Key occasions
18 min: Italy make a large number of getting out of their very own half and a horrible field kick goes straight up as Cavina fails to get out of the way in which. She’s off-side so Harrison will nudge this into the nook.
They set a maul however Italy infringe once more. So it’s one other English line-out and one other maul…
Strive chalked off! Italy 0-0 England
Scratch that! Double motion is the decision. Harsh, but additionally honest, if what I imply. I believe both determination wouldn’t have evoked an excessive amount of controversy. So Italy get a relieving penalty and kick past their 22.
TRY! Italy 0-5 England (Ward, 17)
What a end! She was about 5 metres quick however saved driving her legs after contact and reached out to dot down. Her first Take a look at since having a child final yr, that might be a preferred rating.
RED CARD! England (Beckett, 16)
The yellow has been upgraded! And to be trustworthy I believe that’s the proper name. Sillari was capable of proceed however she doesn’t look lengthy for this match. Beckett can haven’t any complaints and now the defending champs should discover a win with 14.
16 min: Atkin-Davies finds her jumper and England go to the maul. It’s been a potent weapon through the years and once more it rumbles on. It stalls in order that they’re down the road. Harrison performs a wonderful skipped cross to Kildunne who pops again infield for Breach. That was sharp earlier than it was knocked on.
14 min: England – with solely seven within the scrum – win a penalty at set-piece. Reveals what I do know. I assumed Italy had been dominant. Fortunately I’m not the referee so Harrison boots it over half-way and England could have the line-out.
13 min: Sigh. Italy knock on as they go down the vast channel. Nice learn from Breach as she rushed up on defence. Looks like Italy are speeding issues unnecessarily.
13 min: Italy with the line-out and a participant benefit. Finally they safe the ball, although it’s a large number. They’ll nonetheless have their fingers on it as an English hand knocked-on within the line-out. Scrum between half-way and the 22 over on the left.
Yellow card! England (Beckett, 11)
No query. In reality, I’d be stunned if this wasn’t upgraded to purple. She’s attempting to scrub out Sillari however loses her footing as she wraps up the Italian, twists her physique and falls over Sillari’s knee. For these of you who can bear in mind it, suppose Shannon Frizzell’s twisting of Bongi Mbonambi’s knee within the early minutes of the boys’s World Cup last.
Excellent news although, Sillari is OK and can proceed. Phew. That appeared unhealthy.
11 min: I’m sorry to report however it is a correct dross up to now. Each groups are higher than this. England definitely are. They’re on the ball and Aldcroft does effectively in a dominant carry. However as soon as the ball goes down the road there’s an absence of spark and accuracy and as soon as once more there’s a knock on. Potential croc-roll with Sarah Beckett in hassle. She may need ended Michel Sillari’s season with a really reckless problem on the breakdown.
10 min: Italy present some persistence having gained the line-out after the penalty. Down the road they go nevertheless it’s not threatening. An English hand juts out to steal an intercept however knocks-on. Not intentionally so it’s an Italian scrum on half-way.
8 min: ANOTHER botched line-out. Atkin-Davies misses her jumper. Scarratt rushes onto the free ball however knock-on as she stoops to assemble. Actually scrappy from England. Italy kick it clear and Kildunne does effectively to take it again into Italian territory with Scarratt on the assist line. Kabeya prices over the gainline with a robust carry. Beckett is hammered within the deal with by Sgotbini and Rigoni will get over the ball to steal a penalty.
7 min: Now England lose a line-out and Italy have it. Ostuni Minuzzi joins the road from full-back however there’s an Italian off her toes and England are gifted a penalty. Good work from Dow who made a deal with after which bought to her toes to stress the breakdown.
5 min: Italy knock-on within the line-out from the penalty. A bit of scrappy from each aspect. Comprehensible maybe given that is the primary recreation of the competitors. England’s scrum is immense they usually delay taking the ball out to seek out the penalty they usually achieve this. Harrison hoofs it previous the half-way line.
4 min: Italy safe the ball and ship it vast. It’s slightly disjointed with runners transferring laterally. There’s a spill in touch nevertheless it’s an Italian scrum. England shove effectively however Italy maintain the ball and are as much as half-way the place they win a penalty on the deck as Marlie Packer’s hand touches the ground on the breakdown.
2 min: England flip Italy over instantly from the kick-off and are on the assault inside Italy’s 22. Scarratt at scrum-half spirals it and it goes down the road. Breach is bundled out into contact so Italy have the throw.
England kick off. Right here we go!
It seems to be like a stunning day in Parma. Not a large crowd. However a wonderful setting.
The anthems are getting underneath method. Not lengthy now.
John Mitchell is on the telly and he says he expects issues would possibly “get stick” in his first recreation.
I believe he’s offering caveats unnecessarily. I do know that is his first recreation in cost however absolutely, absolutely, he’ll count on one thing extra slick than sticky.
