Close encounter? Scotland & Wales to renew rivalries

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm and Wales captain Hannah Jones

Women's Six Nations: Scotland v Wales

Venue: The Hive Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport online and listen on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru

Overview

Scotland and Wales will renew rivalries in Edinburgh on Saturday with the added sub-plot of also meeting in their opening game of this summer's Rugby World Cup.

While Wales have traditionally dominated this fixture, the tables have turned in the past 12 months, with Scotland celebrating a first victory in Cardiff in 20 years in last year's Women's Six Nations

They backed that up with a convincing six-try WXV2 warm-up win in Edinburgh in September while Wales struggled to deal with off-field distractions.

Scotland impressed at the tournament in South Africa and will be going into this year's championship rightly confident.

Wales also have cause for optimism. Last year's player contract dispute has been resolved and with three-time Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) winner Sean Lynn in place as the new head coach, a close encounter could be back on the cards this weekend.

Scotland welcomed record crowds to Hive Stadium last year and home support could well prove the difference between these well-matched sides.

Scotland team news

Scotland give an international debut to Hollie Cunningham who starts in the second row alongside experienced campaigner Sarah Bonar.

The pack also features Anne Young and Elliann Clarke, who both earn a first Six Nations start in the front row, with Scotland stalwart Lana Skeldon lining up at hooker.

Captain Rachel Malcolm leads from the blindside flanker, forming a back row with Rachel McLachlan and Evie Gallagher at number eight.

Helen Nelson and Leia Brebner-Holden are named as the half-backs with Lisa Thomson and Emma Orr resuming a threatening midfield partnership.

Chloe Rollie starts at full-back with Rhona Lloyd and Francesca McGhie on the wings.

Head coach Bryan Easson has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, with Evie Wills in line to make her first international appearance in three years while second row Adelle Ferrie could make her Scotland debut.

Wales team news

Wales have a blend of seasoned internationals and up-and-coming Celtic Challenge talent in their matchday squad.

Gloucester-Hartpury's Welsh contingent are straight back in the side after Sunday's PWR title defence, including captain Hannah Jones.

Jones has a new midfield partner in Kayleigh Powell, who usually plays fly-half or full-back, with Lleucu George preferred at 10 alongside vice-captain Keira Bevan at scrum-half.

Three-time Olympian Jasmine Joyce-Butchers starts at full-back, with in-form Lisa Neumann and Carys Cox named on the wings.

Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble and Alaw Pyrs all make their first Wales start, with Davies and Scoble joining experienced hooker Carys Phillips in the front row.

Pyrs, the younger sister of replacement prop Gwenllian, packs down with lock Abbie Fleming, while Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis and Georgia Evans form a familiar looking back row.

Lynn has gone for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Kelsey Jones and Pyrs set to return from injury.

View from the camps

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson: "They are a familiar enemy, it's always tasty and they are always close games and games that we really enjoy.

"Two styles that are a little bit different, it can be quite physical, it can also be a really good tactical battle as well.

"We know that Sean coming in is going to have a different edge with the experience he's had a Gloucester-Hartpury, with a winning team as well, a winning mentality. That will be interesting just to see how that goes.

"We're really looking forward to it, we've done more analysis on Gloucester-Hartpury than we have on Wales because obviously that's a potential style.

"We're aware of the battle that's going to come. It's been close over the last few years and we're expecting nothing else."

Wales head coach Sean Lynn: "The big thing is we all care and going up to Scotland, I want us to make the family proud.

"It will be very competitive and I know some of the players from the PWR - they're a good outfit but we are too and that's what I'm really excited about.

"There is some great talent and work ethic in our players.

"I've got full trust in these girls and I'm very confident we can go up there and really have a go at Scotland.

"You look at Scotland's 10 and 12 - they play a very big territorial game. They are very physical, their forward pack are very well drilled but that's what these girls are getting really excited about, facing a good challenge."

Scotland celebrated a 20-18 victory in Cardiff in last year's Six Nations opener

Commentator's view

BBC Radio Wales commentator Nick Webb: Welsh rugby needs a pick-me-up after the lows of the men's Six Nations but new coach Sean Lynn will need to work some magic quickly, even if he does have a good reputation in creating a good working and winning environment at Gloucester-Hartpury.

Scotland's win in Cardiff last year plus a big victory in the autumn WXV2 warm-up in Edinburgh will surely see them start as favourites.

Wales' front-five rookies, Maisie Davies, Jennie Scoble and Alaw Pyrs, will have to hit the ground running after impressing in the Celtic Challenge but face more of a step up in standards than their team-mates at English clubs, even if Scotland also have fresh faces in the front row.

Wales have been fairly forward-orientated for several years but the change in coach and the loss of main ball-carrier Sisilia Tuipulotu for the tournament through injury could lead to a shift in emphasis.

All in all, a vital game in the battle for third place in the Six Nations before you get to the significance of the result as a marker for the two nations' World Cup meeting in Salford in August.

Match facts

Head-to-head

• Wales have won 15 of their last 18 matches against Scotland in the Women's Six Nations.

• Six of the last seven Women's Six Nations matches between Scotland and Wales have been decided by margins of seven points or fewer, the exception being Wales' 34-22 win the last time they met in Edinburgh (2023).

• No players completed more tackles in the 2024 Women's Six Nations than Scotland's Alex Stewart or Wales' Alex Callender (74 each).

Scotland

• Scotland have won four of their last seven matches in the Women's Six Nations (L3), as many as they'd won in their previous 63 matches in the Championship (D2 L57). Their last home win came by 26 points (36-10 v Ireland in 2023), their biggest victory in the tournament since 2003 (48-7 v Spain).

• Scotland won more (25) and conceded fewer (40) turnovers than any other side in last year's WXV2 and boasted the highest tackle success rate of any team (89%).

Wales

• Wales have won three away games across their last three Women's Six Nations campaigns (L4) after winning just three matches on the road across their previous eight campaigns (D1 L15).

• Wales had both the second highest ruck success rate (96.8%) and the second quickest average attacking ruck speed (3.15s) of any team in the 2024 Women's Six Nations.