Match Preview: Scotland v Italy

15 Apr 2021

Scotland host Italy at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday 17 April in their second 2021 Women’s Six Nations fixture, kick-off 5pm BST.

The tournament has taken a new structure this season, comprising of two pools of three teams with each team playing one home and one away fixture. Once the pool round matches are complete, teams will face off against the opposing ranked team from the other pool in the play-offs matches, i.e., 1st place Pool A v 1st place Pool B.

Pool A: England, Italy & Scotland | Pool B: France, Ireland & Wales

In Pool A, England have already qualified for the final, with wins over both Scotland and Italy. If Scotland beat Italy this Saturday, they will compete for 3rd/4th place. On Saturday, Ireland will also face France to decide who will top Pool B, kick-off 2.15pm BST.

Scotland last recorded a win over Italy in 2017 at Broadwood Stadium, winning 14-12. Italy are currently ranked seventh in the World Rugby rankings with Scotland at 11th, but it will be a closely contested match as Scotland face future Rugby World Cup qualification opponents. Despite a loss to England in Round 1, Scotland recently drew with France in their last home fixture at Scotstoun (13-13) with France in fourth place in the World Rugby rankings. The squad will be looking to carry on the momentum at home from that historic result in October 2020.

The teams are in

Helen Nelson will captain the Scotland side, with Lisa Thomson as vice-captain. Megan Kennedy, Sarah Law and Nicola Howat are added to the team for their first appearances of the 2021 Women’s Six Nations. Evie Gallagher makes her first start having earned her first cap against England, while Evie Wills and Coreen Grant could make their debut from the replacements on Saturday.

Your Scotland team to face Italy this Saturday in the #WomensSixNations ???????

? kick-off 5pm BST
? @BBCiPlayer #AsOne pic.twitter.com/hZGHkvS9kK

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) April 15, 2021

? #Italdonne

Il XV scelto da Andrea Di Giandomenico per la sfida di sabato con la Scozia ➡ https://t.co/QdKLJPkJIY

? Kick off ore 18 (ITA)
? @Eurosport_IT 2⃣ e #Eurosport Player#SCOvITA #insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/pPnDDBQFjD

— Italrugby (@Federugby) April 15, 2021

Where to watch

The match will kick-off at 5pm BST. If you are tuning in from the UK, watch the game on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, while the RTE Player is the place to go if you’re in Ireland. Supporters in Italy can watch via the Eurosport Player.

Follow the match build-up and in game updates in our live Match Centre on scottishrugby.org, supported by Royal Bank of Scotland. We’ll be joined by Scotland players Rhona Lloyd and Sarah Bonar to give their commentary and insights into the match.

Ahead of our match against Italy, tune into Ireland v France kicking off at 2.15pm BST at Energia Park. Watch live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website, RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player and France 4.

We will be participating in an hours silence on social media between 3-4pm as a mark of respect during the funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Fantasy Rugby

Six Nations have launched ‘Fantasy Rugby’ for the Women’s Championship. Create a league for you and your family or friends, pick your team ahead of each round and see who comes out on top! Start playing.