The excitement is building as Scotland prepare to start their Women’s Six Nations campaign at Scotstoun on Friday night against Italy (7.35pm, on BBC ALBA).
The Scots will be looking for revenge after they lost out to the Italians away from home in this event last March and in another Test match in November – and they have shown signs that this team is definitely improving in recent games against Canada and Spain.
Of course rugby is a team game, but there are always individuals who step up to the plate and with the games over the next couple of months on BBC ALBA, now is as good as ever when it comes to a time to shine.
Five to watch
Chloe Rollie
There is no doubt that the full-back is one of Scotland’s best attackers and she can create space from nothing a bit like her fellow Borderer Stuart Hogg. She now has 25 caps under her belt and is one of the leaders in the squad – a try like against Ireland in 2018 would go down well!
Annabel Sergeant
She previously played for Scotland between 2011 and the 2014/15 season before heading off to live in New Zealand for a spell. Now back, the North Berwick-raised player adds experience to the group on the wing and may well bring an extra dimension to the backline if given the chance.
The 30-year-old told the press this week: “It is great to be back. I think we are just trying to build on every game, as long as we are better than we were in the last game – and we’ve got a home crowd in the opener against Italy which I think makes a big difference.”
Lisa Thomson
Still just 21, the captain has become a solid perfomer in the centre for her country. More of a leader by her actions rather than words, she breaks the gain line and carries ball well and the way her, stand-off Helen Nelson and outside centre Hannah Smith will be crucial in attack.
Megan Kennedy
The tighthead prop from Stirling County came into the team last year and has grown in stature and confidence since then. Forming a good front-row with Lisa Cockburn and Lana Skeldon, she carried well against Canada in November and will be looking to build on that promise.
Emma Wassell
She only recently turned 24, but already has 31 caps under her belt in the second-row since joining the international rugby party back in 2014. A good lineout forward and known to be the joker in the squad, her presence will be invaluable if Scotland are to secure some positive results.
Thanks to Rugby People and Scottish Rugby/SNS for the images
BBC ALBA is the Gaelic language television service and it will be broadcasting all of Scotland’s games at the 2019 Women’s Six Nations.
Launched in September 2008 as a collaboration between the BBC and MG ALBA, BBC ALBA was the first partnership television service to operate under a BBC licence.
BBC ALBA broadcasts every day from 5pm, delivering children’s output, news coverage and a whole range of diverse programming to its dedicated and appreciative audience.
You can find BBC ALBA on these platforms:
Sky 141 (Scotland), Sky 169 (rest of UK)
Freeview / You View 7 (Scotland only)
Virgin Media 161 (UK)
Freesat 109 (UK)
BT Vision 8 (Scotland only)
Smallworld 170 (Ayrshire and North West England)
And BBC iPlayer, both live and on catch up
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