Becca Parker ready for Scotland Women start

BECCA Parker can not wait to make her first start for Scotland Women this afternoon when they take on Ireland at Hawthornden.

The 27-year-old Hillhead/Jordanhill second-row has shown head coach Karen Findlay enough in her first two matches off the bench, against England and Italy, to earn the
No 5 jersey for this RBS Six Nations encounter. And she could not have chosen a bigger match to get the nod for, with a big crowd expected to mark 20 years since Scotland Women first played an international.

Back in February 1993, Scotland defeated Ireland 10-0 and, while a similar result would go down well this afternoon, it promises to be a tough task. Ireland come into this one having beaten Wales and England in their two championship matches so far and with the Triple Crown in their sights.

Parker, whose father Hugh previously played for Scotland B, said: “We know that Ireland are a team in form but, despite two losses, we have faith in our squad and we are looking forward to what is a big day for women’s rugby in this country. To be given my first start is really great. I am a bit nervous, but have enjoyed coming off the bench against England and Ireland and will go out there and give it my all.”

Parker started playing rugby for local club Wigtownshire when she was in her teens and continued to play at Glasgow University. She now plays for Hillhead/Jordanhill, while a stint playing in Auckland in New Zealand really helped her game progress.

Sarah Dixon is set to start her first match of the tournament at outside centre for Scotland while the rest of the side is the same as the one that started the defeat to Italy in Dundee 13 days ago. Murrayfield Wanderers’ back-row Kelly Shields may make her Scotland debut off the bench.

Unsurprisingly, Irish head coach Philip Doyle has kept faith with the starting line-up and replacements that overcame England 25-0 in their last outing. Two years ago on the same ground Ireland ran out 22-5 winners.

Meanwhile, Scotland under-20s take on Finland at 11am at the same venue.

Scotland women: Steph Johnston (RHC Cougars); Annabel Sergeant (Richmond), Sarah Dixon (RHC Cougars), Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), Megan Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill); Tanya Griffith, Louise Dalgliesh (both RHC Cougars); Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Tracey Balmer (Worcester), Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond), Becca Parker (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Susie Brown, Tess Forsberg (both Richmond). Subs: Beth Dickens, Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (both Murrayfield Wanderers), Nikki McLeod (Morgan), Bridget Millar-Mills (Worcester), Kelly Shields, Sarah Law, Laura Steven (all Murrayfield Wanderers), Leanne Neary (RHC Cougars).