Women's Six Nations: Susie Brown wants women to battle in France

New Scotland Women's captain Susie Brown has expressed her delight at being handed the role for the Six Nations and has asked her new-look side to battle hard for 80 minutes in tonight's opener in France.

The squad head to the match at Viry-Chtillon with only eight of the 22 having been involved in Scotland's 32-8 loss to Ireland in the seventh place play-off at the Rugby World Cup back in September.

The end of that event saw a number of experienced players - including Scotland's record cap holder Donna Kennedy - retire and others put their international careers on hold.

When head coach Gary Parker then stepped down, it left everything in limbo but new head coach Karen Findlay and 45-times-capped back-row Brown are excited ahead of a new era for the women's game in this country.

Brown said: "Yes, after the World Cup a lot of things changed but in sport you always have to adapt and we now have the chance to blood a number of young players and get them up to speed with the international game.

"Having been training with some of the new players over the last couple of months and having played a couple of warm-up matches with them I know how talented they are and myself and the other experienced players are looking forward to working with them over the coming months."

In their opener last year Scotland defeated France at a foggy Hawthornden and newcomer Celia Hawthorn made her mark at the top level.

She is currently injured, but Scotland will be hoping that the next batch of new faces make a name for themselves tonight.

One of those is 24-year-old full-back Caroline Collie, who has previously played football for Arsenal and Chelsea and did well on debut in the friendly against Spain earlier this year.

Scotland Women: (to play France Women, tonight at Viry-Chtillon (kick-off 7pm GMT): C Collie (OA Saints); V Blakebrough (Richmond), S Johnston (Hillhead/Jordanhill), L Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers) K Green (Murrayfield Wanderers); T Griffith (RHC Cougars), L Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars); H Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), A MacDonald (RHC Cougars), T Balmer (Worcester), K Muir (RAF), R Murphy (Edinburgh University), L Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Sharks), S Brown (Richmond), R Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers). Subs: L Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill), B Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), A Swan (Edinburgh University), C Veale (Wasps), A Sergeant (Dundee University), L Harris (Aberdeenshire Quines), N Halfpenny (Melrose).

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