Italy v Red Roses: preview, teams and stats
As the Red Roses prepare to face Italy in the 2021 Women's Six Nations here is everything you need to know.
England have captain Sarah Hunter back for her first international appearance since March 2020, and she is one of eight changes to the starting XV.
- Watch the Red Roses v Italy on BBC iPlayer
- Red Roses announce side to face Italy
- Listen to Fleetwood and McKenna on England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line
- Watch O2 Inside Line: Red Roses | Club rivalries
Hunter is part of a completely new back-row with Vicky Fleetwood and Alex Matthews, with Amy Cokayne and Shaunagh Brown also coming into the pack. Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne join Jess Breach in the back three, while Meg Jones is part of a new centre partnership as she is named at inside centre alongside vice captain Emily Scarratt.
Manuela Furlan will captain Italy from the wing as she moves out wide to allow Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi to start at full back.
Sara Barattin is the most experienced player named in the Azzurre's starting line-up as she will win her 96th cap for her country at scrum half, with former Harlequins flanker Giada Franco starting at flanker. Gaia Maris and Alyssa D’Inca are set for their debuts after being named on the bench.
- When? Saturday, 10 April
- Kick-off? 1400 BST
- Where? Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
- Coverage? Watch on BBC iPlayer, continuing coverage on England Rugby Instagram and Twitter
VIEWS FROM THE CAMP
England head coach Simon Middleton: “We always set our stall out to rotate the squad and have a look at everybody, give everybody an opportunity. I’ve got such confidence in the squad and the depth of quality in the squad, that I certainly don’t think it will compromise our performance.
“When I told Sarah she wasn’t playing last week, the first thing she said to me was ‘can I run the water and do the messaging, can I stay in camp?’
“Meg [Jones] is a fantastic player, she’s probably one of the form players in the Premier 15s and is very different to anything we’ve got and the game we’ve played over the past three or four years – she gives you a very different attacking threat.
“I know a lot have been made of Poppy’s performances lately, and rightly so, but Zoe [Aldcroft] is right up there with her. She’s an unbelievably accomplished all-round player, very quiet and goes about her business, but she’s taken her game to another level – her physicality, her involvements, she’s a sensational player.”
England captain Sarah Hunter: “I literally cannot wait to put white shirt on as there’s been a lot of difficult moments, and moments people don’t see as I’ve been away from the squad. It does make it all worth it that Saturday will come when at times you don’t think it is, you think that might’ve been the last time.
“My ultimate goal is to play in that World Cup next year and if that means potentially not playing in every game or every minutes, then I’ll take being selective.
RED ROSES PREPARE FOR ITALY AT PENNYHILL PARK
“I played Exeter a couple of weeks ago and I sat in the hotel room the morning before we played and I did get quite emotional as it just meant everything to get back out there. Not knowing if this opportunity would come it does get me at times to think that this did make it more special – it made me realise to cherish all the moments as you don’t know when it’s going to be your last.
“Italy haven’t played since the autumn but the one thing we know when we go to Italy is they tend to be a difficult proposition in that they’re so passionate and relentless. They’ve got some great individual players, kicking threats so we’ve just got to be on our game.”
Italy head coach Andrea Di Giandomenico: “We have a great desire to get back on the pitch and get back in the game.
"The Six Nations is one of the most important stages in the rugby world and we will make our debut in the 2021 edition against one of the fittest teams on the international rugby scene. The focus will be on our performance trying to play our best rugby."
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
- 1 November 2020: Italy 0-54 England - Stadio Plebiscito, Padova (Six Nations)
- 23 November 2019: England 60-3 Italy - Goldington Road, Bedford (Quilter International)
- 9 March 2019: England 55-0 Italy - Sandy Park, Exeter (Six Nations)
- 4 February 2018: Italy 7-42 England - Stadio Mirabello, Reggio Emilia (Six Nations)
- 13 August 2017: England 56-13 Italy - Billings Park UCD, Dublin (Rugby World Cup)
- 25 February 2017: England 29-15 Italy - Twickenham Stoop, London (Six Nations)
- 13 February 2016: Italy 24-33 England, Stadio Gino Pistoni, Ivrea (Six Nations)
- 15 February 2015: England 39-5 Italy - Twickenham Stoop, London (Six Nations)
- 16 March 2014: Italy 0-24 England - Stadio Giulio e Silvio Pagani, Rovoto (Six Nations)
- 9 March 2013: England 34-0 Italy - Moseley Road, Hersham (Six Nations)
KEY STATS
- In 21 meetings with Italy, England Women have won all 21 games since their first clash at the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup
- Italy Women finished second in the 2019 Six Nations, their best ever finish in the tournament since they joined in 2007
- The Red Roses are on a 12-match winning run in the Six Nations
- Simon Middleton's side have won 22 of their last 23 Tests, with the only defeat coming to New Zealand in the 2019 Women's Super Series
- In their last three games against Italy the Red Roses have scored over 150 points, with Italy scoring just one penalty in those meetings
- In her last game against Italy in Italy, captain Sarah Hunter scored a hat-trick in a 42-7 victory in 2018
- Poppy Cleall has scored a try in three of her last four games against Italy
TEAMS
ENGLAND
15. Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 12 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Harlequins Women, 16 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 93 caps)
12. Megan Jones (Wasps FC Ladies, 11 caps)
11. Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies, 15 caps)
10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 41 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women 57 caps)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 54 caps)
3. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 21 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 21 caps)
5. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 16 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors Women, 40 caps)
7. Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens Women, 77 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 123 caps)
Finishers
16. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps)
17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women, 20 caps)
18. Bryony Cleall (Saracens Women, 2 caps)
19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 59 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 44 caps)
21. Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 13 caps)
22. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 27 caps)
23. Sarah McKenna (Saracens Women, 33 caps)
Italy
15. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi(Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 Caps)
14. Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba, 14 Caps)
13. Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 57 Caps)
12. Maria Magatti (Cus Milano, 33 Caps)
11. Manuela Furlan (Arredissima Villorba, 75 Caps) – Capitano
10. Veronica Madia (Hbs Colorno, 19 Caps )
9. Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba, 95 Caps)
8. Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 43 Caps)
7. Giada Franco (Hbs Colorno, 17 Caps)
6. Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais, Francia, 45 Caps)
5. Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 18 Caps)
4. Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain, Francia, 22 Caps)
3. Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 70 Caps)
2. Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Belve Neroverdi, 24 Caps)
1. Erika Skofca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 2 Caps)
REPLACEMENTS
16. Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais, Francia, 58 Caps)
17. Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova, Esordiente)
18. Sara Tounesi (Asm Romagnat, Francia, 16 Caps)
19. Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949, 23 Caps)
20. Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 Caps)
21. Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 43 Caps)
22. Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 56 Caps)
23. Alyssa D’inca’ (Arredissima Villorba, Esordiente)
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
Red Roses through to Six Nations final after Italy win
The Red Roses booked a place in the Women’s Six Nations final after registering a bonus-point 67-3 win over Italy in Parma.
