Scotland Women head coach, Jules Maxton, has shown faith in the same 23 person squad, who lost to Ireland in the opening Six Nations tie, to take on England today, Sunday February 9th in Aberdeen.

The match is due to kick off at 16:00 SA Time (14:00 GMT) and will be broadcast live on Scottish Rugby Unions YouTube channel.

Our resident Scot, Bullscot, is at the game.

Rugby Program for the Scotland vs England women game

SRU

Maxton has made three changes to the starting XV as prop Heather Lockhart, scrum-half Louise Dalgliesh and centre Laura Steven, have been promoted from the bench to face the Auld Enemy at  Rubislaw.

Lockhart takes the loose-head jersey as captain Tracy Balmer moves into the  tight-head berth, Dalgliesh gets the nod ahead of Sarah Law and Steven starts as inside centre, in turn moving Gillian Inglis to 13 and Annabel Sergeant to the right wing.

Ruth Slaven and Tess Forsberg have also reversed roles as the former plays on the blindside flank, the latter the openside.

Speaking to scottishrugby.org, Scotland hooker, Sarah Quick, said: “There’s a great rivalry between ourselves and England, everyone wants to pull on the shirt and give it their all in these clashes.

“We’re all really looking forward to going up to Aberdeen, it’s a new setting for us. Hopefully, we can get a good crowd who will get behind us and create a fantastic atmosphere for the game.  From last week, we’ve learned that we need to bring a high level of intensity from the very first whistle. In the last quarter of the Ireland match, we really upped our game and competed well, we’ve just got to make sure we carry this on to play England.

“At the end of the day, there’s two teams, one ball, one game, it’s who can be the most physical and show the greatest desire, who will come out on top.”

Admission to the game, kicking off at 14:00 GMT, will be free of charge. The match will also be streamed live on Scottish Rugby’s YouTube channel.

Visit www.scottishrugby.org

Scotland team:

15. Stephanie Johnston (Worcester)
14. Annabel Sergeant (Richmond)
13. Gillian Inglis (Melrose)
12. Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers)
11. Megan Gaffney (Hillhead-Jordanhill)
10. Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers)
9.  Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars)
1.  Heather Lockhart (Hillhead-Jordanhill)
2.  Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers)
3.  Tracy Balmer (Worcester) CAPTAIN
4.  Jade Konkel (Hillhead-Jordanhill)
5.  Deborah McCormack (Richmond)
6.  Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers)
7.  Tess Forsberg (Richmond)
8.  Lindsay Wheeler (Saracens)

Replacements:
16. Nikki McLeod (Stirling County)
17. Lindsey Smith (Hillhead-Jordanhill)
18. Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers)
19. Emma Wassel (Murrayfield Wanderers)
20. Anna Stodter (Loughborough University)
21. Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers)
22. Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars)
23. Katy Green (Darlington Mowden Park)

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made wholesale changes for Sunday’s Six Nations second round clash against Scotland.

RFU

Five are players are retained from the disappointing 18-6 defeat in France: skipper Katy Mclean, Rachael Burford and Emily Scarratt, who moves to fullback, in the backs while vice-captain Sarah Hunter and flanker Marlie Packer are also given the nod again.

England duo Mercedes Foy and Sasha Acheson could be set to make their Six Nations debuts as they are named on the bench. Joanne McGilchrist also returns to international action for the first time this season.

Street said: “After a thoroughly disappointing opener to France, it is vital that we bounce back against Scotland and get our Six Nations campaign back on track.

“There are lots of changes to this team but I was always planning on using the majority of our World Cup training squad over the first two games. This is a chance for all the players to put their hands up for the game against Ireland at Twickenham on February 22.

“We’ve had a good hard look at the game and we are certainly looking to improve in all areas on Sunday but especially around the breakdown. We know we can and will improve, and we have got a big point to prove on Sunday.

“We know Scotland will be up for it at home and need to come out firing.  We will not lack any motivation for the game. I want to get our season back on track and show the quality we know we have.”

England team:

15. Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester)
13. Amber Reed (Bristol)
12. Rachael Burford (Thurrock)
11. Claire Allan (Richmond)
10. Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Captain)
9.  La Toya Mason (Wasps)
1.  Claire Purdy (Wasps)
2.  Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
3.  Laura Keates (Worcester)
4.  Rebecca Essex (Richmond)
5.  Joanne McGilchrist (Wasps)
6.  Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)
7.  Marlie Packer (Wasps)
8.  Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)

Replacements:
16. Mercedes Foy (Thurrock)
17. Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
18. Sasha Acheson (Bristol)
19. Emily  Braund (Lichfield)
20. Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
21. Georgina Gulliver (Lichfield)
22. Ceri Large (Worcester)
23. Kay Wilson (Bristol)