The Ireland squad, led by co-captains Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, were joined by IRFU President Greg Barrett for the traditional pre-match photograph at the RDS ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Guinness Women’s Six Nations rugby returns to the RDS for the first time in two years, as Ireland (sponsored by Aon) chase their first win of the 2024 campaign against Italy. Tickets are available from the ticket office, inside Gate D on Anglesea Road.
Sunday, March 31 –
IRELAND WOMEN (5th) v ITALY WOMEN (6th), RDS Arena, 3pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC Two Northern Ireland/BBC Red Button/BBC iPlayer/Sky Sport Max Italia/RTÉ Radio 1)
Team News: For his first home match in charge of the Ireland team, head coach Scott Bemand has made four personnel changes to the side that tested France in Le Mans last Saturday.
Up front, Sam Monaghan returns to the second row to captain her country for the first time in the Six Nations. Grace Moore is brought in at blindside flanker, having come off the bench last week.
Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney, and Dorothy Wall complete the tight five, while Aoife Wafer, a try scorer in the first round, switches to the openside, with Ulster’s Brittany Hogan packing down again at number 8.
Tullow youngster Dannah O’Brien, who made four starts during her first Six Nations campaign in 2023, gets the nod to partner Aoibheann Reilly at half-back.
Skibbereen native Enya Breen is set for her first international appearance since picking up a knee injury in last year’s Championship opener against Wales. She combines with Eve Higgins in a skilful centre pairing.
The back-three remains unchanged with Lauren Delany stationed at full-back, and the twin threats of Béibhinn Parsons, who scored a memorable 40-metre try against the USA at the RDS in November 2021, and 18-year-old flyer Katie Corrigan.
Eimear Corri, who is poised to make her Six Nations debut, is part of a strong set of forward replacements alongside Sarah Delaney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite. Aoife Dalton and Nicole Fowley join Molly Scuffil-McCabe as the back-line options.
Looking forward to his charges playing their first home fixture of the year, Bemand said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring our game back to Irish shores. Last week we saw progression but know we’ve got to keep going after on-pitch performance.
“We’ve made some changes to the side from last week and this reflects the competition that is building in the squad. We want Irish people to see how much it means and to want to be part of it.
“Momentum is building within the squad through training and I’m confident that the players will give the fans something to get behind. We’re expecting a tough challenge from an ambitious Italy team. It should make for a real occasion to showcase our game.”
The RDS is on course for a record crowd for a standalone Women’s Six Nations game in Ireland. The girls in green drew a crowd of 6,113 against Wales in 2022, the last time that they played there.
There will be tickets available today from the ticket office, inside Gate D on Anglesea Road. Family tickets are available, and priced at €50.
Get to the RDS for what promises to be an action-packed afternoon on and off the pitch, with plenty of family friendly activities taking place, including a visit from Kevin the Carrot and music from the 2FM Roadcaster, as well as face painting.
Meanwhile, Italy head coach Giovanni Rainieri has also made four changes to the team that lost 48-0 to England in Parma, three of which come in the pack.
Ilaria Arrighetti, back from a long injury-enforced absence, replaces the injured Giulia Cavina at number 8, in a side where each starter boasts cap numbers in double digits.
Giordana Duca comes into the second row as Sale Sharks’ Sara Tounesi switches to blindside flanker, and Isabella Locatelli drops to the bench. Valsugana Rugby Padova’s Vittoria Vecchini slots into the front row at hooker.
With the unfortunate Michela Sillari fracturing her leg against England, the 12-times capped Emma Stevanin joins playmaker Beatrice Rigoni in the Azzurre’s midfield.
Beatrice Veronese and Francesca Granzotto are named among the replacements for the first time in this year’s Championship, while Padova prop Lucia Gai could win her 97th cap for the WXV2 runners-up.
Guinness Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Guinness Women’s Six Nations Table
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby); Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College/Connacht); Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Christy Haney Blackrock College/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury) (capt), Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster).
Replacements: Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College/Leinster), Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Eimear Corri (Blackrock College/Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster).
ITALY WOMEN: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Aura Muzzo (Villorba Rugby), Beatrice Rigoni (Sale Sharks), Emma Stevanin (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Alyssa D’Incà (Villorba Rugby); Veronica Madia (Grenoble Amazones), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova) (capt); Silvia Turani (Harlequins), Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sara Seye (Ealing Trailfinders), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain), Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sara Tounesi (Sale Sharks), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat Rugby), Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais Rugby).
Replacements: Laura Gurioli (Villorba Rugby), Gaia Maris (ASM Romagnat Rugby), Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Colorno), Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Alessandra Frangipani (Villorba Rugby), Francesca Granzotto (Unione Rugby Capitolina), Beatrice Capomaggi (Villorba Rugby).
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Maria Heitor (Portugal), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
Television Match Official: Chris Assmus (Canada)
The game is live on RTÉ 2 in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK can watch it live on BBC Two Northern Ireland, the BBC Red Button, and BBC iPlayer.
Pre-Match Quotes – Béibhinn Parsons (Ireland Women): “Of course, playing your first 80 minutes after a while there’s a few things to iron out. The coaching staff have been really good and I’ve gotten all the detail that I needed.
“A win would be absolutely massive. We’re desperate to be part of a successful Ireland. That’s something that we talk about a lot. Yeah, we had a defeat against France, but we don’t want to go there and just surrender and take a loss. We want to go there and compete with these teams.
“Italy coming to our shores is something that we don’t take lightly. We want to go out fighting, show them a physical game, impose ourselves and fire shots. We definitely want to come away with a win.”
Emma Stevanin (Italy Women): “We reviewed the performance against England and for 50 minutes we were happy with a lot of the things we were doing.
“During that time we defended well and frustrated England, and showed glimpses of what we can do when we have the ball in hand. However, England then got away from us a bit.
“We know that we need to be better for 80 minutes going forward if we are to win matches. We know that Ireland are a side that are building too and they had some good moments in their match against France.”
Opta Facts – Ireland Women v Italy Women:
– Italy have lost each of their previous nine games on Irish soil by double-digit margins
– Ireland have lost each of their last six matches in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. It is their longest losing streak in the Championship since 2006-2007 (L7)
– Ireland completed the most tackles overall of any team in the opening round of this year’s Six Nations (166), and also made the most dominant tackles of any team last weekend (17)
– Italy duo Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (5) and Aura Muzzo (6) were two of just five players to beat 5+ defenders in the opening round of this year’s Six Nations
Recent Meetings –
2021: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 25 Italy Women 5, Energia Park; Rugby World Cup Qualifier: Italy Women 7 Ireland Women 15, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
2022: TikTok Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 29 Italy Women 8, Musgrave Park
2023: TikTok Women’s Six Nations: Italy Women 24 Ireland Women 7, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Support Ireland on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #IREvITA, #IrishRugby and #GuinnessW6N on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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