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Scotland change three for Ireland, name two uncapped players as sub
Scotland have made three changes for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale versus Ireland in Belfast. The Scots bounced back from their round three disappointment against England to defeat Italy 17-10 in Parma last Saturday, a victory that lifted them to third in the championship with one game remaining.
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A third-place finish would qualify Scotland for the WXV1 tournament later this year, as well as next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, and they have changed two of their backline and one of their pack for the trip to the fifth-place Irish, who can also finish third if they win and the Wales-Italy result also goes their way.
With the absence of Rhona Lloyd, who has a pre-agreed release to Great Britain Sevens ahead of the Singapore SVNS, and Chloe Rollie, who received a three-week ban earlier this week after receiving a red card against Italy, there are two changes to the backs.
Coreen Grant steps back into the starting team on the right wing and Meryl Smith returns to full-back after both featured off the round-four bench.
The one change to the starting forwards sees Emma Wassell linking up with Louise McMillan in the second row. She is returning having had time away after her mother Pauline sadly passed away.
On the bench, which has a five/three forwards/backs split, there are two potential debutants after coach Bryan Easson included winger Cieron Bell and centre Nicole Flynn.
Scotland (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. Meryl Smith – Bristol Bears (16)
14. Coreen Grant – Saracens (10)
13. Emma Orr – Heriot’s Blues (18)
12. Lisa Thomson – GB Sevens (59)
11. Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (11)
10. Helen Nelson (vice-captain) – Loughborough Lightning (59)
9. Caity Mattinson – Gloucester-Hartpury (22)
1. Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (22)
2. Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (69)
3. Christine Belisle – Loughborough Lightning (34)
4. Emma Wassell – Loughborough Lightning
5. Louise McMillan – Saracens (52)
6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) – Loughborough Lightning (46)
7. Alex Stewart – Corstorphine Cougars (4)
8. Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (26)
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Replacements:
16. Elis Martin – Leicester Tigers (9)
17. Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (34)
18. Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (10)
19. Eva Donaldson – Leicester Tigers (10)
20. Rachel McLachlan – Sale Sharks (42)
21. Mairi McDonald – Exeter Chiefs (22)
22. Cieron Bell – University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
23. Nicole Flynn – University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
"We didn't put on a performance that crowd deserved…"
– Bryan Easson on Scotland hosting a record home Six Nations attendance of 7,774 in Edinburgh, from Liam Heagney ?? #GuinnessW6N #SCOvENG #ScottishRugby #rugby pic.twitter.com/uC48BmtRHx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 14, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
235 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
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