Italy v Scotland – WXV2
DHL Stadium, Cape Town
As soon as the Scots got hold of the ball, you could sense their confidence. Instant decisions were correctly made, pass, hold, drive, check.
Six minutes in and Beatrice Veronese didn’t release after a tackle. It was right under the Italian posts, and Rachel Malcolm called for a scrum. It didn’t work as planned, and the Azzurre cleared.
The scoreboard was snoring away for over 20 minutes. It woke up as Beatrice Rigoni aimed a penalty; it swung wide. Back to sleep.
The Scots were moving the ball around very fast; the improvement in their handling skills most marked. Then Aura Muzzo fell foul for that nastiest of laws, the so-called deliberate knock-on; a 10-minute yellow.
With the aid of this numerical advantage the Scots worked Chloe Rollie into space for the opening score. It had taken 27 minutes, so tight was the game. 0-7
Helen Nelson won a short spell of ping-pong to put her side on the attack again. A neat move offered Coreen Grant a cross-kick on the bounce, but she lost hold of it just before meeting the corner-flag. A moment later Emma Orr was held up over the line; it was all Scotland now. Sofia Stefan kept up her barrage of box-kicks to little effect. The American referee spotted two forward passes to halt promising Scottish moves. Ilaria Arrighetti had the bad luck to fail an HIA exam.
Rain was falling. The stand in the camera’s view looked like a return to two-men-and-a-dog time. The ball was treacherous; one Scottish pass flew into touch, as if seeking shelter.
On the dot of half-time Lana Skeldon at last managed to complete a pack move with a decisive touch-down.
Italy 0 Scotland 14
Nelson wisely opted for the long-ball tactic, and it paid quick dividends, Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi letting the ball brush her arm deep in Italian territory.
For the last half-hour players battled against the opposition and the ball. It proved an unreliable ally for the team in possession, leading to very scrappy play.
But the final action fell to Scotland. The forwards built phases inches from the line. When the ball was released, Nelson found Grant with a neat overhead pass, and Grant’s hands didn’t let her down this time.
The Scots must hope that the lack of a bonus-point won’t harm their chances. I really must stop calling the Azzurre the next coming team; they keep proving me wrong.
Result: Italy 0 Scotland 19
Player of the Match: Evie Gallagher
Teams
Italy
15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Sara Mannini, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Francesca Granzotto, 10 Emma Stevanin 9 Sofia Stefan 1 Emanuela Stecca, 2 Laura Gurioli, 3 Sara Seye, 4 Sara Tounesi, 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 7 Beatrice Veronese, 8 Elisa Giordano (captain)
16 Vittoria Vecchini, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 *Vittoria Zanette, 19 Alessandra Frangipani, 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Sofia Catellani, 22 Michela Sillari, 23 Beatrice Capomaggi
*uncapped.
Scotland
15. Chloe Rollie, 14. Coreen Grant, 13. Emma Orr, 12. Meryl Smith,11. Francesca McGhie, 10. Helen Nelson, 9. Caity Mattinson, 1. Anne Young, 2. Lana Skeldon, 3. Christine Belisle, 4. Fi McIntosh, 5. Sarah Bonar, 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) 7. Rachel McLachlan, 8. Evie Gallagher
16. Elis Martin, 17. Lisa Cockburn,18. Elliann Clarke, 19. Louise McMillan, 20. Alex Stewart, 21. Leia Brebner-Holden, 22. Lisa Thomson, 23. Lucia Scott.
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Afterthoughts
Nanni Raineri chose not to use Veronica Madia at No 10, so Rigoni took all the kicks. For all her fame, that is not one of her greatest talents. That area remains a worrying gap in Italian skills.
Five players on parade appeared in the Under 20 Summer Series in Parma: Sara Mannini, Vittoria Zanette, Sofia Catellani, Leia Brebner-Holden and Lucia Scott.
The weather was distinctly un-South-African, but once more I must query the choice of the SARU to host WXV2 a second time. Last year the crowds were minute; this year possibly even fewer. Can you think of an alternative country that would put its hand up?
Rachel Malcolm is famed for her leadership qualities. It’s noticeable that she’s spending more time than ever chatting to the referee about incidents and decisions. You might wonder why her opposite number doesn’t as well. Oh, she’s Italian, of course. And when Scotland play Japan? How fair is that?
I’m sorry to add that the commentary provided was quite inadequate for the occasion.
