Banned Scotland forward Gallagher to miss France game

Evie Gallagher was a powerful presence in the loose against Wales

Evie Gallagher has been banned for one game following her red card in Scotland's Women's Six Nations opener against Wales and will miss Saturday's game against France.

The forward was dismissed on review for an illegal clear-out on Wales' replacement hooker Kelsey Jones early in the second half of last weekend's 24-21 win at Hive Stadium and will sit out the round-two game in La Rochelle.

The Scotland number eight appeared before an independent disciplinary committee on Tuesday and her red card was upheld.

The Bristol Bears player was initially shown a yellow card but it was then upgraded to a 20-minute red by television match official Ian Tempest in the bunker.

The committee determined the incident was within the low-range entry point of two matches but, because Gallagher accepted she had committed an act of foul play as well as other mitigating factors, it has been reduced by 50 per cent.

Wales also had their number eight sent off, Georgia Evans being dismissed for two yellow cards.

Scotland will need to be more accurate

France opened with a 27-15 victory in Ireland and were 15-5 winners against Scotland in Edinburgh last year.

"It is another opportunity for us to go and express ourselves," said assistant coach Matt Banahan.

"We had multiple opportunities out there from Saturday that we could have scored from and we have got to look at how we can make more of those. Against the stronger teams you are going to have less, you are going to have to make sure you are more accurate.

"But the team have been brilliant so far, from the work they put in, from the mini meetings in small groups to the one-on-ones, the growth of the girls personally, not as a team, as personal players has been massive."