The writing was on the wall from the outset. At the first scrum Italy drove the hosts rearwards. From then on they showed the same attacking verve as in Parma against the English. Only here they retained their composure for most of the game.
Scotland had good moments, as their 20 points reveal, but were quite unable to retain possession and go-forward long enough to pose a real threat.
At their best the Azzurre look like clones of the French. They set their minds to attack at every opportunity, helped by high-quality off-loading which will always put defences under pressure.
On six minutes they posted their first try through Beatrice Rigoni direct from a scrum, with Elisa Giordano breaking from No 8 to outnumber the defence. When Helen Nelson’s long kick was not followed up, the Scots paid the penalty; the ball was run back at them for Manuela Furlan to score her first try.
Scotland got a foot in the game with a well-controlled catch-and-drive; try to Lana Skeldon. Italy almost responded at once, Rigoni just failing to get the ball down over the line. The Scottish pack felt much better when the Azzurre opted for a scrum, only to be driven off it. This led to a Nelson penalty and the margin reduced to two. (10-12)
Just before the break a delightfully delayed pass by Michela Sillari gave Ilaria Arrighetti the chance to pound her way over the line.
Half-time: 10-19
From there the game ran away from the Scots. An unguarded ruck led to Sara Barattin – her 97th cap today – sprinting away to the 5-metre line from where quick repossessions saw Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi go over in the left corner.
Skipper Furlan, on the left wing today, completed a deserved hat-trick and Rigoni scored her second. The Scots had some recompense with a try from Emma Wassall after a successful pack drive.
The Azzurre are so close to being a very fine team. They showed a wide variety of skills, delighting in the open spaces. They off-load with gusto. Their centre-pairing of Rigoni and Sillari got much the better of Nelson and Lisa Thomson. They now have ground advantage against Ireland next week, which will help build their confidence in the run-up to those World Cup qualifiers, which now seem likely to happen in the late summer.
Result: Scotland 20 Italy 41
Player of the Match: Beatrice Rigoni
Teams
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 Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat, 6 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 Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Belve Neroverdi, 25 caps
17 Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 1 cap)
18 Michela Merlo (Rugby Mantova, 8 caps)
19 Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat, 17 caps)
20 Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949, 24 caps)
21 Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 5 caps)
22 Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 56 caps)
23 Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba, 15 caps)
Officials:
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Doriane Domenjo (FFR)
T
MO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
