While eyes are turned towards Dublin to see who will earn the right to face England in the final, there is a groundswell of support for the Welsh women. It is reminiscent of the reaction to Ireland’s disappointment at the 2017 World Cup; the sense of being let down is evident. The WRU needs to act fast; warm words aren’t enough.
Wales may benefit hugely from the training day that has been laid on with the co-operation of the England squad. Though it is not the Red Roses’ job to provide positive vibes for another nation, their mere presence may do just that.
Fixtures:
Ireland v France, 2.15pm, Donnybrook, Dublin
Scotland v Italy, 5pm, Scotstoun, Glasgow
(times BST)
The four teams and table are listed below…
Ireland v France
Ireland gained huge confidence by dismissing Wales from their presence last week, but they know they will have to be at their best to stand a chance against the visiting French. Adam Griggs has seen no need to alter his starting Fifteen, but he adds the leading 7s player, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe to the bench – even more pace out wide!
Les Bleues show a similar range of changes to England. The scrum-halves rotate, and two different centres come in, Jade Ulutule and Carla Neisen. They have suffered two withdrawals, Céline Ferer and Marine Ménager, but like England they have ready replacements of equal standing, not least four who return temporarily from 7s duty: Neisen, Caroline Drouin, Ulutule and Romane Ménager, but the No 8 has to wait her turn. It is a formidable outfit.
They were pleased with their performance in Cardiff after a 5-month break, but Laura di Muzio, the savvy ex-international and analyst, said they must beware of the Irish, with their desire to keep the ball alive. And she was speaking before Round Two.
This ‘semi-final’ at Energia Park promises to be the sort of tense, high-grade affair the tournament needs.
Scotland v Italy
In Glasgow Scotland will be keen to avoid having to contest the bottom rung of the final round next week. They have suffered two grievous blows through the loss of their captain Rachel Malcolm and Hannah Smith, the talented centre. With their limited playing resources it reduces their prospects of victory. They were hoping to reproduce their best form – that means their great show against the French last October – but now the Azzurre are firm favourites.
Despite the size of their loss to the Red Roses. they showed quite enough skill and determination to spoil Scotland ‘s chances. They too have suffered an important setback after the withdrawal of Giada Franco with an ankle problem; she is replaced by the very senior player, Michela Merlo (8 caps). It’s a sign of their urgent need for a new generation of players that Andrea Di Giandomenico has called up a player born in 1986. He has brought back the experience of Beatrice Rigoni and Melissa Bettoni plus the promising full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi to the starting line-up. Lucia Cammarano, who played so well last week, is moved from No 2 to 7.
Taking the new ball
It’s frightening to find the new Gilbert x Sportable smart ball pinning down the speed of the fastest pass at Doncaster in Round One at 27.2 mph. You wouldn’t want a bus coming at you at that pace.
The Teams
Ireland:
15. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster, 16 caps)
14. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby, 13)
13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster, 1)
12. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/ Leinster, 39)
11. Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Blackrock College/Connacht, 9)
10. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster, 18)
9. Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster 11)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster, 32)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 24)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster, 10)
4. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster, 14)
5. Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht, 16)
6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/ Munster, 5)
7. Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 71)
8. Ciara Griffin (Captain)(UL Bohemian/Munster, 34)
Bench:
16. Emma Hooban (Blackrock College/Leinster, 7)
17. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster, 2)
18. Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht, 17)
19. Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster, 2)
20. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster, 3)
21. Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster, 1)
22. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster, 1)
23. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster)*
* uncapped player
France:
15 Emilie Boulard
14 Caroline Boujard
13 Carla Neisen
12 Jade Ulutele
11 Cyrielle Banet
10 Caroline Drouin
9 Laure Sansus
1 Annaëlle Deshayes
2 Agathe Sochat
3 Rose Bernadou
4 Madoussou Fall
5 Safi N’Diaye
6 Marjorie Mayans
7 Gaëlle Hermet (captain)
8 Emeline Gros
Bench :
16 Laure Touyé
17 Dhia-Maïlys Traoré
18 Clara Joyeux
19 Coumba Diallo
20 Romane Ménager
21 Pauline Bourdon
22 Morgane Peyronnet
23 Gabrielle Vernier
Scotland:
15. Chloe Rollie (Harlequins)
14. Liz Musgrove (Unattached)
13. Lisa Thomson (Unattached)
12. Helen Nelson (captain, Loughborough Lightning)
11. Megan Gaffney (Heriots)
10. Sarah Law (Unattached)
9. Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill)
1. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning)
2. Lana Skeldon (Unattached)
3. Megan Kennedy (Stirling County)
4. Emma Wassell (Corstorphine Cougars)
5. Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill)
6. Evie Gallagher (Stirling County)
7. Rachel McLachlan (Unattached)
8. Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County)
Bench
16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens)
17. Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park)
18. Panashe Muzambe (Edinburgh University / Watsonians)
19. Christine Belisle (Cartha Queens Park)
20. Nicola Howat (Sale Sharks)
21. Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning)
22. Evie Wills (Stirling County)*
23. Coreen Grant (Saracens)*
*uncapped
Italy:
15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 caps)
14 Manuela Furlan (captain, Arredissima Villorba, 76 caps)
13 Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 58 caps)
12 Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 44 caps)
11 Maria Magatti (CUS Milano, 34 caps)
10 Veronica Madia (HBS Colorno, 20 caps )
9 Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba, 96 caps)
8 Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 44 caps)
7 Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Belve Neroverdi, 25 caps)
6 Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais, 46 caps)
5 Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 19 caps)
4 Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain, 23 caps)
3 Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 71 caps)
2 Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais, 59 caps)
1 Erika Skofca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 3 caps)
Bench:
16 Silvia Turani (FC Grenoble, 16 caps)
17 Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 1 cap)
18 Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat, 17 caps)
19 Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949, 24 caps)
20 Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 5 caps)
21 Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat, 6 caps)
22 Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 56 caps)
23 Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba, 15 caps)
Tables:
Pool A P W L B Pts
England 2 2 0 2 10
Italy 1 0 1 0 0
Scotland 1 0 1 0 0
Pool B
France 1 1 0 1 5
Ireland 1 1 0 1 5
Wales 2 0 2 0 0
