Greg McWilliams’ new-look side ran away from a fault-ridden Italy outfit to record their first win of the series.
Italy began well enough, stringing passes together for Beatrice Rigoni to add a telling 50-22 kick. From there they won a penalty in front of the posts. Rigoni kicked the three points to give them an immediate boost.
These early stages promised an enjoyable game, Italy throwing the ball about, Ireland using a judicious blend of flat and deep passes to get their speedy backs motoring. When Veronica Madia dropped a simple pass back to her for clearance, that was an omen of future events. Ireland pressed hard, and when the ball was sent wide, Lucy Mulhall accepted Nicole Cronin’s lofted pass and sped over the line for her first 6N try.
There was a highly debatable moment when Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe was denied a try by Aurélie Groizeleau, even after the TMO intervened to give her a second view. Was A-LMC held or not? The replay and the crowd said no; the ref said yes.
Italy came increasingly under pressure as they tried to play their way out of defence exclusively through handling; an old weakness that shows no sign of improvement. As soon as an error intervened, they were locked again in grim defence.
As Ireland attacked, they fell off-side repeatedly, and Elisa Giordano paid the penalty with a yellow card. Neve Jones was the beneficiary, on the end of a copy-book catch and drive from five metres out.
Half-time 10-3
Sam Monaghan had been especially impressive in her all-round play, probably the most improved player Ireland have on their books. The backs too, most of them drawn from the pro-7s squad, also showed up well.
Sure enough, Di Giandomenico withdrew Madia from the fray, but unlike the more prosperous nations, Italy don’t have a ready-made alternative No 10, apart from the splendid Rigoni.
Now the game ran away from them. Kathryn Dane hoisted a short, high box-kick; Eve Higgins took it on the full and was clean through to the line. (17-3)
The Irish were now enjoying themselves; handling moves alternated with Stacey Flood’s searching kicks, long, short and angled, that kept the defences guessing.
As the forwards pummelled the opposition short of the line, Groizeleau run under the posts for another 7-pointer. (24-3)
Melissa Bettoni was the deserving scorer of Italy’s only try; she put in her usual wholehearted performance for her 67th cap. (24-8)
But Ireland had the last word, Katie O’Dwyer snapping up loose line-out ball just a metre or two from the line.
Result: Ireland 24 Italy 8
Player of the Match: Sam Monaghan
Attendance: 5,039 for the first international ever in Cork
Teams: Ireland
15. Lucy Mulhall (Wicklow/Leinster, 3 caps) 14. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster, 8 caps) 13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster, 8 caps) 12. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster, 9 caps) 11. Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht, 17 caps) 10. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian/Munster, 18 caps) 9. Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster, 20 caps) 1. Linda Djougang (Romagnat/ Leinster, 19 caps) 2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster, 8 caps) 3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College/Leinster, 1 cap) 4. Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/ Connacht) (captain, 24 caps) 5. Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 7 caps) 6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster, 12 caps) 7. Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 16 caps) 8. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster, 9 caps)
Bench: 16. Emma Hooban (Blackrock College/Leinster),10 caps) 17. Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian/Munster, 3 caps) 18. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster, 7 caps) 19. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster, 9 caps) 20. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College/ Leinster, uncapped) 21. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College/Connacht, 2 caps) 22. Enya Breen (UL Bohemian/Munster, 11 caps) 23. Aoife Doyle (Railway Union/ Munster, 7 caps)
Italy
15 Manuela Furlan (captain, 83 caps) 14 Aura Muzzo (21 caps) 13 Michela Sillari (65 caps) 12 Beatrice Rigoni (51 caps) 11 Maria Magatti (40 caps) 10 Veronica Madia (27 caps) 9 Sara Barattin (103 caps) 8 Elisa Giordano (51 caps) 7 Isabella Locatelli (30 caps) 6 Beatrice Veronese (8 caps) 5 Giordana Duca (6 caps) 4 Sara Tounesi (20 caps) 3 Lucia Gai (78 caps) 2 Melissa Bettoni (66 caps) 1 Gaia Maris (8 caps)
Bench: 16 Vittoria Vecchini (5 caps) 17 Michela Merlo (11 caps) 18 Sara Seye (4 caps) 19 Valeria Fedrighi (30 caps) 20 Alessandra Frangipani (1 cap) 21 Sofia Stefan (64 caps) 22 Alyssa D’Incà (6 caps) 23 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (11 caps)
Officials:
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Doriane Domenjo (FFR) and Francesca Martin (WRU) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
with thanks to rugby referee.net
Table:
P W L B Pts
England 3 3 0 3 15
France 3 3 0 3 15
Wales 3 2 1 2 10
Ireland 3 1 2 0 5
Scotland 3 0 3 1 1
Italy 3 0 3 0 0
Afterthoughts
The Irish team weren’t able to meet up for practice together till Thursday. Work and study commitments stood in the way. That gives us a measure of the yawning gaps still abroad in rugby’s make-up. But they knew what was at stake. The outgoing captain, Ciara Griffin stated: ‘Beating Italy is a must’ And the boss said: ‘Consistency is the challenge.’
Very true, but was he entirely consistent in his treatment of Beibhinn Parsons?
This looked like the start of a return to normal working-order for Irish rugby. The squad thoroughly deserved their victory, but now comes a proper challenge, away to England at a packed Welford Road, Leicester, in two weeks time.
