Easson backs teenager McGhie to relish English challenge

BEING asked to face up to the world’s No 1 side away from home on your debut for your country would strike fear into anyone... but Scotland rugby head coach Bryan Easson has backed teenager Francesca McGhie to take it all in her stride tomorrow. The Scots travel to a sold-out Kingston Park in Newcastle to take on England in their TikTok Women’s Six Nations opener. Scotland have lost their last nine Tests in total going back to this competition last year and they will have to produce the performance of their lives to stop that run in the north east of England. This is the start of a new era for Scotland, though, with 28 professional contracts handed out in December and things are beginning to build up towards qualifying for the Rugby World Cup in 2025. In a starting XV that shows eight changes from the side that played against hosts New Zealand in the last pool game at the World Cup in Whangarei in late October, McGhie’s name beside the No 11 shirt is the one that jumps out. The 19-year-old only took up the sport in 2018, but she has made quite an impact at club level with Watsonians of late and is now making the step up. ‘Fran has a lot of pace, she is quite new to the game, but she was involved in our (Scottish Rugby) pathway set-up last year and she then scored five tries for the Thistles in the recent Celtic Challenge competition (the tournament which aims to bridge the gap between club and international rugby),’ Easson said. ‘She is fearless and will bring excitement. She is really good on the edge, give her an inch on the outside and she’ll show people what she is all about. ‘We don’t want to build it (her first cap) up too much, but she has youthful enthusiasm and is quite a chilled individual. ‘I spent a bit of time with her on Thursday morning just asking her how she was feeling and she was quite relaxed. She doesn’t look as if it is her first cap, we are excited to see how she gets on.’ As well as McGhie, full-back Chloe Rollie, winger Coreen Grant, centre Meryl Smith, loosehead prop Leah Bartlett, second-rows Lyndsay O’Donnell and Louise McMillan and No 8 Evie Gallagher all start. Beth Blacklock, a 25-year-old former England National Academy player, could make her debut from the bench at centre.

Scotland are missing the likes of experienced campaigners Lisa Cockburn, Molly Wright, Sarah Bonar, Emma Wassell, Jade Konkel-Roberts (injury) and Lisa Thomson and Rhona Lloyd (with GB Sevens). Young talent Shona Campbell is also with GB Sevens while Hannah Smith and Megan Gaffney have retired since the World Cup. ‘There is a blend of experience and youth in this squad and with some more experienced players missing it is a great opportunity to see what these younger ones are all about,’ Easson said ahead of the sternest of tests.

SCOTLAND — Chloe Rollie; Coreen Grant, Emma Orr, Meryl Smith, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Caity Mattinson; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Christine Belisle, Lyndsay O’Donnell, Louise McMillan, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher.

Replacements: Jodie Rettie, Anne Young, Elliann Clarke, Eva Donaldson, Eilidh Sinclair, Mairi McDonald, Beth Blacklock, Lis Musgrove.