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Rugby World Cup 2021 Qualifier: Italy v Ireland

Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney takes on the Italian defence during last April's encounter at Energia Park ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Looking to get their Rugby World Cup qualification bid back on track, Ireland go head-to-head with hosts Italy in a crunch second round clash in Parma.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 EUROPE QUALIFIER – ROUND 2: Sunday, September 19

ITALY WOMEN (1st) v IRELAND WOMEN (3rd), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time (RTÉ Player/World Rugby YouTube/Facebook & rugbyworldcup.com/2021)

Team News: Head coach Adam Griggs has made four changes to the team that lost 8-7 to Spain on Monday, with the newly-capped Sam Monaghan featuring in the second row.

Ciara Griffin captains Ireland for this must-win match as the girls in green aim to keep their hopes of automatic qualification for next year’s Rugby World Cup from this tournament alive.

Eve Higgins’ return to the midfield alongside Sene Naoupu – restoring their partnership from this year’s Women’s Six Nations – is the only change to the back-line from the Spain game.

Eimear Considine, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Beibhinn Parsons, who bagged the only try against las Leonas, continue together in an unchanged back three.

Stacey Flood and Kathryn Dane are the starting half-backs once again, with Connacht’s Laura Feely coming in for her 21st cap in the the front row, packing down alongside Linda Djougang and Cliodhna Moloney.

Meath native Monaghan is set for her first Test start at lock alongside Nichola Fryday, while Edel McMahon’s inclusion in the back row sees Griffin revert back to number 8. Dorothy Wall continues at blindside flanker.

Forwards Neve Jones, Lindsay Peat, Leah Lyons, Brittany Hogan and Claire Molloy are named on the bench, while Emily Lane, Enya Breen and Lauren Delany once again provide the Irish coaches with the back-line cover.

Commenting ahead of the game, Griggs said: “After a difficult result in the first round, we have collectively put the head down, conducted honest reviews and identified the areas we need to improve.

“We have implemented and executed those improvements in training and that gives us confidence going into Sunday.

“Italy will present a challenge, particularly with a home crowd behind them, but we are familiar with their threats and have left no stone unturned in our preparations for this game.”

Meanwhile, Italy boss Andrea di Giandomenico has made just one change to the side that saw off Scotland on a 38-13 scoreline in the opening round.

Francesca Sgorbini takes over in the back row from Giada Franco, while 35-year-old scrum half Sara Barattin wins her 100th cap, becoming the first woman from outside the UK to achieve the feat.

Like Barattin, flanker Ilaria Arrighetti was a try scorer in that bonus point victory over the Scots. She is set for her 50th Test appearance, against Ireland.

In assessing Ireland’s game-plan, di Giandomenico said: “Ireland have a strategy and want to play in our half. Go to the line (with) good support, good possession and when the player moves forward to go in the space, they have players (who are) dangerous in this.

“So, this is the challenge for us. We know we have to win in the collision area, the breakdown area, we have to tackle low, tackle hard.

“When we have the possession, we (have to) go forward. We need good go-forward (ball) to play our game.”

Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier Schedule:

All games to be played at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

Monday, September 13:

Scotland 13 Italy 38

Spain 8 Ireland 7

Sunday, September 19:

Italy v Ireland (3pm local time/2pm Irish time)

Spain v Scotland (6pm local time/5pm Irish time)

Saturday, September 25:

Italy v Spain (3pm local time/2pm Irish time)

Ireland v Scotland (6pm local time/5pm Irish time)

ITALY WOMEN: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Manuela Furlan (Arredissima Villorba) (capt), Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Maria Magatti (CUS Milano); Veronica Madia (Rugby Colorno), Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba); Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais), Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain), Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova).

Replacements: Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michela Merlo (Rugby Colorno), Sara Seye (Rugby Calvisano), Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949), Giada Franco (Rugby Colorno), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Alyssa D’Incá (Arredissima Villorba), Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba).

IRELAND WOMEN: Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster); Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Blackrock College/Connacht); Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster), Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby).

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell (England), Maria Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
TMO: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

Pre-Match Quotes – Ciara Griffin (Ireland Women):

Sometimes we see pressure and we nearly say it’s a bad thing. On the flipside, it’s a pleasure to be under pressure because it means you’re in high stakes, and that’s what you want.

“Italy have a strong pack, they’re quite an experienced team as well. They’ve lot of experienced players there and they’ll be aiming to draw from that experience.

“We have to perform, we have to arrive before the whistle goes, we have to be switched on ready to go from word dot and realise it’s going to be a battle.

“It’s going to be physical. It won’t be won in the first 10 minutes or by half-time, it’ll go to 83, 84, 85 minutes and we have to be prepared for that.”

Pre-Match Links –

Where To Watch: Italy v Ireland, Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier

Flood Thriving In Ireland’s Number 10 Role

Monaghan: Hard Pill To Swallow, But We’ll Come Back Stronger

In Pics: Ireland Hard At Work In Parma

Griggs And Ireland Ready For The Italian Job

Recent Meetings –

2019: Women’s Six Nations: Italy Women 29 Ireland Women 27, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

2020: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 21 Italy Women 7, Energia Park

2021: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 25 Italy Women 5, Energia Park

Support the Ireland Women on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #ITAvIRE, #NothingLikeIt and #RWC2021Qualifier on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.