Sutcliffe handed first Scotland start as Bonar returns for third Wallaroos clash

Hooker Aicha Sutcliffe will make her first start in a Scotland jersey when the side faces Australia in Canberra this Friday, as interim head coach Dave Butcher names three changes to his XV for the WXV Global Series finale against the Wallaroos.

Lock Sarah Bonar returns to the second row after recovering from illness, while full-back Chloe Rollie is restored to the starting line-up to complete the back three alongside wings Rhona Lloyd and Katie Buchanan. Buchanan, who scored her first Scotland try against Australia last week, retains her place on the left wing.

In the half-backs, Leia Brebner-Holden starts at scrum-half alongside Hannah Ramsay at fly-half, with vice-captain Helen Nelson shifting to inside centre and partnering Meryl Smith in midfield. The front row sees Anne Young and Elliann Clarke at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, with Sutcliffe between them at hooker. Holland Bogan partners Bonar in the second row, and the back row is unchanged: captain Rachel Malcolm leads at blindside flanker, Rachel McLachlan starts on the openside, and Evie Gallagher wears the No. 8 jersey.

From the bench, Glasgow Warriors centre Nicole Flynn and tighthead prop Imogen Spence are both in line to make their Scotland debuts, with Butcher opting for a five-three split of forwards and backs among his replacements.

The match represents Scotland’s third meeting with the Wallaroos in this WXV Global Series campaign, and the side arrives having suffered back-to-back heavy defeats. Australia won 30-10 at the Hive Stadium in September before running out 56-12 winners at Accor Stadium last week, leaving Scotland searching for a much-improved performance to close out the series.