Teams confirmed for key test games

Scotland v SpainScotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm – live on BBC Alba.

On Friday, Scotland hosts probably their single most important women’s rugby test match, perhaps since the 1994 World Cup. A place in the 2017 World Cup is on the line as they take on Spain in the first leg of Europe’s final play-off.

We’ve previewed the full gamehereand now the teams have been announced.

Scotland Coach Shade Munro names captain Lisa Martin at inside centre in a team which includes a debutant in the starting XV and three on the bench.  Hillhead Jordanhill’s Louise McMillan is set to earn her first cap when she starts at flanker, while Murrayfield Wanderers prop Lucy Park and Lichfield team mates Sarah Bonar and Rachel Malcolm could also make their debuts off the bench.All four uncapped players gained international experience in last month’s non-capped match against Wales in Cardiff. McMillan and Park are also among 11 BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players selected to play Spain.Adding their experience to the group are props Heather Lockhart, on 82 caps, and Tracey Balmer, who has started 32 of her 36 caps to date. They are joined by Hillhead Jordanhill hooker Lana Skeldon.Munro said: “The players are really looking forward to getting out there and taking on Spain at Scotsoun.“We are well aware of the challenge that Spain presents and how important these Women’s Rugby World Cup Qualifiers are. We know Spain will be a much better side than they were a year ago when we played them and won but then again so are we.“Our preparation has been going well as we look to build on progress made during this year’s Six Nations and our competitive warm-up games.“We’ve been looking at different combinations this season to add depth to our experienced pool of players. Competition for a place in the squad keeps pushing them all on and the chance to play in next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup is another carrot.“I’m excited to see what this group can achieve in front of a vocal home support at Scotstoun on Friday.”

SCOTLAND:  C Rollie (Murrayfield Wanderers); M Gaffney (Edinburgh Univ), L Thomson (Edinburgh Univ), L Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers, capt), R Lloyd (Edinburgh Univ); H Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh Univ,); H Lockhart (Hillhead-Jordanhill), L Skeldon (Hillhead-Jordanhill), T Balmer (Worcester), E Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), D McCormack (Aylesford Bulls), J Forsyth (Hillhead-Jordanhill), L McMillan (Hillhead-Jordanhill), K Dunbar (RHC Cougars).Replacements:L Park (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Smith (Hillhead-Jordanhill), K Dougan (Edinburgh Univ), S Bonar (Lichfield), R Malcolm (Lichfield), L O’Donnell (Worcester), J Maxwell (Lichfield), E Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers).

England v New Zealand

There are two key returning players for England this weekend from the side wihch defeated Ireland with Katy Mclean and Emily Scarratt both returning to start.

Rochelle Clark is named on the bench and could come on to earn her 116th cap, which would make the prop the world’s most capped women’s player.

England coach Simon Middleton said:  “This series is about building on our performances and developing as a squad. We expect a tough Test against the Black Ferns, as the world’s No1 side,” said Middleton. “We have two tough games under our belts where we have had the opportunity to test our resilience and the strength and depth of our squad. We look forward to bringing Emily Scarratt and Lydia Thompson back into the starting 15 and having the support of a home crowd. We encourage anyone coming down to Twickenham on Saturday to pop over to the Stoop for 12pm to get behind the Red Roses.”

The Black Ferns have made just one change to their squad that faces England in the first game of their northern hemisphere tour on Sunday morning at 1am (NZ time).

The injured Sarah Goss is replaced by 18-cap Rawinia Everitt, in an otherwise unchanged squad from their last test with the Wallaroos, who they beat twice (67-3 and 29-3) in New Zealand last month.

Charmaine McMenamin moves to openside flanker as a result of the change, with Everitt wearing the No 6 jersey.

Head coach Glenn Moore says they've quickly adapted to cold conditions in England.

