Lucy MacRae has emerged as a very promising playmaker in recent months and she will be looking to sign off from the under-20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series in Italy on Sunday by helping Scotland get a win.
So far in the inaugural event in Parma, Scotland have lost to Italy and France, but there have been plenty of positives and MacRae has been one of them.
Playing 12, she has been a good link between the forwards and the backs and her kicking from the tee and from hand has been good, including banging over a long-range penalty versus Italy.
The University of Edinburgh student exudes a calmness on the pitch and looks to have a good rugby brain similar to players such as Meryl Smith or Sarah Law.
Time will tell if she can hit the heights they have/did in their careers, but the signs are looking good after regular outings for Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge between December and March and then starting three matches in the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on this tour.
MacRae began her rugby journey at local club Helensburgh alongside the boys in the Minis before moving onto Hillhead Jordanhill and then Stirling County ahead of moving east to study last summer.
“This trip has been such a great experience,” MacRae, who was also part of the Scottish Futures tour to Italy last year, said.
“Playing Italy on their home turf and then taking on France, one of the best under-20s team in the world, just a few days later was a test for us, but I think we have coped well with everything.
“It has been great exposure for us all to be playing at this level.
“In terms of kicking, it is an area that I have been looking to improve personally and as a squad here there are a few of us who want to be kicking options for the team.
“We have talked a lot about game management and that is something I have been working on, when to kick and when to keep the ball in hand, and I am always trying to make the best decision for the team out there on the pitch.
“Good kicks from hand can change momentum in games while getting points on the board from the tee is always important and keeps things ticking along so I have been working hard on my place kicking too.
“The long-range kicks are something that I have been working on and since I came to university in Edinburgh I have been able to work with a good kicking coach there called Matt Campbell and with Craig Dods at Scottish Rugby.
“That work has helped me develop with my kicking over this last year or so and I am always excited to showcase my kicking in games when I get the opportunity.”
Like Scotland, Ireland have lost two from two to date having been on the wrong side of results versus England and Italy, so both sides will be going full tilt at this one (9am UK time on Sunday) to try and end their respective campaigns on a high.
“This squad is so close knit and on and off the pitch we back each other and have great connections,” MacRae added.
“These traits have come through in the Italy and France games and we are all really excited to have one match to come and we are focused and looking forward to this challenge against Ireland.”
This Scottish fixture will be available to watch via scottishrugby.org, with all remaining matches available on the Six Nations Rugby YouTube channels.
Scotland matchday 23 to play Ireland
15. Izzy McGuire-Evans (Sale Sharks/Glasgow Warriors)
14. Sky Phimister (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)
13. Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)
12. Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors)
11. Hannah Walker (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby, C-C)
10. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)
9. Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)
1. Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby, C-C)
2. Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)
3. Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)
4. Holland Bogan (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)
5. Natasha Logan (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)
6. Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby)
7. Gemma Bell (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Megan Hyland (Garioch/Glasgow Warriors)
Subs
16. Karis Craig (Watsonian FC/Glasgow Warriors)
17. Chloe Brown (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)
18. Poppy Clarkson (Biggar)
19. Lucy Christie (Newcastle University)
20. Samanther Tagnanekurukuru (Stirling County/Edinburgh Rugby)
21. Lauryn Walter (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders)
22. Rhea Clarke (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors)
23. Hannah Ramsay (Unattached/Edinburgh Rugby)
Lucy MacRae is pictured, thanks to Scottish Rugby for the image
During the under-20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series period through July, GH Media will be covering all aspects of the tournament…
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