Women’s Six Nations Preview: Scotland vs Italy

Scotland are still searching for their first win of the 2023 Women's Six Nations ahead of a Round 4 clash with an Italy side that will be flying high following their triumph over Ireland last week. 

The Azzurre recorded a well-earned 24-7 victory over Ireland in Round 3 to move into fourth following first and second-round losses to France and England. 

In contrast, Bryan Easson's side endured a weekend to forget as they fell to a 55-0 defeat against Les Bleues that left them bottom of the TikTok Women's Six Nations table.

Having also suffered defeats against England and Wales in their opening two games, Scotland only have two chances left to end a losing streak of 12 successive Tests during the Championship. 

So sit back and relax as we look ahead to a crucial encounter in the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations. 

Team News 

Helen Nelson will earn her 50th cap for Scotland, seven years on from making her debut against France in the 2016 Championship.

Mairi McDonald will make her first start of the Championship, while Meryl Smith comes into the midfield and Coreen Grant returns on the wing.

There is more change in the pack where Rachel McLachlan is back at openside flanker with Jade Konkel-Roberts moving into the second row and Evie Gallagher shifting to No.8.  

Giovanni Raineri has made two changes to the Italy XV that put Ireland to the sword in Round 3.

Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi returns at full-back, replacing Beatrice Capomaggi in the only change to the back line. 

The other change comes in the forwards, with Sara Tounesi shifting from second row to blindside flanker in place of Francesca Sgorbini, who drops out of the squad. 

That alteration creates space for Valeria Fedrighi, who comes into the engine room. 

Stat attack

● Italy have won 10 of their last 11 TikTok Women’s Six Nations matches against Scotland (L1) including each of their last four – each of Italy’s last two away wins against Scotland in the Championship have come by margins of exactly 21 points. 
● Scotland have won just one of their last 12 home games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations (D1 L10) and have lost each of their last three, however, they have scored 20+ points in three of their last five home matches, after failing to reach that tally in any of their previous 33. 

● Scotland have lost each of their last eight matches in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations and failed to score a single point in their most recent game (0-55 v France), however, they scored 22 points in their most recent home match (22-34 v Wales), their highest tally without winning in a match in the Championship. 

● Italy will be playing their second and final away match of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations – Le Azzurre lost their opening away fixture against England in Round 2 (5-68), however, they have picked up at least one victory on the road in each of their previous five campaigns in the Championship, last failing to win outside Italy in 2017.


Teams

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Lisa Thomson, 12 Meryl Smith, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Mairi McDonald; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Jade Konkel-Roberts, 5 Louise McMillan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c), 7 Rachel McLachlan, 8 Evie Gallagher



Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Anne Young, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Eva Donaldson, 20 Elidh Sinclair, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Beth Blacklock, 23 Liz Musgrove

Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Alyssa D’Inca, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sofia Stefan (c); 1 Gaia Maris, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 3 Lucia Gai, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Sara Tounesi, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 8 Giada Franco

Replacements: 16 Emanuela Stecca, 17 Alice Cassaghi, 18 Sara Seye, 19 Laura Gurioli, 20 Alissa Ranuccini, 21 Sara Barattin, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Francesca Granzotto