Good afternoon, and Happy Easter!
Welcome along to The 42’s live coverage of Ireland v Italy in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Scott Bemand’s side opened their campaign with defeat away to heavyweights France — and are looking to get off the mark against Italy this afternoon.
Kick-off at the RDS is 3pm, with the game live on RTÉ 2.
We’ll keep you up to date on all the action right here.
Team news
Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan returns to the XV in a major boost.
The second row is one of four changes, with Dannah O’Brien, Grace Moore and Enya Breen all starting this afternoon.
Ireland
- 15. Lauren Delany
- 14. Katie Corrigan
- 13. Eve Higgins
- 12. Enya Breen
- 11. Béibhinn Parsons
- 10. Dannah O’Brien
- 9. Aoibheann Reilly
- 1. Linda Djougang
- 2. Neve Jones
- 3. Christy Haney
- 4. Dorothy Wall
- 5. Sam Monaghan (co-captain)
- 6. Grace Moore
- 7. Aoife Wafer
- 8. Brittany Hogan
Replacements:
- 16. Sarah Delaney
- 17. Niamh O’Dowd
- 18. Sadhbh McGrath
- 19. Fiona Tuite
- 20. Eimear Corri
- 21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe
- 22. Nicole Fowley
- 23. Aoife Dalton.
Team news
And here’s how the opposition line out. They lost to defending champions England last time out.
Italy
- 15. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi
- 14. Aura Muzzo
- 13. Beatrice Rigoni
- 12. Emma Stevanin
- 11. Alyssa D’Inca
- 10. Veronica Madia
- 9. Sofia Stefan
- 8. Ilaria Arrighetti
- 7. Francesca Sgorbini
- 6. Sara Tounesi
- 5. Giordana Duca
- 4. Valeria Fedrighi
- 3. Sara Seye
- 2. Vittoria Vecchini
- 1. Silvia Turani
Replacements:
- 16. Laura Gurioli
- 17. Gaia Maris
- 18. Lucia Gai
- 19. Isabella Locatelli
- 20. Beatrice Veronese
- 21. Alessandra Frangipani
- 22. Francesca Granzotto
- 23. Beatrice Capomaggi.
The IRFU are anticipating a record attendance at the RDS this afternoon, topping the 6,113 crowd that saw Wales beat Ireland in 2022.
✨ RECORD BREAKERS ✨
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 31, 2024
Tickets Sales are over 6,200 for today’s big game in the RDS!!
🎟️ Tickets still available: https://t.co/HcwCx085Go 👈 #IrishRugby #WeAreIreland pic.twitter.com/UPvXvGZmzi
Lindsay Peat says Ireland should be targetting a win today as RTÉ build up to kick-off. Hannah Tyrrell echoes those sentiments and hails the notable improvements in Ireland’s defence.
Ready to go
The teams are coming out onto the pitch here. Time to call it.
How do you see this one going?
Poll Results:
Stevie Mulrooney is belting out Ireland’s Call.
“C’MON IRELAND,” he roars at the end.
KICK-OFF: Dannah O’Brien gets us underway.
Hollie Davidson is in the middle.
Ireland 0-0 Italy
2 mins - Italy knock-on, first scrum of the day goes to Ireland.
Strong chase from O’Brien’s kick, Neeve Jones with a big hit to help force the handling error.
Ireland 0-0 Italy
4 mins – Superb front-footed start from Ireland. They get away from the scrum with ease and are enjoying attacking possession here, Béibhinn Parson impressing on the wing.
Italy turn them over by forcing a penalty, but can’t find touch from it and Ireland are off again.
Ireland 0-0 Italy
6 mins – Good defending from Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, who keeps Katie Corrigan off the ball in touch after an ambitious cross-field kick from Enya Breen. Came from a scrum once again.
5m scrum now, the attacking chance is still there for Ireland.
Ireland 0-0 Italy
7 mins – They get away and hammer at the Italy defence, Aoife Wafer – who has started brilliantly – with a big carry. Penalty under the posts, Ireland opt for another scrum.
They work it through the phases and with the ball heading for Béibhinn Parsons, Italy intercept. Davidson adjudges Ostuni Minuzzi to have deliberately knocked on and sends her to the bin. They’re checking for a penalty try now.
Ireland 7-0 Italy (Penalty Try, 8)
The dream start for Ireland! A bright opening from the hosts, points on the board and Italy down to 14 after full-back Ostuni Minuzzi deliberately knocked on.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
10 mins - Ireland are keeping their foot on the pedal here, they are blitzing the Italians. Pace, energy, hunger. Night and day to last year.
The possession stats pop up on the screen: 90/10. Enough said.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
12 mins - Parsons has upended a few Italians, with Silvia Turani down receiving treatment from the impact of her hand-off. RTÉ provide us with a few more stats: Ireland have made 34 carries and 244 metres thus far.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
14 mins - Aoife Wafer is a wrecking ball out there! She makes a brilliant break from a huge Irish scrum, they have a penalty in the back pocket but she drives on.
Ireland move through the phases and stretch Italy from left to right and back again before Wafter unfortunately knocks on a cross-field kick. Probably the wrong decision, but the encouraging start continues.
Italy have been forced into a change — Beatrice Veronese for Francesca Sgorbini — with Christie Haney down receiving treatment.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
17 mins – Haney is back up on her feet and straight into an Italy scrum. They clear their lines momentarily, but Ireland are back on the charge after Grace Moore pounced.
Another Italy change to note: Turani is gone for a HIA, Gaia Maris comes in.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
20 mins – Another good Irish attack comes undone at the finish. Ostuni Minuzzi is back on the pitch, a let-off that the hosts haven’t scored in her absence.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
22 mins - Italy’s first real attack is dealt with accordingly. First, Neeve Jones steps up with a big hit and then, Wafer makes her mark again with a turnover. O’Brien finds touch and Ireland cleanly retain their first lineout of the afternoon.
Ireland 7-0 Italy
23 mins - Italy have come into this a little more in the past few minutes. Neeve Jones is pinged for not rolling away, Beatrice Rigoni opts to go for touch.
TRY! Ireland 7-5 Italy (Vittoria Vecchini, 24)
Italy’s trademark driving maul pays dividends. Ireland don’t contest the 5m line-out and the Azzuri roll from there. Vecchini finishes.
Rigoni can’t add the extras as her conversion attempt rattles the post.
Ireland 7-5 Italy
30 mins – Ireland respond quite well, but their decision making in attack has slipped. Emma Stevanin is pinged for a high tackle on Sam Monaghan. Ireland opt to go for the corner rather than the posts, but O’Brien doesn’t find touch…
Ireland 7-5 Italy
32 mins – Unfortunate knock-on from Parsons under a high ball. Feels like the wind has gone out of Ireland’s sails somewhat. Rigoni hits the corner, and Italy look to repeat their earlier trick.
TRY! Ireland 7-10 Italy (Valeria Fedrighi, 33)
Second Italian entry into the Irish ’22, second try. They repeat the trick, although it takes a little bit more time, effort and patience. Sara Tounesi steps up with a big carry and eventually, Valeria Fedrighi crashes over. Rigoni does add the extras this time. 12-7.
Ireland 7-12 Italy
36 mins – Crucial juncture here. Ireland must respond. The early signs aren’t great: Lauren Delany indecision sees the full-back swallowed up and concede a comfortably kickable penalty. This game has really swung.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
37 mins - Rigoni nails the penalty after a lengthy break in play.
Delany has been carted off. There didn’t seem to be anything untoward in the tackle, it must have been how she landed. Hopefully all is okay. Nicole Fowley comes in. There will likely be an Irish reshuffle now, we’ll keep you updated on that.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
38 mins – Italy intercept a poor Eve Higgins pass, and are back on the front foot after a short reprieve. Sara Seye eventually knocks it on, though, so we go to the scrum.
Handling errors: Ireland 7 Italy 3.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
40 mins - After quite some time setting the scrum and clear instructions from Davidson, O’Brien eventually attempts a cross-field kick to Parsons but she doesn’t get there. That should be that.
Half-time: Ireland 7-15 Italy
So that’s that for the opening period at the RDS. Ireland started so well and had a penalty try on the board after eight minutes. Italy full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi saw yellow for the deliberate knock-on, and while Ireland continued to dominate while she was in the bin, they failed to capitalise on the scoreboard.
Italy grew into the game and powered into the lead with two tries in less than 10 minutes. Both came from driving mauls off the line-out: Vittoria Vecchini finished the first, while Valeria Fedrighi crashed over for their second. Beatrice Rigoni converted one, and added a late penalty to put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
Lots of work for Ireland to do in the second half.
New record attendance for Ireland: 6,605 at the RDS today, according to RTÉ at half time.
SECOND HALF: Rigoni gets us up and running once more.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
43 mins – Ireland chance in the right-hand corner early on, but Italy escape…for now.
Beforehand, the hosts had exited brilliantly with a backfield kick. Ilaria Arrighetti recovered to claim the ball, but she kicked it straight to Neeve Jones to give Ireland a superb attacking platform. They worked the ball well towards the corner, but the ball went over the touchline.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
46 mins - Ireland again can’t find touch from the middle, Nicole Fowley this time. Fiona Coghlan, on RTÉ co-commentary, bemoans their decision to turn down points once again.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
48 mins - Italy steal an Irish line-out and break. Veronica Madia spots space in the backfield, Rigoni runs onto it but she can’t get her hands on the ball. Another let-off for Ireland, as they go to the scrum.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
50 mins - Little bit of over and back there. Rigoni tries to thread one through the middle, but O’Brien clears Ireland’s lines with a big kick to touch. Ireland steal the line-out, and look to find a spark…
Ireland 7-15 Italy
52 mins - Italy counter-ruck and steal the ball. Rigoni mis-kicks and hands possession back to Ireland from the line-out. The visitors have been much more clinical at the breakdown today: six turnovers versus two.
