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Ruthless Italy make Ireland pay at the RDS

Updated / Sunday, 31 Mar 2024 18:36
Italy's players react at the full-time whistle at the RDS
Italy's players react at the full-time whistle at the RDS

Ireland's winless run in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations has continued, as they fell to a seventh defeat in a row in the championship, going down to Italy at the RDS.

A record Irish attendance of 6,605 watched on as the Italians claimed their first ever Six Nations win in Ireland, in a game that Scott Bemand’s side almost snatched in the final minute when they were camped on the Italian line, but the hosts ultimately had to settle for a losing bonus point.

In a repeat of last year’s defeat to Italy in Parma, Ireland dominated possession and territory for large chunks of the game, but continually lost their composure in the Italian 22. In total, the hosts made 27 handling errors, in comparison to Italy’s nine, as well as committing 17 turnovers.

Italy, who were beaten 48-0 against England in Round 1, were exceptional at times in attack and caused Declan Danaher’s defence – which performed well in France a week ago – constant problems. From limited attacking opportunities they were clinical with the ball, as Vittoria Vecchini and Valeria Fedrighi scored first-half tries which gave them a 15-7 lead at the break.

Ireland had started the game impressively, in particular the powerful Aoife Wafer, but after scoring an early penalty try to take the lead after seven minutes, a litany of handling errors saw them go 54 minutes without adding to their points total.

By the time Neve Jones mauled her way over for that second Irish try just after the hour, Italy had moved 22-7 in front, with Vecchini grabbing her second try of the game, while the visitors inflicted further damage on their hosts when winger Aura Muzzo brought up the bonus point.

A first every try for 18-year-old winger Katie Corrigan, which was converted by Dannah O’Brien set up a gripping finale which saw Ireland come close to the line with a driving maul, but a relentless Italian defence saw them come away with the ball, and a deserved victory.

It was an explosive start from Ireland, who looked determined in the opening minutes of their first home outing.

Christy Haney forced an Italian knock-on off the opening possession, and from the resulting scrum, Wafer – who was slotting in at number eight on attacking scrums – battered her way into the 22, while Ireland continued to threaten when Parsons brought them close to the line.

Another powerful Wafer carry saw Ireland win a penalty under the posts, and after turning down the easy three points in favour of a scrum, it proved the right decision. Moving the ball wide, a Higgins pass to Parsons on the left touchline was deliberately knocked-on by Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, with referee Hollie Davidson awarding the full-back a yellow card, and giving Ireland a penalty try for a 7-0 lead.

It was all Ireland in the opening 10 minutes, with their 90% share of possession illustrating their control, and a dominant scrum in their own half once again allowed Wafer carry for considerable metres.

For all of Ireland's dominance, the hosts were struggling with their composure in the 22.

A rushed crossfield kick from O’Brien led to a Wafer knock-on, while Sam Monaghan and Grace Moore also spilled the ball to puncture promising Irish attacks.

The Italians survived their yellow-card period without conceding, and on 23 minutes they forced their way over for a try on their first meaningful attack. Neve Jones gave away a penalty in the Irish 22, and from the resulting lineout hooker Vecchini got the touchdown after a well-worked maul.

Beatrice Rogini’s conversion came back off the post, as the visitors trailed 7-5.

A high tackle on Monaghan afforded Ireland the chance of extending their lead shortly after, but choosing to kick for touch, O’Brien’s kick failed to reach the sideline, while a knock-on from Parsons moments later led to an Irish offside, compounding the error.

Those mistakes were ruthlessly punished on 32 minutes when Sara Tounesi’s powerful carry brought Italy close to the line, before a pick-and-go from second row Fedrighi gave the visitors their second try, which was converted by Rigoni to make it 12-7.

It went from bad to worse for Ireland three minutes later when Lauren Delany got caught in possession in her own 22, giving up a penalty, the seventh Ireland had conceded in the game. The Ireland full-back injured herself in the process and needed to be carted off the pitch, before Rigoni tapped over the penalty to extend Italy’s lead to 15-7 at the break.

Ireland were almost gifted a try in the opening minute of the second half when Italian number eight Ilaria Arrighetti's loose kick was collected by Jones, but the visitors did well to scramble in defence and force Corrigan into touch, just short of the line.

The second half was following a similar scrip to the first, with Ireland controlling possession and territory, but continuing to give up the ball at decisive moments.

On 52 minutes, they sent a penalty into the corner before string carries from Wall and Monaghan gave their attack momentum, but when they looked for width Enya Breen’s skip-pass to Parsons looked to be a certain try, only for the winger to spill forward.

There was no such carelessness in the Italian half, and Alyssa D’Inca's piercing run from her own 22 ripped through Ireland’s defence, and while the hosts initially did well to scramble back, Vecchini broke through two tackles to power over and score Italy’s third try, which Rigoni converted to make it 22-7.

Ireland needed an instant response, and they got it after 61 minutes when O’Brien kicked a penalty deep into the corner, and from the lineout hooker Jones touched down at the back of a dominant maul. O’Brien’s conversion from wide on the right was perfect, and it brought the hosts back within eight points at 22-14.

Italy thought they were in for a fourth try in the 65th minute when Muzzo went over in the corner to score, but while the score was chalked off after a forward pass, Muzzo did secure the bonus point for her side three minutes later when Ireland left Italy with an overlap on the left wing. That try send Giovanni Raineri’s side into a 27-14 lead.

Just as all hope in the RDS looked to be extinguished, on 77 minutes Corrigan pounced on a loose pass by Rigoni to run in under the posts and score Ireland’s third try, which gave O’Brien a tap-over conversion to bring them back within six points.

But just as it looked like Ireland were on the verge of completing a miraculous comeback, there was one final defensive set in the Italians, who saw out a famous victory.

Ireland: Lauren Delany; Katie Corrigan, Eve Higgins, Enya Breen, Béibhinn Parsons; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Dorothy Wall, Sam Monaghan (capt); Grace Moore, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Sarah Delaney, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Eimear Corri, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Aoife Dalton

Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Aura Muzzo, Beatrice Rigoni, Emma Stevanin, Alyssa D'Inca; Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan; Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Sara Seye; Valeria Fedrighi, Giorana Duca; Sara Tounesi, Francesca Sgorbini, Ilaria Arrighetti

Replacements: Laura Gurioli, Gaia Maris, Lucia Gai, Isabella Locatelli, Beatrice Veronese, Alessandra Frangipani, Francesca Granzotto, Beatrice Capomaggi

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

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