RBS 6 Nations

Parker – who will take charge of the national team for the first time this weekend – will welcome their French counterparts to Lasswade Rugby Club for their Championship opener.

And Parker insists that nothing but a win will do for Scotland captained by flanker Lynne Reid as they aim to improve on their 2009 efforts, when they finished fifth in the table.

“There will be a lot of questions asked and answered on Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing how the girls respond at the highest level,” he said.

“In a short space of time we have put a huge amount of effort into training and everyone has bought into the changes I have introduced to our style of play.

“The sessions are aimed at getting as many people involved at the top level of the sport. Any women playing rugby in Scotland should know they have the opportunity to represent their country.”

Scotland team to face France: Celia Hawthorn, Victoria Blakebrough, Lucy Millard, Erin Kerr, Veronica Fitzpatrick, Tanya Griffith, Louise Dalgliesh; Heather Lockhart, Sarah-Louise Walker, Beth Dickens, Lindsey Wheeler, Louise Moffat, Lynne Reid, Donna Kennedy, Susie Brown.

Replacements: Sarah Quick, Rosalind Murphy, Gillian McCord, Ruth Slaven, Sarah Gill, Lynsey Douglas, Cara D’Silva.