Here are the 32 Azzurre to represent Italy at the World Cup this month:
Forwards:
ILLARIA ARRIGHETTI
GIORDANA BUSO
VALERIA FEDRIGHI
ALESSANDRA FRANGIPANI
ELISA GIORDANO (captain)
LAURA GURIOLI
GAIA MARIS
ISABELLA LOCATELLI
GAIA MARIS
ALESSIA PILANI
ALISSA RANUCCINI
SARA SEYE
FRANCESCA SGORBINI
DESIREE SPINELLI
EMANUELA STECCA
SARA TOUNESI
SILVIA TURANI
VITTORIA VECCHINI
BEATRICE VERONESE (18)
Backs:
ALIA BITONCI
GAIA BUSO
BEATRICE CAMPOMAGGI
GIADA CORRADINI
ALYSSA D’INCA
FRANCESCA GRANZOTTO
VERONICA MADIA
SARA MANNINI
AURA MUZZO
BEATRICE RIGONI
MICHELA SILLARI
SOFIA STEFAN
EMMA STEVANIN
VITTORIA OSTUNO MINUZZI
This is one experienced squad!
In the pack only Spinelli and Pilani have yet to reach double-figures in caps.
It’s a similar story in the backs, where Stefan sits on 98 caps and Sillari on 92 – so she, unlike her scrum-half pal, can’t expect to reach a merited ton in England.
In these circumstances it’s important that the newer faces can prove the real thing. Retirements may come thick and fast next month, so Fabio Roselli must have faith in a new generation.
The one player with a single cap is Giada Corradini, a centre. She is already 23, plays now for Montpellier in France, so is no raw recruit. But she suffered an injury that stopped her competing in the latest WXV.
History
Italy have only once reached the quarters, and that was last time out in 2022.
In England they face a chastened France first. They have beaten them before, but rarely. Once they are out of the way, the Azzurre have two easier rides, against Brazil and South Africa. If they can weather those two squalls, they have a good chance of repeating their 2022 feat or even outdoing it.
I’m sure Roselli has placed discipline and accuracy high on the to-do list. If those two targets are hit, we can look forward to the exciting brew this side can offer.