Simon Middleton’s side crossed nine times at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi to top Pool A, having already defeated Scotland 52-10 last weekend.
Italy started positively, showing early attacking promise by spreading the ball wide and probing threatening kicks deep into English territory. The hosts were disruptive in defence too, scuppering multiple meaningful Red Roses plays inside the opening quarter.
ITALY V RED ROSES: MATCH ACTION
Though Italy had a greater share of possession, England scored first. On the 22-minute mark, Emily Scarratt scooped up a wayward Italian pass on the halfway line and sprinted unopposed under the sticks, before converting her own effort.
Eight minutes later and England’s second score mimicked their first. Against the run of play, Meg Jones intercepted an inaccurate pass before cantering toward the Italian line. She was brought down short, but calmly lifted an offload into the path of Vicky Fleetwood, who duly dotted down. Scarratt’s extras giving her side a 14-point cushion.
Moments after that conversion Scarratt was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, which allowed Italy to claim their first points of the Test via the boot of outside centre Michela Sillari.
But fly half Helena Rowland kept the scoreboard ticking over and answered the Italian effort with a penalty of her own to make it 3-17 at the break.
Italy started the second half with the same ferocity they did in the first, and looked sure to score early on, only for a smart Ellie Kildunne intercept to thwart their expansive play.
Back on the field, and seven minutes into the resumption, Scarratt nailed a straightforward penalty in front of the sticks to see England hit the 20-point mark.
Italy scrum half Sara Barattin was sin binned for a cynical infringement at a promising England rolling maul, and the visitors took immediate advantage, breaking blind off the back of another rolling maul and sending Abby Dow over in the corner. Scarratt’s conversion made 3-27.
Harriett Millar-Mills banked England's bonus-point try, finishing off the neat run of Alex Matthews, before Rowland crossed on the hour mark for her second try in as many games. Scarratt converted both.
England opened Italy up in the final quarter, rounding off a comprehensive victory with further tries from Dow, Bryony Cleall, Claudia MacDonald and Lark Davies. The performance marked England’s 22nd consecutive win against Italy, and stretched their winning run in the Six Nations to 13 matches.
Reaction
It was a tough ride first half, they came at us pretty hard, but I think we turned it around pretty well in the second half. Credit to the girls, we were just trying to be clinical."
Megan Jones on England's performance
We had to bide our time, and that's credit to Italy who put us under pressure. I think the second half performance probably reflects more of what we've been doing over the last few months in training."
Sarah Hunter on England's second half
TEAMS
England
15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Jess Breach, 13. Emily Scarratt, 12. Megan Jones, 11. Abby Dow, 10. Helena Rowland, 9. Leanne Riley, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Shaunagh Brown, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Cath O’Donnell, 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Vicky Fleetwood, 8. Sarah Hunter (C).
Finishers
16. Lark Davies, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Bryony Cleall, 19. Harriet Millar-Mills, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Claudia MacDonald, 22. Zoe Harrison, 23. Sarah McKenna.
Italy
15. Manuela Furlan (C), 14. Aura Muzzo, 13. Michela Sillari, 12. Beatrice Rigoni, 11. Maria Magatti, 10. Veronica Madia, 9. Sara Barattin, 8. Elisa Giordano, 7. Giada Franco, 6. Ilaria Arrighetti, 5. Giordana Duca, 4. Valeria Fedrighi, 3. Lucia Gai, 2. Lucia Cammarano, 1. Erika Skofca.
Replacements
16. Melissa Bettoni, 17. Gaia Maris, 18. Sara Seye, 19. Isabella Locatelli, 20. Beatrice Veronese, 21. Francesca Sgorbini, 22. Sofia Stefan, 23. Alyssa D’inca’.
FIXTURES & RESULTS
Red Roses 52 - 10 Scotland
Italy 3 - 67 Red Roses
Saturday 24 April: Finals weekend (Red Roses v Winner B, Second place A v Second place B, Third place A v Third place B) - Venue TBC.
Friday 30 April: France v Red Roses (2000 BST) - Villeneuve d'Ascq, Lille.
