Findlay Expects Scotland Women To Rise To English Challenge

After a stirring performance and significant improvement against their Irish counterparts two weeks ago, head coach Karen Findlay has put her confidence in a Scotland Women side featuring only minimal changes, to take on England at Twickenham on Sunday 13 March (kick-off 5.15pm). The game takes place on the international pitch immediately after the conclusion of the men’s Calcutta Cup fixture and entry is free. The home side currently sits at the top of the Six Nations table and Findlay does not underestimate what lies ahead. She said: It’s a big challenge to play the second best team in the world but it’s also going to be a fantastic opportunity to advance the women’s game.AUDIO: Hear more from Karen, belowThe match will be broadcast live on BBC (red button) and on the BBC Sport web site (UK users)Scotland captain Susie Brown with her English counterpart, Katy McLean  Listen to Karen Findlay’s throughts on the Twickenham challenge With the only changes seeing Caroline Collie return to start at full back, Katy Green switching to right wing with Victoria Blakebrough moving to left and Anna Swan at lock in place of  the injured Ros Murphy, Findlay is keeping faith with the side that showed so much improvement in their last outing. She said: I want to give a vote of confidence to a large part of the team that played against Ireland. That performance was significantly better and we put in place some of the things we’d been practising between the Wales and Ireland games. I think that team deserves to have another crack at it. Among those playing on the big stage on Sunday is one team member who will be enjoying a personal milestone. Lock Anna Swan will also be celebrating her 25th birthday on match day – and a rousing Scotland performance would certainly be the icing on the cake! Scotland Women v England Women, Sunday 13 March at Twickenham (kick-off 5.15pm). 15 Caroline Collie (Old Albanians) 14 Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers)13 Annabel Sergeant (Dundee University)12 Steph Johnston (Hillhead / Jordanhill)11 Victoria Blakebrough (Richmond) 10 Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers)9 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars) 1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead / Jordanhill)2 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead / Jordanhill)3 Tracy Balmer (Worcester)4 Anna Swan (Edinburgh University)5 Lindsay Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Sharks)6 Charlotte Veale (London Wasps)7 Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers)8 Susie Brown (Richmond) Substitutes16 Alison MacDonald (RHC Cougars)17 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers)18 Tess Forsberg (Richmond)19 Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead / Jordanhill)20 Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars)21 Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers)22 Lauren Harris (Aberdeenshire Quines) Scotland Women Six Nations fixtures 2011Friday 4 February, France Women 53 – 3 Scotland Women, Viry-Chtillon Sunday 13 February, Scotland Women 12 – 41 Wales Women, BurnbraeSaturday 26 February, Scotland Women 5 – 22 Ireland Women, LasswadeSunday 13 March, England Women v Scotland Women (follows the men’s match) Twickenham, kick-off 5.15pmSunday 20 March, Scotland Women v Italy Women, Meggetland, kick-off 3pm