Twenty-year-olds Molly Poolman and Becky Boyd could make their Scotland debuts off the bench in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations round two match in La Rochelle on Saturday versus France.
In the one change to the starting XV from last week’s victory over Wales, Jade Konkel replaces the suspended Evie Gallagher at No.8.
Konkel’s place among the replacements is taken by second-row/back-row Boyd while tighthead prop Poolman has come in for the more experienced Christine Belisle.
Bryan Easson has said numerous times in the last couple of week that the matchday 23s will be picked on performance and uncapped duo Poolman and Boyd clearly must have been impressing in training to earn this shot in such a big match.
Poolman is a Scotland under-20 cap and plays for Watsonians and Edinburgh Rugby and started out at Howe of Fife.
“Molly deserves this opportunity,” head coach Easson said.
“Her set piece is good which is crucial for a tighthead prop, but outside of the set piece she moves really well around the pitch and fits into how we want to play.
“She carries the ball a lot in open play and we have been impressed with her at training and felt that she could add something for us this week if she is called upon off the bench.
“She has earned this chance.”
Boyd, of Loughborough Lightning, qualifies for Scotland via her Glasgow-born grandfather and was involved with England under-20s last year.
“Becky can cover second-row and back-row and has been training well,” Easson added.
“We see her as someone with a lot of potential and she takes on board advice and always wants to get better.
“When you look at her, Molly, Hollie Cunningham and Adelle Ferrie being in the matchday 23 there are just two caps between the four of them so we can’t be clearer around the fact that we will pick around performance and pick the best squad we feel is right for a given match.”
Apart from the suspended Gallagher, Easson reported that he had a fully fit squad to pick from for this game with uncapped winger Hannah Walker having recovered from a knock, but not making the 23 this time.
The match at the sold-out Stade Marcel-Deflandre kicks-off at 1pm UK time and will be shown via the BBC.
France, who defeated Ireland 27-15 in round one of the Six Nations in Belfast, are fourth in the world and Scotland seventh and the hosts have dominated this fixture over the years, the Scots’ last win coming in 2010 while they grabbed a draw in 2020.
Scotland squad to play France: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Hollie Cunningham, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Jade Konkel. Subs: Elis Martin, Leah Bartlett, Molly Poolman, Adelle Ferrie, Becky Boyd, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations runs from March 22 to April 26 and, after a trip to France in round two on March 29, Scotland are at Hive Stadium in round three versus Italy on April 13 – get tickets for the two Scotland remaining home games here.
Molly Poolman and Becky Boyd are pictured – thanks to Scottish Rugby
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