"We've prepared well and adjusted to the cooler temperatures but we are under no illusion that playing the English at home will be a tough assignment. They will be wanting a win in front of their fans," said Moore."I believe we have the right mix of experience and newer players in the Black Ferns and everyone is really motivated to play and put out a good performance."

England:Danielle Waterman (Bristol), Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries), Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls), Fiona Pocock (Aylesford), Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls), Amy Cokayne (Lichfield), Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield), Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol), Marlie Packer (Bristol), Sarah Hunter (Bristol)Replacements: Emma Croker (Richmond), Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries), Justine Lucas (Lichfield), Poppy Cleall (Bristol), Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens), La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Emily Scott (Saracens), Claire Allan (Saracens).

Black Ferns:Selica Winiata, Honey Hireme, Portia Woodman, Chelsea Alley, Renee Wickliffe, Kelly Brazier, Kendra Cocksedge; Aroha Savage, Charmaine McMenamin, Rawinia Everitt, Charmaine Smith, Eloise Blackwell, Aleisha Nelson, Fiao'o Faamausili (c), Toka Natua.Replacements: Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Aldora Itunu, Aotearoa Mata'u, Charlene Gubb, Angie Sisifa, Kristina Sue, Carla Hohepa, Hazel Tubic.

Ireland v CanadaUCD Bowl, Saturday, 2.00pm

Ireland coach Tom Tierney has included two new caps in a side which features 10 changes from the one that lost to England last weekend.

UL Bohemian openside Anna Caplice starts in the backrow while Tullamore lock Nichola Fryday is named in the secondrow.. The 21-year-old UCD student will be partnered by Blackrock College’s Katie Norris.

The Munster trio of Fiona Hayes, Zoe Grattage and Fiona Reidy will form a new-look frontrow.

There are two changes in the backs, as Tierney names a new halfback partnership of Galwegians’ scrumhalf Mary Healy and Belfast-born outhalf Nikki Caughey.

Tierney said: “There were lots of positives to take from last Sunday’s game against England. While the result didn’t go in our favour, the players will take a lot from the performance and we will be looking to build on this over the next two week against Canada and New Zealand,” said Tierney.

Canada'a squad will be captained by a returning Kelly Russell, who is also joined by fellow Rio 2016 bronze medallist Karen Paquin in the starting lineup. Magali Harvey and Elissa Alarie also make their return to the fifteens program having not featured since the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France.

CANADA:1. Carolyn McEwen (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club), Vancouver, BC 2. Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON 3. DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets) Vulcan, AB 4. Latoya Blackwood (Westshore) Montreal, QC 5. Kayla Mack (Wild Oats) Saskatoon, SK 6. Jacey Grusnick (Aurora Barbarians) Alliston, ON 7. Karen Paquin (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC 8. Kelly Russell, Captain (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON 9. Chelsea Guthrie (Stratchona Druids) Edmonton, AB 10. Emily Belchos (Westshore) Barrie, ON 11. Magali Harvey (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC  12. Andrea Burk (Capilano RFC) North Vancouver, BC 13. Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians) Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC 14. Elissa Alarie (Westshore) Trois-Rivieres, QC 15. Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers) Montreal, QCReplacements: 16. Gillian Boag (Capilano/UBC) Calgary, AB 17. Olivia DeMerchant (Woodstock Wildmen) Mapledale, NB 18. Demi Stamatakis (SFU) Vancouver, BC 19. Tyson Beukeboom (Aurora Barbarians) Uxbridge, ON 20. Barbara Mervin (Westshore) Peterborough, ON 21. Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Pointe-Claire, QC 22. Mackenzie Higgs (Aurora Barbarians) Aurora, ON 23. Brittany Waters (Meralomas/Castaway Wanderers) Vancouver, BC

IRELAND::Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemian/Munster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht); Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian/Munster), Zoe Grattage (Highfield/Munster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster); Katie Norris (Blackrock College/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore RFC/Leinster); Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s/Leinster) captain.Replacements:Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster) Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians/Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union), Jackie Shiels (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)