Game One: Ireland v Italy
Despite a 9am start it was hot. Remember that word?
Italy offered us the second dramatically tight game of the series. It started unpromisingly with a series of minor errors. Then, after the Azzurre had dominated possession for a while, Niamh Gallagher spoiled a good break on the counter by being forced into touch.
Into the second quarter and Lucia Linn made an exciting foray into the Italian 22, but yet another forward pass halted Irish progress.
A high tackle by prop Antonella Maione led to the first score. The Irish pack adopted patient pick- and-goes for Ivana Kiripati, a late change at No 8, to force her way over by the right post. Conversion by Ellie O’Sullivan-Sexton. (0-7)
Ireland couldn’t retain the lead for long. A series of good links allowed Vittoria Zannette to power over for her second try of the series. She has a fine future in the front row. (7-7)
There was a worrying moment when a tackle by Rubina Grassi on Robyn O’Connor saw her cartwheel out of control. Medics checked her and decided there was no danger to her head. No card was awarded.
It had been very close up to the break, but Italy finally took the lead. Ireland did very well to hold Zannette an inch short of the line, but the Azzurre backs linked with flat and deep passes to give Martina Busana a run to the line for a 12-7 lead.
Italy’s third try was a beauty. Heavy raids by the pack brought brave defence from the Itrish, but when the ball came out, fine handling to the left and a final miss-pass gave Busana her second. (17-7)
Ireland were on the back foot now, having to put in tackle after tackle. Finally the dam broke and Margherita Tonellotto added another try. It was Busana who kicked a splendid conversion from the right edge. (24-7)
The Irish responded well. A clean line-out saw Kelly Burke start and finish a clinical move.
As the clock ran down, they repeated the medicine, only this time Burke gave herself a clear run to the line.
In the heat, this was a heartening show by the visitors. If they had cut out the avoidable errors committed near the start, they might have carried the day.
Result Italy 24 Ireland 17
Teams
Italy: 15 Grassi; 14 Cecati, 13 Pellizzon, 12 Corradini, 11 Busana; 10 Mannini, 9 Mastrangelo; 8 Errichiello (captain), 7 Jelic, 6 Tonellotto; 5 Costantini, 4 Della Sala; 3 Maione, 2 Cheli, 1 Zanette
Bench: 16 Spinelli, 17 Cittadini, 18 Fortuna, 19 Andreoli, 20 Copat, 21 Bitonci, 22 Pirpiliu, 23 Zeni
Ireland: 15 Gallagher, 14 O’Connor, 13 Linn, 12 Dhonnacha, 11 C.Barrett; 10 O’Sullivan-Sexton, 9 Goulding; 8 Kiripati, 7 Murtagh, 6 Oviawe; 5 Chonchobhair, 4 Neill; 3 S.Barrett, 2 McQuade, 1 G.Burke
Bench:16 K.Burke, 17 Wilson, 18 Maher, 19 Morris, 20 Heylmann, 21 Gaffney, 22 Flannery, 23. Clarke
Game Two: Scotland v France
Claire Cruikshank made nine changes to her Scottish side. Three of them were enforced, after injuries to Leia Brebner-Holden, Merryn Gunderson and Nicole Flynn.
Who’s going to beat France? This game lit up the risks inherent in the new initiative.
Within the first eleven minutes Scotland lost three more to injury. When Eilidh Fleming left the field in the second half, there were no more tight-heads available, so uncontested scrums, and ironically the laws decreed Scotland down to 14 players.
They made two errors at the start: a knock-on from the drop-out, then off-side. They responded by stealing a line-out, then spreading the ball to the left wing. But by the time the French halted this action, the ball was barely outside the Scottish 22.
There seems to be a local law in Scottish rugby that the ball may not be kicked. Hannah Walker made a strong run to halfway, but as the handling game went on, a loose pass fell straight into French hands (No 10). This left the Scots back on their own 22, and two players down injured. With that they lost Chloe Brown and Ellie Williamson for the rest of the game.
A first Scottish kick, a penalty to touch, brought their first productive attack. Forwards and backs combined well to give Sky Phimister a chance on the right, but she was forced into touch. Suddenly everything worked like clockwork for the Scots, and Gemma Bell found her way over, with an ease which would concern the French staff. 7-0
But the score came at a cost. Molly Poolman was the third Scot to leave the action prematurely, and only 11 minutes played.
