Borders three line up in concluding Six Nations rugby clash with Wales

Lana Skeldon scored a try for Scotland Women last week against their Italian counterparts (library image).

Front-row forward Lana Skeldon, from Hawick, full back Chloe Rollie, of Jedburgh, and centre Lisa Thomson, of Hawick line up against Wales at Scotstoun in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon in this season’s format-shortened tournament.

It’s been a disappointing campaign for both nations, with the Scots losing 52-10 to England south of the border, then suffering a home defeat to Italy last weekend by 20-41.

Wales have yet to score a point after two matches, losing 53-0 in France and then 45-0 at home to Ireland.

One bright moment for the Scots was provided in Glasgow last weekend when hooker Lana Skeldon, formerly of Gala Girls and Melrose Ladies, scored a first-half try against the Italians from a rolling maul, with team captain Helen Nelson adding the goal extras.

Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 5pm and is being shown live on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer.

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson said: “We’ve made a few personnel and positional changes that I believe will allow us to put the best team available on the pitch this weekend.

“We were disappointed in our defence against Italy last weekend but we have worked really hard during our training sessions to rectify this and we believe we have a good system in place ahead of the game.

“Wales will be a very physical and motivated opponent but we know what to expect and we have prepared accordingly.”

The inclusion of Christine Belisle at loosehead prop – where she packs down In the front-row alongside Lana Skeldon and Megan Kennedy – is the only alteration to the starting forward bunch.

In the backs, Jenny Maxwell will make her first start of the 2021 tournament at scrum half, while Hannah Smith returns from GB Sevens camp to start at outside centre. Lisa Thomson, also the vice-captain, moves back to inside centre.

An unchanged second-row sees Emma Wassell and Louise McMillan continue their partnership, while Evie Gallagher, Rachel McLachlan and Siobhan Cattigan are all once again named in the back row.

Captain Helen Nelson moves back to fly-half to form a half-back partnership with Maxwell, while Thomson is partnered by Smith in midfield.

A settled back-three sees Chloe Rollie continue at full-back, with Megan Gaffney and Liz Musgrove again lining up on the wing. The full starting line-up comprises:

15 Chloe Rollie (Harlequins), 14 Liz Musgrove (unattached), 13 Hannah Smith (Watsonians), 12 Lisa Thomson (vice-captain, unattached), 11 Megan Gaffney (Heriots), 10 Helen Nelson (captain, Loughborough Lightning), 9 Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning), 1 Christine Belisle (Cartha Queens Park), 2 Lana Skeldon (unattached), 3 Megan Kennedy (Stirling County), 4 Emma Wassell (Corstorphine Cougars), 5 Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), 6 Evie Gallagher (Stirling County), 7 Rachel McLachlan (unattached), 8 Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County). Substitutes – 16 Jodie Rettie (Saracens), 17 Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning), 18 Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park), 19 Nicola Howat (Sale Sharks), 20 Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill), 21 Sarah Law (unattached), 22 Evie Wills (Stirling County), 23 Rachel Shankland (Stirling County).

Also in action tomorrow are Ireland v Italy at noon and England v France in the tournament decider at 2pm.