stirling County) 4. Emma Wassell (Heriots Rugby Club) 5. Debs McCormack (Harlequins) 6. Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning) 7. Rachel McLachlan (Stirling County) 8. Sarah Bonar (Loughborough Lightning)

Replacements

16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens) 17. Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury) 18. Mairi Forsyth (Stirling County) 19. Sophie Anderson (Hillhead Jordanhill) 20. Nicola Howat (Edinburgh University) 21. Sarah Law (Edinburgh University) 22. Lisa Martin (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios) 23. Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning)