Musgrave Park makes its debut as a TikTok Women’s Six Nations venue as Ireland look to open their 2022 win account against Italy, who currently sit bottom of the table.
2022 TIKTOK WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS: Sunday, April 10
IRELAND WOMEN (5th) v ITALY WOMEN (6th), Musgrave Park, 5pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC iPlayer/Sky Sport Italia/RTÉ Radio 1)
Team News: This evening’s third round showdown will be the first ever Women’s Test match staged at the Cork venue. Tickets are available to purchase here via Ticketmaster.
Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams has made four changes to the team from last weekend’s defeat in France, with Beibhinn Parsons, Kathryn Dane, Christy Haney and Hannah O’Connor all promoted to starting positions.
Promising 19-year-old back rower Aoife Wafer, who captained the Leinster Under-18s to the Interprovincial title earlier this season, is in line for her Ireland debut off the bench.
With Parsons named to start on the left wing, Ireland Sevens skipper Lucy Mulhall switches to full-back and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe continues on the right wing.
The in-form Eve Higgins and Stacey Flood are retained in midfield, with Old Belvedere star Dane coming in to partner Nicole Cronin at half-back.
Having made her debut off the bench last week, Blackrock College’s Haney is rewarded for an impactful performance with a first start in the front row alongside Linda Djougang and Neve Jones.
Captain Nichola Fryday and Sam Monaghan continue their second row partnership, with O’Connor drafted in at number 8. Dorothy Wall is named to start at blindside flanker and Edel McMahon at openside.
Wafer, a product of Enniscorthy RFC, joins Emma Hooban, Chloe Pearse, Katie O’Dwyer and Brittany Hogan as the forward reinforcements. Backs Aoibheann Reilly, Enya Breen and Aoife Doyle completing the 23.
Commenting ahead of the game on Leeside, McWilliams said: “We have challenged the players to take their opportunities and we’re trying to increase competition across the board, which is a really healthy thing to have within your squad.
“The players coming into the team this week have worked hard and earned their chance, so we’re looking forward to seeing how they react and perform.”
On a potential debut for teenage forward Wafer, he added: “We’re really excited about Aoife’s potential. She has just come through an injury so we’ve had to manage her but we feel now is the right opportunity for her to hopefully come off the bench and show people what she can do.
“She’s definitely a star of the future, and her younger sister Orla is in Edinburgh with the Ireland Under-18s so it promises to be a special weekend for the Wafer family.”
Meanwhile, with 186 caps between them, Italy’s two most experienced players return to the team with captain Manuela Furlan and Sara Barattin selected at full-back and scrum half respectively.
Sofia Stefan and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi drop back to the bench following the 74-0 defeat to England, the Azzurre also boasting plenty of experience and quality in midfield where Michela Sillari and Beatrice Rigoni will look to threaten.
Up front, head coach Andrea di Giandomenico has made just one change to his pack. Padova’s Beatrice Veronese comes in at blindside flanker to join Isabella Locatelli and Elisa Giordano in the back row.
Ireland have won 14 of their last 15 games against Italy in the Six Nations. Italy centre Sillari has won four turnovers in the tournament, the joint most of any player during the opening two rounds.
TikTok Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
TikTok Women’s Six Nations Table
IRELAND WOMEN: Lucy Mulhall (Wicklow RFC/Leinster); Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC/Munster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht); Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster); Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (capt), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster).
Replacements: Emma Hooban (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster).
ITALY WOMEN: Manuela Furlan (Villorba Rugby) (capt); Aura Muzzo (Villorba Rugby), Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Maria Magatti (CUS Milano Rugby); Veronica Madia (Rugby Colorno), Sara Barattin (Villorba Rugby); Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais), Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat), Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Colorno), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova).
Replacements: Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michela Merlo (Rugby Colorno), Sara Seye (Rugby Calvisano), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain), Alessandra Frangipani (Villorba Rugby), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Alyssa d’Incà (Villorba Rugby), Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova).
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistant Referees: Doriane Domenjo (France), Francesca Martin (Wales)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Pre-Match Quotes – Nichola Fryday (Ireland Women):
A lot of the girls would have featured in some of those (recent) matches, but you can’t underestimate the Italians. They’re playing a serious brand of rugby as well.
“All those three matches have been really tight and you can’t underestimate them for a second. They’ve had two tough matches, but I don’t feel like the scorelines have been reflective of their quality and what they can do on the pitch.
“We will take some confidence (from those previous wins over Italy), but at the same time it’s not going to be a walk in the park (tomorrow). It’s going to be a real physical battle, I think.
“The support in the RDS was amazing. We’ve seen what the support in Musgrave Park is like with the Under-20s, so we’re really excited to get out and Cork people are so welcoming.
“We have everything that we need and that we could want down here. We’re really excited to get out in front of that crowd. I’ve had messages about bus loads of girls coming from west of Cork and stuff like that.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to be able to see us play and let them see us in person as well. Because it’s a long trip for them to go to Dublin or to Belfast. That’s really nice to hear, that they’re getting exposed to it as well.”
Andrea di Giandomenico (Italy Women):
We urgently need to return to offering adequate performance at the required level. We have analysed the last game (against England).
“We tried to recover our energy, and worked to make this happen on Sunday. Ireland are also looking for their first win in the Championship, it will certainly be a close match.”