Scotland Women Announce Team For France

Scotland Women head coach Karen Findlay has announced the team to take on France Women in their RBS 6 Nations opener on Friday 4 February at Viry-Chtillon (kick-off 8pm, local). Led by captain Susie Brown, the side is a combination of relatively new faces alongside some of the more experienced players who defeated the French at Lasswade this time last year.Head coach Findlay said:The games against Spain and the Army earlier this month have enabled us to have a good look at the extended squad and has resulted in quite a few players putting their hands up.    In the build-up to their Six Nations championship, following the match against Spain earlier this month, Scotland Women took on the Army in a training game last weekend (Saturday 29 January) at Percy Park RFC, Tynemouth. Tries from Lauren Harris, Victoria Blakebrough and Annabel Sergeant, along with a conversion from Caroline Collie, saw the Scots win 17-0. We have new faces in the front and second rows; we have an exciting prospect at full-back in Caroline Collie, a well-established footballer with over 70 Scottish caps at various age levels; and there’s great potential from the bench, too, with winger Lauren Harris and hooker Lindsey Smith; for me and the coaching team, during this year and next we will be making sure we have the right people on the bus and that we’ve got them in the right seats. Our games against France are always great events and it’ll be fantastic playing under the floodlights in front of the crowds that the women’s game attracts over there. They have a new young team, too, so I’m sure the French will be just as motivated as we are to put in the performance. Listen to Karen’s thoughts on team selection and facing the French, here: Scotland Women v France Women, Friday 4 February at Viry-Chtillon (kick-off 8pm, local) 15 Caroline Collie (OA Saints) 14 Victoria Blakebrough (Richmond)13 Stephanie Johnston (Hillhead / Jordanhill)12 Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers)11 Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers) 10 Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars)9 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars) 1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead / Jordanhill)2 Alison MacDonald (RHC Cougars)3 Tracey Balmer (Worcester)4 Katherine Muir (RAF)5 Rosalind Murphy (Edinburgh University)6 Lindsay Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Sharks)7 Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers)8 Susie Brown (Richmond) Substitutes16 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead / Jordanhill)17 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers)18 Anna Swan (Edinburgh University)19 Charlotte Veale (Wasps)20 Annabel Sergeant (Dundee University)21 Lauren Harris (Aberdeenshire Quines)22 Nicola Halfpenny (Melrose) For more information and updates on Scotland Women, log on to the web site at www.scottishrugby.org and follow news and match updates on Twitter @scotlandteam Scotland Women Six Nations fixtures 2011Friday 4 February, France Women v Scotland Women, Viry-Chtillon (near Paris) kick-off 8pm (local)Sunday 13 February, Scotland Women v Wales Women, Burnbrae, kick-off 2pmSaturday 26 February, Scotland Women v Ireland Women, Lasswade, kick-off 2pmSunday 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