Women's Six Nations 2024: More should have reached 50 caps, says Scotland's McMillan

Louise McMillan will reach a half-century of caps against France

Louise McMillan believes she is "standing on the shoulders" of women who should have received 50 Scotland caps as she reaches the milestone against France this weekend.

The Saracens lock, and Leicester hooker Elis Martin, come into the line-up following last weekend's opening Women's Six Nations win in Wales.

"I've been thinking about how lucky it would be to get a 50th cap," McMillan.

"I see it as a privilege that probably most people never get to do."

McMillan, whose sister, Siobhan, has also represented Scotland, added: "There's definitely appreciation that I'm standing on the shoulders of girls that 100% could have got there, but maybe circumstance didn't allow them.

"That's very much how I feel with Siobhan, she had all the natural ability in the world. She's an incredible rugby player, but her circumstance at the time meant that she had to go into full-time work. I definitely wouldn't be here without Siobhan."

McMillan made her Scotland debut against Sweden in 2016 when still a university student.

At 25, she is now is one of the more experienced members of Bryan Easson's set-up and is excited by the emerging talent in a squad where 23 of the 34 players are on professional contracts.

"My Scottish rugby career has done so much. I was a first year university student and now I'm a full-time rugby player, which even in those days, I don't think I would have thought was possible," she added.

"It's so exciting to see that talent coming through. I like to think that girls nowadays, they will have just the option to kind of go through uni and then become full-time rugby players."

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