In an interesting move Giovanni Raineri has posted the names of the 28 players to represent Italy in the first two rounds of the 6 Nations against France then England.
They are:
Sara Barattin (Villorba), Jessica Busato (Villorba), Beatrice Capomaggi (Villorba), Alice Cassaghi (CUS Milano), Mathilde Cheval (Valsugana), Alyssa D’Inca (Villorba), Giordana Duca (Valsugana), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain), Giada Franco (Colorno), Lucia Gai (Valsugana), Elisa Giordano (captain, Valsugana), Alessia Gronda (CUS Torino), Laura Gurioli (Villorba), Isabella Locatelli (Colorno), Veronica Madia (Colorno), Gaia Maris (Wasps), Aura Muzzo (Villorba), Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana), Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana), Sara Seye (Calvisano), Michela Sillari (Valsugana), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat), Emanuela Stecca (Villorba), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana), Emma Stevanin (Valsugana), Sara Tounesi (Sale Sharks), Silvia Turani (Exeter Chiefs), Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana),
To make life more complicated, four players are limited to short phases of the campaign. Mathilde Cheval and Laura Gurioli are engaged up to 26 March (Round One). For Round Two they will be replaced by Alice Cassaghi and Alessia Gronda.
They are the four youngsters Raineri has brought into the squad, but his manner of introduction may be a first in the history of the 6N.
The schedule the Azzurre face looks as tough as it can get, first home to France, then away to England. But as with Scotland, if they can get through those two challenges with their heads held high, they can look forward to some prosperity over rounds 3-5.
