Konkel replaces suspended Gallagher as Scotland face France

Women's Six Nations: France v Scotland

Venue: Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle Date: Saturday, 29 March Kick-off: 13:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website and follow live text updates on BBC Sport website

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has chosen Jade Konkel to start in place of the suspended Evie Gallagher for Saturday's Women's Six Nations match against France.

It is the sole change from Scotland's win over Wales in the opening round of the tournament.

Gallagher was shown a red card last weekend after a review for an illegal clear-out on Wales' replacement hooker Kelsey Jones and was subsequently banned for one game.

Harlequins forward Konkel made her Scotland debut in 2013, aged 19, and Easson expects her to slot into the side with ease.

"She's got a lot of experience, Jade," Easson said.

"I was disappointed for Evie, obviously. She was playing so well, she was pretty dominant in her performance, especially in and around breakdown stuff.

"So it was unfortunate to lose her for a week, but Jade does have that experience that we can call on. So it's fairly smooth transition in the back row. It's still a good balance in that back row."

There could be debuts for prop Molly Poolman and second row Becky Boyd who are among the replacements.

Leah Bartlett remains on the bench after her try against Wales.

France also started with a win last weekend, beating Ireland 27-15 in Belfast, and will have a sell-out crowd cheering them on in La Rochelle for Scotland's visit.

"La Rochelle is some place and I believe it's sold out," Easson said. "The whole town will come out - they'll be there for warm up.

"We have made it very clear to the group of players who have not been in France before what to expect because I think it's important they understand."

Scotland came close to an upset in last year's clash against France, leading 5-3 at half-time before ultimately falling to a 15-5 defeat in Edinburgh.

"France are a good side, but I thought our performance against France last year was excellent," Easson said. "We've got to take confidence in that.

"We've got to take confidence from how tight the game was up until the last minute. We've got to take confidence from our performance against Wales as well and go in with belief.

"We've won 13 out of the past 17 and that's how we've got to look at it. We've got to look at you know every game as being a good opportunity.

"It will be tough. We've been very, very clear on that, but we're going there with confidence."

Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Young, Skeldon, Clarke, Cunningham, Bonar, Malcolm (capt), McLachlan, Konkel.

Replacements: Martin, Bartlett, Poolman, Ferrie, Boyd, Stewart, Mattinson, Wills.