Women’s Six Nations Preview: Italy Women v Ireland Women

The Ireland Women are looking to repeat their 2017 feat of back-to-back Six Nations away wins over Scotland and Italy. The task of ending the Azzurre’s unbeaten start to the tournament brings them to Parma’s Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

2019 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, February 23

ITALY WOMEN (2nd) v IRELAND WOMEN (4th), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, 7.45pm local time/6.45pm Irish time (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/Eurosport Italia 2/BBC iPlayer/Six Nations YouTube stream (UK/France only))

Team News: Aiming to build further winning momentum in the Women’s Six Nations, the Ireland Women’s team, sponsored by Aon, to play Italy in the third round in Parma tonight has been named.

Head coach Adam Griggs has made just one change to the side that earned a 22-5 bonus point win over Scotland in Glasgow two weeks ago. Old Belvedere scrum half Kathryn Dane, who made her debut off the bench against England,  has been selected for her first international start.

Ailsa Hughes moves to the replacements bench which also includes Lindsay Peat and Laura Sheehan who are named in the matchday squad for the first time in this season’s Six Nations. Fit-again prop Peat is poised to win her 25th cap, while winger Sheehan could make her Six Nations debut in Italy.

Meanwhile, Italy boss Andrea di Giandomenico has made two straight swaps in his pack for their second successive home match of the Championship. Gaia Giacomoli takes over from her Rugby Colorno club-mate Silvia Turani at loosehead prop, while Valentina Ruzza makes way for Toulouse’s Valeria Fedrighi in the second row.

The Italians, who lost 21-8 to Ireland in Dublin last year, kicked off their 2019 campaign with a 28-7 bonus point victory away to Scotland before drawing three points apiece with Wales in Leece. Michaela Sillari was left to rue a late missed penalty, as well as a try-scoring opportunity which was fumbled by hooker Melissa Bettoni.

Captain Manuela Furlan (70 caps), former skipper Sara Barattin (86), Bettoni (50) and tighthead Lucia Gai (59) give an experienced spine to the Italy team, while back rowers Giada Franco and Elisa Giordano have stood out in recent weeks for their respective ball-carrying and lineout steals (six so far).

Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Women’s Six Nations Table

ITALY WOMEN: Manuela Furlan (Iniziative Villorba Rugby) (capt); Aura Muzzo (Iniziative Villorba Rugby), Michaela Sillari (Rugby Colorno), Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Veronica Madia (Rugby Colorno), Sara Barattin (Iniziative Villorba Rugby); Gaia Giacomoli (Rugby Colorno), Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais), Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain), Giordana Duca (UR Capitolina), Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais), Giada Franco (Rugby Colorno), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova).

Replacements: Lucia Cammarano (Belve Rugby NeroVerdi), Silvia Turani (Rugby Colorno), Sara Tounesi (Rugby Colorno), Valentina Ruzza (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Francesca Sberna (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano), Francesca Sgorbini (Rugby Colorno), Jessica Busato (Iniziative Villorba Rugby), Camilla Sarasso (Biella Rugby Club).

IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Harlequins), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Anna Caplice (Richmond), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere/Munster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster).

Referee: Laura Pettingale (England)
Assistant Referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Maria Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television Match Official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Italy Women to win: 6/4; Draw: 18/1; Ireland Women to win: 4/7

Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women):

It was great to come away with five points after the Scotland Test. It was a physical game in tough conditions, but the players were focused on putting in a good team performance together and showing the quality rugby they can produce.

“We were pleased with the opportunities that we created and while the challenge for this group is to become even more clinical under pressure, we definitely feel each week we are improving and taking the right steps to get there.

“The Italian game should be a cracker, they have played well of late and are unbeaten so far in this Championship. We’ve been preparing diligently and know they have quality footballers that will put you under real pressure. We’ll need to be aware of these and look to close them down early if we are to get any success on Saturday.”

Pre-Match Links –

Recent Meetings –

2016: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 14 Italy Women 3, Donnybrook

2017: Women’s Six Nations: Italy Women 3 Italy Women 27, Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L’Aquila

2018: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 21 Italy Women 8, Energia Park, Donnybrook

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