The printed has began on the BBC and rightly they’ve kicked off with Marlie Packer. She’s a gem, isn’t she?
She might be the most effective participant on the earth proper now (I do know I mentioned that was Emily Scarratt, nevertheless it’s a coin flip, to be trustworthy).
“I simply really feel extraordinarily honoured,” she mentioned of her milestone. “It’s at all times a privilege to put on the shirt and to guide out the Pink Roses is one thing very particular. However to do it on my a centesimal cap and in addition be captain is simply the icing on the cake. It’s one thing I really like, I really like main the ladies, I simply like to placed on the shirt. So yeah, simply completely happy.”
A reminder of yesterday’s outcomes:
– France 38-17 Eire
– Wales 18-20 Scotland
What’s extra spectacular than enjoying in two World Cup finals, successful a number of Six Nations titles and representing your nation greater than 60 instances?
In keeping with Abbie Ward, that will be coming again to full health and type after giving delivery. The highly effective lock returns to worldwide duties after the delivery of her daughter in July final yr. She scored in her first recreation again for her membership, Bristol, in November and has been immense since.
She spoke with Sarah Rendell concerning the distinctive problem that some elite feminine athletes face.
In case you’re hoping for an in depth factor at present you is perhaps dissatisfied. Video games between England and Italy have a tendency to finish in one-sided thumpings with the final three fixtures gained by England by scores of 68-5, 74-0 and 67-3.
So, if you happen to’re eager on one thing tight and nerve-jangling, why not take a learn of the report from yesterday the place a missed kick prevented a draw between Scotland and Wales:
It’s a giant day for John Mitchell. Even so, he’s capable of look past himself and settle for that sooner or later the Pink Roses will, possibly even ought to, be coached by a lady.
He was in high type in a chat with Rob Kitson:
Italy group
The lads’s aspect exceeded expectations on this yr’s Six Nations and the under-20s programme is beginning to bear fruit.
It’s now over to the ladies’s group to underline the rise of Italian rugby.
It’s a tricky begin to the marketing campaign and nobody ought to financial institution on a win. However the Azzurre have been a power on the rise they usually may need added to their solitary win – in opposition to Eire – had been they extra scientific in opposition to Wales and Scotland. They gained all of their matches within the WXV 2 collection – beating South Africa and the USA alongside the way in which – and solely misplaced the title on factors distinction.
Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, D’Inca’ Madia, Stefan (c); maris, Turani, Seye, Fedrighi, Tounesi, Locatelli, Sgobini, Caniva.
Replacements: Gurioli, Stecca, Gai, Pilani, Duca, Frangipani, Stevanin, Granzotto.
England group
It’s 100 up for the skipper with some acquainted names again within the fold.
Marlie Packer will lead the group out on her a centesimal England look and he or she’ll have loads of firepower behind her.
The dynamic midfielder (and maybe the most effective participant on the planet) Emily Scarratt, the metronomic fly-half Zoe Harrison and the totemic lock Abbie Ward all play for the primary time for the reason that World Cup last defeat to New Zealand in November 2022. Their presence alone means it is a aspect with severe enterprise on the thoughts.
Preserve an eye fixed out, too, for free ahead Sadia Kabeya who was one of many breakout stars final yr whereas Helena Rowland – a flexible playmaker at exterior centre – may dazzle if given the prospect.
Exeter’s Maddie Fe’aunati will make her debut when she comes off the bench to hitch the again row whereas Holly Aitchison may flip the dial up late within the second half.
England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Scarrat, Jess Breach; Harrison, L Packer; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Aldcroft, Ward, Kabeya, M Packer (c), Beckett.
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Fe’aunati, Matthews, Hunt, Aitchison, Jones.
Preamble
So begins a brand new chapter in Pink Roses historical past. John Mitchell takes cost of a girls’s aspect for the primary time having steered the boys’s outfits of New Zealand, the US and a number of membership sides all over the world whereas additionally serving in supporting roles with England, Eire and Japan. It’s a powerful CV however it is a new problem.
Not least due to the load of expectation. With 5 consecutive Six Nations titles, there’s a case to be made that England’s girls are probably the most dominant rugby aspect on the planet. However a World Cup is the last word objective and with a house event kicking off in 2025, now could be the time to begin shaping a bunch that may make good on their potential having misplaced to New Zealand in every of the final two finals.
There’s a milestone for the bulldozing power that’s Marlie packer. She brings up her a centesimal cap for her nation and the skipper will need to lay down an announcement. Italy gained’t be pushovers in Parma, however something aside from a cushty win for England will come as a shock.
All of it kicks off at 2pm native time/3pm within the UK.
Get in contact in case you have a thought you need to share with the group. How do you reckon Mitchell will get on? How can he take this steamroller ahead?
Groups and updates to comply with.