The ladiesrugbyclub.blogspot.com, the Italian site covering women’s rugby, recently posted the results of its call for votes to decide the Italy Team of the Decade. Here are the results:
15 MANUELA FURLAN 81
14 MICHELA SILLARI 55
13 MARIA GRAZIA CIOFFI 69
12 BEATRICE RIGONI 53
11 SOFIA STEFAN 73
10 VERONICA SCHIAVON 41
9 SARA BARATTIN 83
1 LUCIA GAI 61
2 MELISSA BETTONI 81
3 ELISA CUCCHIELLA 54
4 VALENTINA RUZZA 42
5 ALICE TREVISAN 46
6 ILARIA ARRIGHETTI 56
7 GIADA FRANCO 65
8 SILVIA GAUDINO 64
The figures alongside indicate the percentage of votes each player gained. 4135 votes were cast.
It is great fun to assemble a Fifteen along these lines, but choices are open to all sorts of difficulty. Many players have occupied different positions during their career. An example in the Italian list is Sillari, who has appeared in recent years mostly at outside centre.
The percentage too is open to different interpretations. It can indicate an obviously outstanding performer (Barattin 83%) or a lack of competition for a position. Two quality candidates may have to contest the same position (Rigoni 53%, Paola Zangirolami 40%).
The passage of time has its influence. The further back we go, the fewer the people who actually saw the greats of the past in action. So most of this Italian team have appeared in the last season or two.
As a variation, it was fascinating to hear Rochelle Clark’s verdict (Women’s Rugby Pod, 18 April) on a parallel choice for England. It read like this:
15 NOLLI WATERMAN
14 KAT MERCHANT
13 EMILY SCARRATT
12 RACHAEL BURFORD
11 LYDIA THOMPSON
10 KATY (DALEY-) MCLEAN*
9 GEORGIE ROZARIO (GULLIVER)
1 ROCKY CLARK* (Oh, calamity! She’s turned an ankle warming up, so it’s… CLAIRE PURDY)
2 AMY GARNETT*
3 SOPHIE HEMMING
4 JOANNA McGILCHRIST
5 TAMARA TAYLOR*
6 SARAH HUNTER*
7 MAGGIE ALPHONSI
8 CATHERINE SPENCER
*Just the five 100-cappers in this selection!
But not even England’s most capped player was able to see every England player in action. She has remained loyal to players she knew well and played with. It’s a daunting Fifteen, and she admits she had to omit players who thoroughly deserved to be included.
Now what will our Team of the Decade be? Who would you select – please do let us know.
