Six Nations, the Italrugby girls challenge Scotland

Sara Tounesi, 27, born in Cremona to parents of Moroccan origin, is the best tackler in the entire women’s Six Nations: no other athlete has her strength, courage and determination. Italy, which tomorrow in Edinburgh will face Scotland in the fourth round of the tournament (live on Sky Sport Arena from 6pm) relies on the defensive skills of the Lombard girl. Nanni Raineri has decided to deploy her in the back row, which is her natural role in her English club, Sale Sharks: instead in the blue Sara usually plays in the second row, but the simultaneous absence of Francesca Sgorbini has forced the national coach to strengthen the Department. Valeria Fedrighi will take her place in the lineout, who impressed her last Saturday in Parma coming off the bench. There is another novelty with respect to the formation that has just defeated Ireland: Vittoria Ostuni-Minuzzi returns to the role of full-back.

Coach Raineri: “We want to have fun and win again”

Two defeats against the battleships France and England, then the sunny victory against the Irish greens (24-7), topped off with three tries of rare beauty: beloved Italy, in fifth place in the world rankings, has long been offering moments of spectacular rugby It is funny. Raineri recently took over from Andrea Di Giandomenico, who was able to significantly raise the level of this team: the new coach managed to give enthusiasm while maintaining the quality of the game. “We go into the next match aiming to repeat the performance offered in the last match against Ireland.”

The Scots still zero, but what determination

“It will be a tough match, against a physical team that will try to achieve a positive result in front of their fans. We have faith in our means and in the game plan: by playing our best rugby we can put our opponents in difficulty”, continues Raineri. Watch out for this Scotland, who have lost all 3 of their previous matches but showing great grit and clear progress compared to past seasons. Bryan Easson, their coach, confesses: “We are aware of how Italy plays quite similarly to France from an offensive, open and expansive point of view, so we analyzed what went wrong against the French in order to better face the blue”.

Scotland: Chloe Rollie – Coreen Grant, Lisa Thomson, Meryl Smith, Francesca McGhie – Helen Nelson, Mairi McDonald – Evie Gallagher, Rachel McLachlan, Rachel Malcom – Louise McMillan, Jade Konkel-Roberts – Christine Belisle, Lana Skeldon, Leah Bartlett. Subs: Jodie Rettie, Anne Young, Elliann Clarke, Eva Donaldson, Eilidh Sinclair, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock, Liz Musgrove.
Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi – Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, Alyssa D’Incà – Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan – Giada Franco, Isabella Locatelli, Sara Tounesi – Giordana Duca, Valeria Fedrighi – Lucia Gai, Vittoria Vecchini, Gaia Maris. Subs: Emanuela Stecca, Alice Cassaghi, Sara Seye, Laura Gurioli, Alissa Ranuccini, Sara Barattin, Emma Stevanin, Francesca Granzotto.
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)