Preview: Italy v Scotland Women

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - APRIL 16: Francesca McGhie during a Scotland Women's training session at Oriam, on April 16, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

What the coach said

“We were disappointed with last weekend’s performance (against England). That wasn’t us, that wasn’t a performance we have come to know this group are capable of. We want to return to the side that won in Wales and really stretched France.

“We’ve trained this week looking at the conditions, and we know the sun will be shining in Parma, and that will suit our attacking game which we have been working hard on this week and showing what we are really made of.

“We’ve spoken long and hard about our set piece and we need good numbers there, so with players like Lisa Thomson and Fran McGhie, along with Rhona Lloyd who earns her 50^th cap, we have some real wheels. We also have some good ball players as well, Helen Nelson, an excellent distributer. Chloe, Rhona and Fran as the back three gives us real pace and Emma Orr is a real threat in at 13.”

The teams

The stats

• In last year’s clash against the Azzurri, Scotland recorded a 29-21 victory in Edinburgh, the catalyst which sparked their run of seven consecutive wins in a row.
• Scotland beat Italy on points difference in the table standings to claim the inaugural WXV2 title in South Africa (+55 to Italy’s +53).
• Scotland’s Evie Gallagher has the highest rate of breakdown steals of any player in the championship so far with five steals across three games, with fellow backrow, Alex Stewart, breaking into the top two for most successful tackles, making 47 in just three games.
• Louise McMillan has won three lineout steals from three games, taking her to second in the player rankings ahead of I. Locatelli and V. Fredrighi.