Another daring play by hand ended with a turnover on half-way. When France countered with their running game, only faulty hands stopped their progress.
The Italian TV director then lost his high-angle cameras, so we were all delivered to the front row of the stand, at worm-height.
It took France twenty minutes to get back on track. Suliana Sivi completed a nice move with a weaving run to the line. 7-5
Now the dam broke, and Hawa Tounkara, already PotM against Wales, drove over the line for France’s second. That was handling of the highest order. 7-12
More of the same off a dominant scrum. No 11 Léa Trollier inserted herself at outside-centre on the right to waltz in untouched. 7-19 Next it was Amalaia Bazola to score France’s fourth. 7-26
Scotland did well to reach the French 22, but on 42 minutes they lost a line-out, and it was time to seek shade.
Half-time France 26 Scotland 7
As at the start Scotland scored first, this time with a penalty by Lucy Macrae from 35 metres out. But stern words must have been spoken in the French dressing-room, and Anna De Almeida skipped her way over from close in. Next it was Patrice-Grace Libali’s turn.
When Eilidh Fleming limped off, Scotland were short of fit and qualified props. The referee checked with Cruikshank, and the decision was uncontested scrums. Aila Ronald had come in, but was asked to leave the pitch again. Scotland were down to 14.
Eneka Labeyrie took advantage of the Scots’ refusal to kick the ball and scored her first try. France’s 50 came up after an hour’s play, and there was more to come.
Finding an answer to France’s dominance at this level has proved hard, but Scotland’s game policy in the first half wore the pack out faster than if boot had been put to ball more readily.
Result: France 69 Scotland 10
Teams
Scotland: 15 Izzy McGuire-Evans 14 Sky Phimister 13 Lucia Scott 12 Lucy Macrae 11 Hannah Walker (co-captain) 10 Hannah Ramsay 9 Rhea Clarke 1 Chloe Brown 2 Karis Craig 3 Molly Poolman 4 Ellie Williamson 5 Natasha Logan 6 Emma Bell 7 Sam Taganekurukuru 8 Megan Hyland
Bench: 16 Aila Ronald 17 Poppy Fletcher (co-captain) 18 Eilidh Fleming 19 Holland Bogan 20 Lauryn Walter 21 Rebekah Douglas 22 Ceitidh Ainsworth 23 Ami Conchie
France: 15 Kelly Arbey 14 Alice Grandhomme 13 Suliana Sivi 12 Hawa Tounkara 11 Léa Trollier 10 Enoe Neri 9 Anna De Almeira 1 Solenne Mpari 2 Agathe Fournie 3 Amalia Bazola 4 Lou Roboam 5 Aminata Niakate 6 Patrice-Grace Libali 7 Taina Maka 8 Zoé Jean
Bench: 16 Marion Zdzioblo 17 Mailys Borak 18 Iliana Acolatse 19 Kiara Zago 20 Marie Morland 21 Eneka Labeyrie 22 Mae Levy 23 Cléo Hagel
Referee: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
Afterthought
The days when Scotland boasted four regions, the Borders, Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Highlands, seem a life-time away. Now the best players have to concentrate on the two major cities.
Game Three: England v Wales
As expected, different faces appeared for the second round. For England Abby Middlebrooke and Evelyn Clarke replaced Catherine Wells and Reneeqa Bonner, both injured, but this time there were no debutants. It was rewarding to see players representing far-flung corners of the nation.
Wales started well, only a knock-on short of the line prevented an early score. But they drove England off the ball and Lucy Isaac drove over the line. 7-0
England responded at once; Ella Cromack put a kick into the corner, Steph Else claimed the ball and Kira Leat was over. 7-5
They scored again at once, and it was a beauty. Sam Shiels ran a clever line to disrupt the defences, and Evelyn Clarke sped thrillingly to the line. 7-12
By the first water-break the advance in quality from the previous game was all too evident.
Every time Wales infringed, Cromack gained valuable ground. Now she hoisted a delicate cross- kick wide to the right, and Clarke collected well for her second. A moment later, a deep kick by Nel Metcalfe was met by Sophie Langford. She advanced menacingly and fed Niamh Swaiies who ran to the line like any back you care to name. Suddenly it was 7-24.
