Smith names side to face Italy in final Festival match

Over the last two days of competition, the team have played in 35-minute fixtures but today, the Scots will take on Italy in an extended 70-minute match.

So far Scotland have emerged victorious in one of their four fixtures, beating England 22-12 on day two.

Reflecting on that day two performance, Smith said: “I was really pleased with how we performed on day two. Obviously, we were chuffed to bits with that win over England! The girls brought a different level of physicality than they have previously. Their speed to the breakdown and their work rate around the contact area was class, and they dominated at set piece which was so pleasing to see.

“They all put in a performance to be proud of and rose to the occasion, and I think that’s a really valuable lesson for them to learn.

“Although the scoreline didn’t go our way against Ireland, it was still an improved performance from day one. I think set piece, especially the line out, was a huge threat of ours both in attack and defence and that was something we wanted to go after based on our reviews, so it was pleasing to see that come to the fore.

“We’re excited about this final match against Italy and it will be a new challenge for the team to increase that game time to 70-minutes.”

Click here to watch the match.

Click here to read more about the festival from Ella Rae and Lucy Giles.

Scotland Women U18 team to face Italy on Saturday 19 April, kick-off 4.30pm, live-streaming across Scottish Rugby YouTube.

15. Scarlett Haddow (Stirling County)
14. Lucy Giles (Dumfries Saints)
13. Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh)
12. Niamh Waters (Biggar)
11. Bethan Mathieson (Dunfermline)

10. Poppy Mellanby (Biggar)
9. Eilidh Comerford (West of Scotland FC)

1. Ellie Moffat (Watsonian FC)
2. Ella Rae (Stirling County)
3. Imogen Spence – co-captain (Biggar)
4. Kara Borthwick (Currie Chieftains)
5. Ailsa Merryweather (Hull Ioanians)
6. Estella Vaughan (Guildfordians)
7. Scarlett Down (Horsham)
8. Gemma Thomson – co-captain (Stirling County)

Replacements

16. Pip Sutherland (Old Reigatians)
17. Ellen Nimmo (Boroughmuir Banshees)
18. Cailin Lardner (Stirling County)
19. Mary Rudd (Henley College)
20. Amy Vance (Dumfries Saints)
21. Tamzin Rosie (Caithness)
22. Daisy Morrison (Stirling County)
23. Eve Mackay (Strathendrick)
24. Alina Prokopenko (Dalkeith)
25. Nina Husrath (Stirling County)
25. Kat Bird (Northern)
27. Ellie Campbell (Ivybridge)
28. Josie Foubister (University of Edinburgh)