Rollie starts for Scotland against England

By Mark Stevens
24/3/22

Exeter Chiefs Women’s full-back Chloe Rollie has today been named in Bryan Easson’s Scotland Women’s squad for their opening 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations opener against England at the DAM Health Stadium on Saturday (12 noon).

Rollie is set to run out for her 46th Test cap and is one of 14 players retained in the starting line-up from Scotland’s last match against Colombia in February.

Jade Konkel is poised to make her 50th appearance, having made her debut nine years ago against this weekend’s opponents after coming off the bench in the opening 2013 Six Nations match. No.8 Konkel anchors a formidable back-row with captain Rachel Malcolm and Rachel McLachlan.

An unchanged front-row sees hooker Lana Skeldon pack down alongside Leah Bartlett and Christine Belisle, while Emma Wassell links up with Louise McMillan again in the second-row.

Vice-captain Helen Nelson moves back to fly-half to form a half-back partnership with Jenny Maxwell, while Hannah Smith returns to the starting line-up to partner Lisa Thomson in the midfield.

A settled back-three sees Rollie continue at full-back, with Megan Gaffney and Rhona Lloyd again lining up on the wing.

Easson, himself a former Chiefs player, said: “Reaching 50 caps for your country is a significant milestone for any player and I’m delighted to see Jade reach that honour this weekend.

“Jade is an exceptional player who has an excellent work-rate and always wears the thistle with immense pride anytime she steps on to the pitch and I’m excited to see her perform at the weekend.

“We are looking for a concerted effort of consistency in our performance this weekend and making sure we play for the full 80 minutes.

“We are aware of the challenge that England will pose on Saturday so it’s hugely important we stick to our systems and processes, while also keeping a good discipline throughout the match.”

SCOTLAND WOMEN'S SIDE TO FACE ENGLAND WOMEN

15. Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs) – 45 caps
14. Rhona Lloyd (Les Lioness du Stade Bordelaise) – 33 caps
13. Hannah Smith (Watsonians) – 30 caps
12. Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks) – 40 caps
|11. Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lightning) – 39 caps
10. Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) – 37 caps
9. Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning) – 36 caps
1. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) – 12 caps
2. Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors) – 48 caps
|3. Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) – 12 caps
4. Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning) – 52 caps
5. Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill) – 31 caps
6. Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, capt) – 24 caps
7. Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks) – 24 caps
8. Jade Konkel (Harlequins) – 49 caps

Replacements

16. Molly Wright (Sale Sharks) – 10 caps
17. Lisa Cockburn (Worcester Warriors) – 23 caps
18. Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury) – 15 caps
19. Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors) – 15 caps
20. Eva Donaldson (Edinburgh University) – 1 cap
21. Sarah Law (Sale Sharks) – 48 caps
22. Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University) – uncapped
23. Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University) – 2 caps