Scotland coach Bryan Easson has selected an unchanged 23 for tomorrow’s second WXV2 match against the USA, meaning key forward Jade Konkel will once again start on the bench. Easson’s squad beat hosts South Africa 31-17 last week, and although the coach was unhappy with some aspects of the match, he decided that the players had done well enough collectively to deserve another outing.

“We weren’t overly happy with the performance against South Africa, but when we looked back at the game and reviewed it, it was a difficult game to get into,” he said. “When we did get into it we took chances when we needed to. The maul was excellent, lineout defence was excellent.

“So we felt the performances were good enough that the squad deserved another chance. And the USA play in a different style to South Africa, so I think we’ll get more of an opportunity to show what we’re about. I think there will be more flow to the game this time - last week it was under 30 minutes of play time.”

Wing Coreen Grant and lock Sarah Bonar are still out of action as a result of a broken finger and a back spasm respectively, but they should both be available for the team’s third and final game in the tournament, against Japan next Friday. “Coreen was close - she’ll definitely be available for next week,” Easson added. “Sarah has had her back scanned and the scan came back clear, so it looks like she will be available for selection next week too.” 

Scotland (v USA at the Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, tomorrow [Fri] 1pm UK time): C Rollie; R Lloyd, E Orr, L Thomson, F McGhie; H Nelson, M McDonald; L Bartlett, L Skeldon, C Belisle, E Wassell, L McMillan, R Malcolm (captain), R McLachlan, E Gallagher. Subs: E Martin, A Young, L Cockburn, E Donaldson, J Konkel, C Mattinson, M Smith, E Musgrove.