Categories: Home Top News Ireland Women Six Nations Women's

Women’s Six Nations Preview: Ireland Women v Italy Women

Dubliner Stacey Flood is pictured during her debut for the Ireland Women away to Wales two weeks ago ©INPHO/Robbie Stephenson

The Women’s Six Nations’ ‘Super Saturday’ kicks off at Energia Park where Ireland and Italy – two Rugby World Cup qualification rivals – fight it out for third place.

2021 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS – 3RD-4TH PLACE PLAY-OFF: Saturday, April 24

IRELAND WOMEN (2nd, Pool B) v ITALY (2nd, Pool A), Energia Park, 12pm (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/BBC iPlayer/Eurosport 2 (Italy)/RTÉ Radio 1/Fox Soccer Plus (USA))

Team News: Ireland head coach Adam Griggs has made three changes to the team for the much-anticipated visit of Italy to Energia Park in Donnybrook.

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood and Brittany Hogan will all make their first Test starts, while uncapped Railway Union flanker Grace Moore could make her debut off the bench.

Born in London, Moore’s potential as an athletic and dynamic back rower was identified through the IQ Rugby Programme and from there, the 24-year-old’s talent has been developed and honed by Anthony Eddy and the IRFU Sevens Programme.

Murphy Crowe, who came off the bench for her debut against France last weekend, is promoted to the right wing, with Eimear Considine continuing at full-back and Beibhinn Parsons on the left.

Eve Higgins and Sene Naoupu are retained in midfield, while Flood comes in at half-back, partnering Kathryn Dane for her third cap and first start having impressed during the games against Wales and France.

Hogan’s inclusion in the back row is the only change Griggs has made to his pack, which includes a well-drilled tight five of Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney, Linda Djougang, Aoife McDermott and Nichola Fryday.

Hogan comes in at openside flanker, Dorothy Wall continues at blindside and captain Ciara Griffin once again leads her country from the back of the scrum.

On the bench, Neve Jones and Leah Lyons are included to provide front row cover alongside Laura Feely, with the uncapped Moore and Hannah O’Connor also named among the replacements.

Backs Emily Lane, Hannah Tyrrell and Enya Breen, who started last October’s 21-7 triumph over Italy, complete the matchday 23.

Looking forward to the rematch in Donnybrook, Griggs said: “This week our focus has been on us and the quality of performance we know we can deliver. We learned some valuable lessons last weekend.

“We now have the opportunity to rectify some of the areas that we need to show more accuracy, and we want to finish this competition strongly which we are extremely excited about.”

Meanwhile, Italy head coach Andrea di Giandomenico has selected an unchanged team, unsurprisingly keeping the faith with the side that secured an impressive 41-20 win away to Scotland.

Di Giandomenico commented: “We have prepared for this next match with great attention to detail and greater confidence following the victory in Glasgow.

“The accuracy in building our game and the pressure in the defensive phases, I think, will be the two fundamental components that will ultimately decide the outcome in Ireland.”

Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi and Melissa Bettoni are retained at full-back and hooker respectively, with veteran scrum half Sara Barattin edging closer to a century of caps with her 98th appearance for the Azzurre.

Captain Manuela Furlan will be closely marked following her hat-trick of tries against the Scots. However, they will miss the ball-carrying class of Giada Franco who is nursing an ankle injury.

Women’s Six Nations Fixtures/Results

Women’s Six Nations Tables

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/Connacht); Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock/Connacht), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock/Munster), Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster), Laura Feely (Blackrock/Connacht), Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby), Grace Moore (Railway Union/IQ Rugby), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock/Munster), Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster).

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 (HBS Colorno), Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba); Erika Skofca (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: Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Belve Neroverdi), Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michela Merlo (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano), Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat), Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949), Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba).

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell, Katherine Ritchie (both England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

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

There’s a very good mood in camp, people are champing at the bit to put in a good performance this weekend. Right a few wrongs from last week.

“Focus on us, our process and what we can do. That’s the main thing really. People have turned the page and are looking to put in a good performance, focus on us.

“As I said, the mood is good in camp. We’ve Captain’s Run today and looking forward to hitting the ground again. We want to play games. That’s the end goal, you want to play games.

“Every chance you have to play a game, you want to do well and perform well. Especially at home. We want to finish strong. A top-three finish, that has been our aim.

“That has been our target. Nothing stops there, we go out with a job to do. That’s to finish third and put in a good performance at home.”

Manuela Furlan (Italy Women):

We have always believed in our chances and we have not given ourselves a goal of placing in the tournament. Our focus has always been on performance.

“Against England, we partially showed our game and against Scotland it certainly went better, despite having some flaws.

“There is confidence, we know each other very well and this makes it easier for us to create positive outcomes. We always try to stay focused as much as possible so that each of us can show our abilities with the ball.”

Pre-Match Links –

Free Digital Match Programme: Ireland v Italy

In Pics: Captain’s Run In Energia Park

Griffin Focused On Hitting Top-Three Target

Griggs Wants Ireland ‘To Lay Down Marker With Strong Finish’

Ireland Women’s Rugby Podcast – Episode 3

Recent Meetings –

2018: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 21 Italy Women 8, Energia Park, Donnybrook

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

Support the Ireland Women on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #IREvITA, #ShouldertoShoulder and #WomensSixNations on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.