Scotland prepare for Italy Test in Legnano

22 Feb 2020

Scotland Women play Italy this weekend for their third Women’s Six Nations match. Last year, Italy beat Scotland at Scotstoun 7-28. An impressive run of results, including a 31-12 win over France, led to the Italians clinching the runners-up spot in the 2019 championships.

This Sunday’s fixture is available to watch on BBC Alba and you can also visit scottishrugby.org for in-game updates straight from the pitch in Legnano. If you are in Milan and would like to attend the match, you can purchase tickets from Ciao Tickets.

The team to face Italy for the fixture was announced on Friday online. Head Coach Philip Doyle said on selection: “I was pleased with how the team played against Ireland in the opening match of the Six Nations. With Hannah Smith and Megan Gaffney returning to the team it made sense to use the same strong starting team for this important match against Italy.

“England was tough for the team but there was also a lot of key learnings that came from it. We have been focussing on these at training this week and I am confident that it will make us stronger.

“It will be a demanding match on Sunday but the way that Italy play will compliment us as they are a fast side. It is sure to be an entertaining match.”

Italy are currently ranked 5^th with Scotland currently ranked 11th in the world rankings. Scotland are yet to seal a win in the 2020 Women’s Six Nations. Their championships opened with a close 18-14 result against Ireland in Donnybrook and then a loss to England two weeks ago in tough conditions in a rescheduled match at BT Murrayfield.

Andrea Di Giandomenico’s Italy side have already got a win on the board, beating Wales in Round 1 but they were then beaten by France at Stade Beaublanc two weeks ago.

Di Giandomenico said on the match: “The girls are concentrated and have prepared for this game in the best possible way thanks to the infrastructure we have in Parabiago.

“We have spoken of our performances against Wales and France and the aspects we have to improve. On Sunday it will be crucial from a physical perspective, we are up against a hardened Scotland team that is targeting this game to consolidate their growth.

They are well organised and balance their game well. It will be an interesting 80 minutes.”

Skeldon (centre) at Captains run on Saturday

Scotland player Lana Skeldon will receive her 40^th cap for Scotland on Sunday. She ahead of the match: “With the first two games obviously in Ireland we were disappointed not to get the win, but I think performance wise we really set out our mark there. The last match against England we didn’t get it perfectly right but there are definitely things we can take from that and build from that and move into this third game ready to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and get that result that we are looking for.”

Looking back at the previous two times that Scotland has faced Italy away, Skeldon said: “Yes they were pretty difficult games to be a part of to be honest but I think we have learnt things from the games and now we are in a much better mind set to take on any challenges that are thrown at us.”

Scotland return to Scotstoun Stadium next month to take on France on Saturday 7 March (kick-off 19.45pm), find tickets. Kids for £1 tickets are available with a paying adult ticket until midnight Friday 6 March, U12 tickets increase to £5 on match day.