Scotland women’s head coach Bryan Easson has made eight personnel changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s second Vodafone Series match versus Fiji.

The Scots will be out to build on the 40-14 win over Wales last Friday when they return to Hive Stadium in Edinburgh for one more time before heading off to South Africa next week for a WXV 2 title defence.

Props Anne Young and Elliann Clarke have been handed their first starts and will be earning their 12th and 13th caps respectively while Louise McMillan comes into the second-row and Rachel McLachlan and Jade Konkel join the back-row.

Caity Mattinson, Scotland’s first choice scrum-half, returns to action for the first time since sustaining a neck injury in the final Guinness Women’s Six Nations game versus Ireland back in April while Rhona Lloyd comes in on the wing.

In a positional change, Meryl Smith moves from 12 to 10.

Of the players dropping out, Christine Belisle, Evie Gallagher and Helen Nelson are on the bench where Leia Brebner-Holden and Lucia Scott, after impressing on debut from there last time out, remain.

There are not places in the matchday 23 for uncapped Aila Ronald or Rachel Philipps.

Here are five talking points from the team announcement…

Good things come to those who wait

Anne Young, now 24, made her debut in 2021 and Elliann Clarke, 23, made her debut in 2022, but these are their first starts.

Young has recently moved from Sale Sharks to Loughborough Lightning and Easson said she “has just got better all the time” and is dynamic for a loosehead.

Easson believes Clarke has “gone from strength to strength” since she joined Bristol Bears last summer and he feels they both deserve this opportunity. It is now up to them to make their mark.

Jade won’t be in the shade

Jade Konkel is one of the most physical players in the Scotland set up and always carries hard from No.8 and she will need to against Fiji.

There is no doubt she will be up for this one which is her 64th cap because she has not started for her country in a while due to multiple ankle issues.

She had a cameo off the bench versus Wales and you can expect her to be right in the mix here from minute one.

It’s a numbers game for Smith

In recent months we have seen Meryl Smith play 15 and 12 for Scotland and also fill in at 10 off the bench.

Now the 23-year-old has been handed the keys to number 10 and this is a big chance for her to show what she can do in what is probably her long-term position.

There is little doubt that vice-captain Helen Nelson will start the first game at the WXV 2 tournament, but Smith is a great playmaker who is growing in confidence all of the time.

Aila Ronald and Rachel Philipps must be patient 

Uncapped duo Aila Ronald and Rachel Philipps have not been included, but Easson says they should not be downhearted.

“It is going to take time for them, but they have come in and trained really hard, impressed us and we would have no qualms putting either in going forward if needed,” he said about the 20-year-old hooker and 22-year-old centre respectively.

“If you do wait your time, your time will come and we see a future with them.”

There will be a special assistant team manager on duty

The squad have all rallied behind team mate Emma Wassell who revealed this week that she has a tumour in her chest. 

The 29-year-ols back-row has stepped down from the wider squad just now as a result, but she is still in camp with the team and has been taking on assistant team manager duties under the legend that is Ellen Dickson.

“Everybody wants to be there for her, but she wants to be there for them as well. I can’t speak highly enough of the woman, she’s an immense individual,” Easson said about 67-times capped Wassell.