Becky Boyd has been backed to fill the void in the second-row left by Hollie Cunningham’s injury for Scotland when they take on Italy in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations on Sunday.
Cunningham has had surgery on a hamstring injury and will miss the rest of the competition.
She was forced off after just 66 seconds in Scotland’s round two loss to France in La Rochelle a fortnight ago.
Cunningham, the 25-year-old Bristol Bears player who is eligible for the Scots because her grandmother was born in Aberdeen, had a fine debut against Wales in the round one win, but her second cap was cut short.
And she will now miss the upcoming games with Italy England on April 19 and Ireland on April 26.
Head coach Bryan Easson said: “Hollie was assessed post-France match and then we had her scanned and the scan result was not good news so she has actually already had surgery.
“She is ruled out for the Six Nations which is disappointing for her and for us because she has come into this group and done really well, but the surgery went really well and we are looking for her to be back into July which would mean she is available for the World Cup.”
The Rugby World Cup is in August and September in England and getting back for that, as Easson mentions, will now be Cunningham’s goal.
Boyd, the 20-year-old Loughborough Lightning player who qualifies for Scotland via her Glasgow-born grandfather and was involved with England under-20s last year, made her debut off the bench against France.
She will now get a first start this weekend at Hive Stadium wearing number four with Easson stating: “Becky is still a young kid and she is still learning her trade, but she is someone who is very coachable, takes on everything she has been asked to do and has impressed us.
“She can play in the back-row, but she also has that real power and physicality which means she can play second-row. She is good in the lineout, she is very powerful in her ball carrying and is a strong defender too.
“I like her as a player and like what she brings to the table.”
From the France loss in La Rochelle on March 29 there is one other change to the starting XV.
Evie Gallagher is back from suspension at No.8 and that means that Jade Konkel reverts to the bench where Lucia Scott comes in for Evie Wills who has a slight knee injury.
“We are pleased with the squad we have been able to pick for this game and we really want to go out there and play the rugby that we know we can against a dangerous Italian side,” Easson added ahead of the clash versus the winless opponents.
“There should be a good crowd in and we want to send them home happy.”
Scotland squad to play Italy: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Leah Bartlett, Molly Poolman, Adelle Ferrie, Alex Stewart, Jade Konkel, Caity Mattinson, Lucia Scott.
- There were two defeats for Scotland on day one of the under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival at Wellington College in England on Friday, but plenty of learnings – Dunfermline’s Bethan Mathieson scored a try versus Wales with Poppy Mellanby of Biggar converting, more here.
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations runs from March 22 to April 26 and, next up, Scotland are at Hive Stadium in round three versus Italy on April 13 – get tickets for the two Scotland remaining home games here.
Becky Boyd is pictured by Scottish Rugby, Hollie Cunningham is pictured by Bryan Robertson
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