Report: Italy 41-14 Scotland

After a late withdrawal of Rachel Malcolm, Lana Skeldon took over as Scotland captain for the day

Italy established their lead early in the game, and despite three yellow cards they fully deserved their bonus point victory.

Scotland suffered with injuries throughout the game but tries from Molly Poolman and Lana Skeldon got them on the score board.

Italy brought the intensity from the whistle and winger Alyssa D’Incà dived for the right corner to score the first points of the game (5–0, 6 minutes).

Another opportunity arose for Italy though an attacking 5m line out. Scrum half Sofia Stefan peeled off the maul but was brought down just short. Zanette then drove over the line to score (10-0, 14 minutes).

Scotland fought for territory, entering Italy’s 22 for the first time. Possession was lost just 5m from the try line.

After the Italian backs launched down the blindside, Zanette powered over to score her second of the match (15-0, 29 minutes).

Stefan broke through Scottish defence, but fullback Chloe Rollie was successful with her cover tackle. After Scotland defended their line for several phases, D’Incà dived for the corner once again (22-0, 33 minutes).

Soon after, Italy launched a set piece off their line out and Aura Muzzo took an inside ball to score Italy’s fifth (29-0, 39 minutes).

Half-time: Italy 29-0 Scotland

Scotland faced injury problems early in the second half as both Rachel McLachlan and Alex Stewart left the field for head injury assessments.

Italy maintained their first half momentum. Their powerful maul made way for Vittoria Vecchini to ground the ball (34-0, 45 minutes).

Francesca McGhie found space on the wing but was tripped by Veronica Madia who received a yellow card. A second yellow card was shown to Elisa Giordano for a head on head collision with Becky Boyd.

Scotland used their two-player advantage to dominate in the driving maul. With a penalty advantage, the ball was spun wide to Shona Campbell who was unable to ground the ball in the corner.

Scotland took the line out and the maul guided captain Lana Skeldon to score Scotland’s first points of the game, converted by Helen Nelson (34-7, 52 minutes).

Italy responded as Giordana Duca scored under the posts (41-7, 59 minutes).

Off the bench, Molly Poolman ran 40m through a gap in the defence, with a clever dummy pass resulting in her first try for Scotland, also converted by Nelson (41-14, 74 minutes).

A third yellow card came for Italy as Sara Mannini was penalised for head contact.

Scotland crossed the Italian try line within the last minute of the game, but a TMO check showed no evidence to award a second try to Lana Skeldon.

Full-time: Italy 41-14 Scotland

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Toulon Provence Méditerranée), Francesca McGhie (Trailfinders Women), Lucia Scott (Loughborough Lightning), Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears), Shona Campbell (Sale Sharks), Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), Leia Brebner-Holden (Loughborough Lightning), Demi Swann (Exeter Chiefs), Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears) (Captain), Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears), Emma Wassell (Trailfinders Women), Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Bears), Eva Donaldson (Sale Sharks), Alex Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars), Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier).

Replacements: Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (for Wassell, 73 mins), Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks) (for Swann, 46 mins), Molly Poolman (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians) (for Clarke, 57 mins), Holland Bogan (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County) (for Stewart, 42 mins), Louise McMillan (Saracens) (for Cunningham, 60 mins), Becky Boyd (Loughborough Lightning) (McLachlan, 41 mins), Rianna Darroch (Glasgow Warriors/Hillhead Jordanhill) (for Brebner-Holden, 71 mins), Rachel Phillips (Sale Sharks) (for Scott, 60 mins).

Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minussi, Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Sara Mannini, Alyssa D’Incà, Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan, Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Vittoria Zanette, Valeria Fedrighi, Giordana Duca, Francesca Sgorbini, Alissa Ranuccini, Elisa Giordano (Captain).

Replacements: Chiara Cheli for Vecchini (71 mins), Gaia Maris for Turani (58 mins), Alessia Pilani for Zanette (49 mins), Alessandra Frangipani for Fedrighi (63 mins), Margherita Tonellotto for Sgorbini (66 mins), Alia Bitonci for Stefan (63 mins), Emma Stevanin for Madia (66 mins), Francesca Granzotto for Muzzo (66 mins).

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Zoe Naude (SARU) & Emily Hope (RFU)
TMO: Dan Jones (RFU)
FPRO: Jenny Davies (WRU)

Attendance: 4787

Guinness Player of the Match: Francesca Sgorbini (Italy)