Update – Two penalties was enough to see Ireland become the 2013 Six Nations GRAND SLAM winners.
Women’s Six Nations
Italy 3-6 Ireland FT
MORE TO FOLLOW
PREVIEW
The Ireland Women’s squad are on the cusp of another milestone achievement as they look to overturn Italy and make history as Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam champions. The game will be held Venegoni Stadium, Parabiago, Milan at 2pm.
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RTÉ’s transmission of the Italy v Ireland Women’s game will be the first time ever that an Irish Women’s rugby match has been broadcast live on Irish television.
Form
Ireland come in to this game unbeaten in the Six Nations campaign, they have already won the Triple Crown, the Campaign, now an extra push is needed to achieve the historic milestone of a Grand Slam.
They have won each of their comprehensibly, with England suffering a 25-0 defeat in the Irish ladies latest test.
Meanwhile, Italy recently suffered a 34-0 defeat at the hands of England. That was a poor result considering the form they had previously to that. They began the Six Nations strongly with a famous 13-12 home victory over France and also beat Scotland on an 8-0 scoreline in Dundee.
Wales only had a point to spare over the ever-improving Italians (16-15), so Ireland can expect a tough test in this final round tie.
Team News
Italy head coach Andrea dI Giandomenico has made two changes to the side that started the 34-0 defeat away to England. Sofia Stefan and Awa Coulibaly have both been excluded from the starting fifteen with Maria Grazia Cioffi starting on the left wing and Marta Ferrari coming in at loosehead prop.
Manuela Furlan, Maria Diletta Veronese, Michela Sillari, Paola Zangirolami, Maria Grazia Cioffi , Veronica Schiavon, Sara Barattin, Marta Ferrari, Melissa Bettoni , Lucia Gai, Cristina Molic , Alice Trevisan , Michela Este, Silvia Gaudino (capt), Flavia Severin.
Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle has made two changes to the starting line-up for the trip to Milan on Sunday afternoon.
Grace Davitt comes into the centre in place of Kildare native Jenny Murphy who picked up a hamstring injury in the 15-10 victory over France.
Niamh Kavanagh will start on the right wing in place of Ashleigh Baxter who is excluded from the starting fifteen.
Niamh Briggs, Niamh Kavanagh , Lynne Cantwell , Grace Davitt , Alison Miller, Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon, Fiona Coghlan (capt), Gillian Bourke, Ailis Egan , Sophie Spence , Marie Louise Reilly , Siobhan Fleming, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville.
Players to Watch
Ireland winger Alison Miller is the top try scorer in this year’s Women’s Six Nations with five tries in four games, including that famous hat-trick against defending champions England. She is sure to cause danger down the wing when the opportunity arises.
The Italian out-half Veronica Schiavon has scored 147 points in her 31 Championship outings to date. She will be dangerous from penalties so Ireland will need to keep their discipline again today.
