Halfpenny focused on making mark in final World Cup warm-up clash

Scotland's newest female rugby star Nicola Halfpenny says she is still on cloud nine as she prepares to play at full-back against Ireland tomorrow in the team's last warm-up match before the World Cup.

The Scots are hosting their Irish counterparts in the non-cap match at Lasswade's Hawthornden ground (1pm) with head coach Gary Parker getting the chance to have a final look at various players and combinations. On 20 August the side will take on Canada in their World Cup opener in Surrey.

Melrose's Halfpenny turns 21 next week and only made her international debut four months ago, but she has impressed team mates and Parker alike so far with her play from full-back and her kicking at goal.

She won her debut cap against tomorrow's opponents at the end of the RBS 6 Nations and said: "I never expected to be capped this season, so to have started against Ireland and then played twice against South Africa has been really exciting for me.

"I have just tried to do my best every time I have gone on the pitch and I will be doing the same in this warm-up match.

"To be in the World Cup squad is amazing and I think there is a really good spirit in the party.

"We all try to keep each other going, so I am looking forward to being part of the whole experience."

Halfpenny, who has a fearsome boot on her and famously scored 63 points in one match against Lismore last term for her club, is one of a number of young players coming through at the right time into the international set-up.

The crop includes winger Celia Hawthorn and back-row Ruth Slaven and Halfpenny says they are grateful to the senior players such as Lynne Reid and Donna Kennedy, who have helped them to settle in.

"It is quite a balanced squad and what is great to see is the way we all work hard for each other. We have to continue this against Ireland and through to next month's tournament," she said.

Parker has made five changes to the starting-line up from the one that led at half-time against South Africa last month before going down 41-17, but he is sure to use all his replacements in a match which is to be played in three sections of 30 minutes.

In March Ireland defeated Scotland 15-3 in Ashbourne, Halfpenny kicking Scotland's only points that night.

Scotland Women (team to face Ireland tomorrow at Lasswade, kick-off 1pm): N Halfpenny (Melrose); C Hawthorn (Edinburgh University), L Millard (Team Northumbria), S Newton (Team Northumbria), L Douglas (Wasps); E Kerr (Wasps), S Gill (Murrayfield Wanderers); H Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), S-L Walker (Watsonians), B Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Moffat (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Brown (Richmond), L Reid (RHC Cougars), K Holdworth, R Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers).Subs: D Kennedy (Worcester), R Murphy (Edinburgh University), G McCord (RHC Cougars), A Macdonald (RHC Cougars), L Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Sharks), T Forsberg (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Johnston (Hillhead/Jordanhill), T Griffith (RHC Cougars), L Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars).

Ireland Women: from L Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster); N Briggs (Clonmel/Munster); H Brosnan (Highfield/Munster); L Cantwell (UL Bohemians), A Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), E Downey (Cooke/Ulster), S Houston (Blackrock/Leinster), M Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster), J O'Sullivan (Richmond/Exile), T Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), J Shiels (Richmond/Leinster), N Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), L Austin (UL Bohemians/Munster), G Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), O Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster), F Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), L Day (Cooke/Ulster), C Fanning (Highfield/Munster), C Mahon (UL Bohemians/Leinster), C Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), J Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster), Y Nolan (Blackrock/Leinster), K O'Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), ML Reilly (Navan/Leinster), S Ryan (Blackrock/Leinster), CStaunton (Galwegians/Connacht).