After having held the blue honor high in many complicated seasons of Six Nationsfor once the Italrugby girls – beaten in the afternoon by Wales with a score of 20-22 – they conclude the 2024 edition with the worst record among the national teams: one victory in Ireland, 4 defeats. In the prestigious Principality Stadium in Cardiff they surrendered to the try scored by Tuipulotu with 2 minutes remaining. The markings weren’t enough Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (who with Beatrice Rigoni’s kicks had allowed them to end the first half with a 10 to 5 lead), Francesca Granzotto and Emma Stevanin. The blues pay for the superior physicality of the Welsh around the scrum and in the orderly phases, together with some mix-ups in Sofia Stefan’s direction: the number 9 has the merit of having triggered the two actions in the second half that gave as many tries, but she also wasted due to too much frenzy at least one more sunny occasion, often being surprised by the opposing midfielders and in particular by the splendid kicks of the opposing opener.
Coach Raineri: “The girls fought until the end”
With this result the opportunity to directly qualify for the World Cup vanishes: 3rd place was needed, Italy did not go beyond 5th, just ahead of Wales. Nanni Raineri, Italy coach, however compliments his girls: “We missed an opportunity, but they gave their all on the pitch, expressing their game. They were exemplary in a tough match, in which they had to deal with the physicality of Wales. This tournament is not a failure: there has been growth, both ours and that of other nations. The level is getting higher and higher. We are not satisfied with what we have done so far, but we continue to work because the group is showing progress even if there is the regret of not having brought home the last two matches. We still fought and I’m sure that for the next rounds the team will have made the most of these experiences and will be hungry for redemption.”
Zebre overwhelmed in Parma by the Scottish Warriors
Unfortunately another defeat came for the Union Rugby Championship Zebras, overwhelmed in Parma by the Glasgow Warriors (9-40): 6 tries scored by the Welsh against only 3 kicks by Dominguez for the Italian franchise, last in the standings. Completely different path for Benetton Treviso, who on Friday evening were beaten in Ireland by Ulster (34-38), however scoring 5 tries and earning 2 defensive bonus points which allow Marco Bortolami’s Venetians to continue to hope in the quarterfinals final of the tournament.
