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Maxwell starts at scrum-half for Scotland showdown with Wales

Jenny Maxwell 17/4/2021
Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has made several positional and personnel changes for their Finals Day showdown with Wales in the Women’s Six Nations.

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has made several positional and personnel changes for their Finals Day showdown with Wales in the Women’s Six Nations.

In the backs, Jenny Maxwell will make her first start of the 2021 Championship at scrum-half, while Hannah Smith returns from GB Sevens camp to start at outside centre.

Vice-captain Lisa Thomson moves back to inside centre to partner Smith while captain Helen Nelson moves back to fly-half to form a half-back partnership with Maxwell.

A settled back-three sees Chloe Rollie continue at full-back, with Megan Gaffney and Liz Musgrove again lining up on the wing for the visit to Scotstoun Stadium.

The inclusion of Christine Belisle at loosehead prop is the only alteration to the starting forward pack while hooker Lana Skeldon packs down alongside Belisle and Megan Kennedy.

An unchanged second-row sees Emma Wassell and Louise McMillan continue their partnership, while Evie Gallagher, Rachel McLachlan and Siobhan Cattigan are all named in the back-row.

“We’ve made a few personnel and positional changes that I believe will allow us to put the best team available on the pitch this weekend,” said Easson.

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“We were disappointed in our defence against Italy last weekend but we have worked really hard during our training sessions to rectify this and we believe we have a good system in place ahead of the game.

“Hannah Smith returning is also a positive for us. She’s a real threat in attack whilst also being a really solid defensive player so I’m looking forward to seeing what she will bring to the pitch.

“Wales will be a very physical and motivated opponent but we know what to expect and we have prepared accordingly.”

Scotland team

15. Chloe Rollie (Harlequins) 14. Liz Musgrove (Unattached) 13. Hannah Smith (Watsonians) 12. Lisa Thomson VICE-CAPTAIN (Unattached) 11. Megan Gaffney (Heriots) 10. Helen Nelson CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning) 9. Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning)

1. Christine Belisle (Cartha Queens Park) 2. Lana Skeldon (Unattached) 3. Megan Kennedy (Stirling County) 4. Emma Wassell (Corstorphine Cougars) 5. Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill) 6. Evie Gallagher (Stirling County) 7. Rachel McLachlan (Unattached) 8. Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County)

Substitutes

16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens) 17. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) 18. Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park) 19. Nicola Howat (Sale Sharks) 20. Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill) 21. Sarah Law (Unattached) 22. Evie Wills (Stirling County) 23. Rachel Shankland (Stirling County)