Women’s Six Nations 2024: the preview of Italy-Scotland

The fourth day of the 2024 women’s Six Nations pits Italy and Scotland in a direct clash to conquer the top part of the table. At the Lanfranchi stadium in Parma, at 5.45pm, Giovanni Raineri’s girls are looking for their second victory in the tournament against a team already defeated in six out of seven previous home matches.

Both teams have so far won one match out of three played and both have faced the top two in their class (England and France). Italy at 5 points, one more than Scotland, they want to grab a victory that would be important for the general classification: taking advantage of Ireland’s (currently third) trip to England, the Azzurre would overcome the Irish by winning and reach third place of the ranking.

In the 2023 edition, Scotland won the match on the fourth day with a result of 29-21, a success that led to a series of seven consecutive victories. The Italy-Scotland match will be broadcast on Saturday 20 April at 5.45pm live on Sky Sport Arena, channel 204, and in streaming on NOW and on the Sky Sport Youtube channel.

Read also: Italy Women, Elisa Giordano: “To win against Scotland, the match point will be fundamental”

Women’s Six Nations 2024: the latest from Italy

Italy’s head coach Giovanni Raineri has opened up some changes to the starting XV which faces Scotland at 5.45pm. Silvia Turani returns to the front line, with Sara Tounesi moving to the second line. Francesca Sgorbini plays on the third line next to captain Elisa Giordano, seasonal debut for the number 8.

In the defensive department Francesca Granzotto, winger of the Unione Rugby Capitolina, plays wing with the number 11 with Alyssa D’Incà who plays the role of second center paired with Beatrice Rigoni. Sara Mannini makes her debut on the bench with Isabella Locatelli and Veronica Madia who could celebrate their 50th cap in the national team.

During the presentation of the match in Parma, the captain of the Azzurre Elisa Giordano declared how important the focus on the meeting point is in the match against the Scots, specifying that “We have worked hard on it, but we must be more consistent and work even better because it is our goal.”

Playing at home could give an extra boost to the Italian girls, Elisa Giordano believes it is a point in favor of Italy who will have another task: “We want to win and to do so we have to take the things that didn’t go well and transform them according to the two games that we miss” said the number 8 of the national team.

Women’s Six Nations 2024: the latest from Scotland

As for Scotland, four changes for manager Bryan Easson. Molly Wright will play as left prop while Eva Donaldson will play in the second row. In the midfield, Francesca McGhie plays wing in place of Coreen Grant, with Rhona Lloyd on the opposite side in the number 14 shirt. Lisa Thomson returns to the first center role.

Highlanders head coach Bryan Easson spoke of the importance of Rhona Lloyd, her 50th cap for Scotland: “She is the symbol of this team: her energy on and off the pitch is second to none. In 49 caps you scored 22 tries and we hope you can continue to celebrate your fiftieth appearance.”

The Italy-Scotland lineups

Italy: 15 ⁠Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 ⁠Aura Muzzo, 13 ⁠ Alyssa D’Incà, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 ⁠Francesca Granzotto, 10 ⁠Veronica Madia, 9 ⁠Sofia Stefan, 8 Elisa Giordano (c), 7 Francesca Sgorbini, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Sara Tounesi, 3 Sara Seye, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 1 Silvia Turani
Available: 16 Laura Gurioli, 17 ⁠Gaia Maris, 18 ⁠Lucia Gai, 19 ⁠Valeria Fedrighi, 20 Isabella Locatelli, 21 Beatrice Veronese, 22 Sara Mannini, 23 Beatrice Capomaggi

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Caity Mattinson, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Alex Stewart, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c), 5 Louise McMillan, 4 Eva Donaldson , 3 Christine Belisle, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Molly Wright
Available: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Fiona McIntosh, 20 Rachel McLachlan, 21 Mairi McDonald, 22 Meryl Smith, 23 Coreen Grant

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