Ireland 7-15 Italy
53 mins - Good attack from Ireland as they create a good opportunity. They’re close and have a penalty. Fowley opts to cross-field kicks but it goes backwards – and astray. Back for the penalty, phew…
Ireland 7-15 Italy
55 mins - Fowley goes to the corner, and from the line-out maul, Ireland opt to spread the play. Sucker punch as Parsons drops the ball on the cusp of scoring.
Fiona Tuite comes in for Grace Moore.
TRY! Ireland 7-20 Italy (Vittoria Vecchini, 58)
A superb Italy team try. From their own ’22 at full flight. After some end-to-end rugby, Italy get a grip on proceedings. Alyssa D’Inca puts the wind in their sails with a huge run. Ireland scramble to recover momentarily.
Ostuni Minuzzi breaks on the other side, Parsons holds her up. But they smell blood and work it through the phases, before Vittoria Vecchini bags her second try of the day. Rigoni converts. 22-7.
TRY! Ireland 12-22 Italy (Neve Jones, 62)
Ireland needed a big response — and they got it. They hit back well, with Dannah O’Brien finding touch from way out. Neve Jones, who has been consistently excellent for Ireland, finished the line-out maul. O’Brien squeezes over a monstrous conversion. Eight-point game. 22-14.
Eventful few minutes! Two Ireland substitutions at different stages…
- Molly Scuffil-McCabe for Aoibheann Reilly
- Sadhbh McGrath for Christy Haney
TRY! Ireland 14-27 Italy (Auro Muzzo, 66)
Or is it?…we’re off to the TMO.
No try.
Just to recap, it was another excellent team move from Italy, with Muzzo finishing in the corner. The last pass was adjudged to be forward. Relief for Ireland, who had been caught napping.
Ireland 14-22 Italy
68 mins – This is breathless stuff. Ireland clear their lines, but they’re soon under pressure again.
Eimear Corri has come in for Dorothy Wall.
TRY! Ireland 14-27 Italy (Aura Muzzo, 69)
No question about this one. It’s similar to the disallowed effort, with Rigoni playing the last pass out to Muzzo, but this one is most definitely backwards.
She crashes over in the corner and wraps up the bonus point. Conversion off target, so the scoreline stays 27-14 to Italy.
Big cheer as the record attendance (6,605) is confirmed over the tannoy.
Ireland 14-27 Italy
74 mins - Ireland are digging deep to try and set up a grandstand finish here. Disappointing knock-on from Linda Djougang sees their hopes to do so take a hit. Ireland have certainly not been clinical enough in the ’22 today.
Ireland 14-27 Italy
75 mins – Another blown attacking platform for Ireland. They are awarded a penalty for an unforced Italy error, O’Brien finds touch, but the line-out doesn’t go to plan at all…
Lucia Gai comes in for Italy.
Ireland 14-27 Italy
77 mins – It’s still there… Wafer plays Parsons in for a big break, but Alessandra Frangipani produces a big tackle to stop her in her tracks. Ireland recycle, with the opportunity still alive, but Aoife Dalton eventually knocks on.
Italy’s two-try hero Vittoria Vecchini has been named Player of the Match on RTÉ.
The visitors have made some changes as they look to see this one out.
Ireland 14-27 Italy
78 mins – Another Irish mistake inside the Italy ’22, another opportunity goes a-begging. Sam Monaghan can’t find Scuffil-McCabe with an offload, sending it straight to a blue jersey.
TRY! Ireland 19-27 Italy (Katie Corrigan, 79)
Brilliant intercept try from Corrigan!!! She steals the ball and shows a clean pair of heels to finish right under the posts for her first Six Nations try.
O’Brien nails the conversion. 27-21. Losing bonus point, at least.
The clock is in the red, O’Brien finds touch, can Ireland do it?!?!?
Sam Monaghan claims the line-out, can Ireland get over? 82 mins on the clock. 27-21.
AHHHH! Italy eventually rip the ball. Beatrice Veronese is there, and that’s that.
What a finish. No smash and grab at the end for Ireland.
FULL-TIME: Ireland 21-27 Italy
What a whirlwind game that was.
Disappointment for Scott Bemand’s side, who started and finished so well. But Italy were undoubtedly the better of the two overall, and deserved the win.
There’s plenty to pick through after that. A losing bonus point for Ireland, a record crowd of 6,605 of the RDS, positives and negatives. Ireland ultimately made too many mistakes, and the wait for first Six Nations win since April 2022 continues.
That’s all from me on liveblog duty, but Ciarán Kennedy is at the venue for us.
His match report will be on The 42 imminently, with no shortage of reaction, analysis and comment to follow.
Thanks for reading, enjoy the rest of your Easter Sunday!