Not for long! Alex Wilkinson threw a long pass left, Katie Shillaker accelerated and offered an off- load from the ground to Millie Hyett who went over.
Half-time 7-29
Another dropped catch from a high kick led indirectly to Leat’s second try. Shillaker had eaten up more space with a threatening run. 7-34
Now at last Wales threatened. Hannah Marshall made a wonderful break, swung towards the left corner flag, to be hauled into touch just in time – I suspect by Jorja Battishill. But England lost the line-out, and Maisie Davies thudded over under the posts, 12-34
England replied with a lovely move, quick hands and support allowing Cromack the split second she needed to stab another kick-pass into Millie David’s hands on the far left. 12-41
Into the last quarter, and Steph Else was given a warning by the referee. Her team played so squeaky clean that Molly Wakely had a clear run in for Wales’ third. That was all three Welsh front rowers on the scoreboard. I suspect the Front-Row Union has special fines for that sort of thing. (But the staff will be happy to pay) 22-41
The white pack took over. They drove a scrum 10 metres, then scored from a line-out. It was Wales’ turn to receive a warning. Ellie Roberts benefited with a try; Cromack’s conversion took them to double the Welsh total. 24-48
Just before time Sophie Langford ensured the half-century for England, after another numbing rumble by the pack.
It’s to Wales’ great credit that they finished over the English line, but the referee ruled ‘help up’.
Result: Wales 24 England 55 Player of the Match: Ella Cromack
Teams:
England: 15. Samantha Shiels (Trailfinders Women, Grasshoppers), 14. Evelyn Clarke (Loughborough Lightning, Worcester Girls), 13. Sophie Langford (Exeter Chiefs, Hong Kong), 12. Millie Hyett (Gloucester-Hartpury, Worcester Girls), 11. Millie David (Bristol Bears, Reading), 10. Ella Cromack (Harlequins, Reading), 9. Alex Wilkinson (Henley Hawks), 1. Amelia Williams (Loughborough Lightning, Medway), 2. Niamh Swailes (Sale Sharks, Ryton), 3. Kira Leat (Trailfinders Women, Havant), 4. Tyla Shirley (Harlequins, Hove), 5. Jorja Battishill (Gloucester-Hartpury), 6. Anna Richardson (Exeter University, Tynedale), 7. Ellie Roberts (Loughborough Lightning, Basingstoke), 8. Steph Else (captain, Gloucester-Hartpury, Scarborough)
Bench: 16. Amelia Hyndman (Sale Sharks, Bishop Auckland), 17. Abby Middlebrooke (Exeter Chiefs), 18. Chloe Flanagan (Saracens, Old Albanians), 19. Lucy Calladine (Loughborough Lightning, Burton), 20. Joia Bennett (Saracens, Old Albanians), 21. Tori Sellors (Saracens, Sevenoaks), 22. Katie Shillaker (Harlequins, Horsham), 23. Lia Green (Loughborough Lightning, Winscombe)
Wales: 15 Nel Metcalfe, 14 Kim Thurlow, 13 Ellie Tromans, 12 Molly Anderson-Thomas, 11 Amy Williams, 10 Hanna Marshall, 9 Katie Bevans; 1 Maisie Davies, 2 Molly Wakely, 3 Cadi Lois Davies, 4 Robyn Davies, 5 Milly Summer, 6 Catrin Stewart, 7 Lucy Isaac, 8 Jess Rogers (co-captain)
Bench: 16 Mollie Crabb, 17 Chloe Thomas Bradley, 18 Lowri Williams, 19 Alaw Pyrs, 20 Lily Terry, 21 Seren Singleton, 22 Jenna De Vera (co-captain), 23 Hannah Lane
Afterthoughts
One of the inevitable advantages of a deep player-pool is that the English and French managements have had the chance to run the rule over a large number of contenders for the all- important finale, the crunch between the two nations.
The only question there is whether the English Rosettes can get anywhere nearer to defeating the all-conquering Bleuettes.
While we all are glad to see this series develop, we must question the choice of venue.
Parma is delightful, but the heat, already foreseen by the authorities, left a big question-mark hanging over it. Even a 9am start couldn’t avoid uncomfortable conditions. At 8pm the temperature was still 30 degrees.
World Rugby is slowly implementing ways of speeding things up, but water-breaks interrupt the flow of a game. And the water-carriers put in a claim for overtime.
