Scotland break Italian duck to boost World Cup hopes

Italy……………….. 10pts

Try: D’Inca 31

Conversion: Rigoni 32

Penalty: Rigoni 73

Scotland ………..17pts

Tries: Skeldon 34, Orr 62, Rollie 68

Conversions: Nelson 35

SCOTLAND won away in Italy for the first time in the Women’s Six Nations era, rising to third to boost their World Cup qualification hopes.

The team finishing third will automatically join tournament hosts England and France in the 2025 World Cup.

Scotland scrum-half Jenny Maxwell said: “It’s just brilliant. This team continue to break boundaries and make history. I’m proud of them because it’s difficult to bounce back after a heavy loss but they’ve done a job against a good Italian side when history was against them.

“In the second half, we were a little more patient with the ball in Italy’s 22m, and more clinical. It was great to see our wingers making line-breaks.”

Italy contained a forceful Scotland in the opening 25 minutes then started to exert some pressure as halftime neared. A lineout on the left led to the opening try as Beatrice Rigoni offloaded for Alyssa D’Inca to exploit a gap and touch down.

Scotland responded almost straight away with Lana Skeldon scoring off the back of a rolling maul and Helen Nelson kicking well to draw Scotland level.

The Scots almost fell behind again when Lisa Thomson’s clearing kick was charged down and Sara Tounesi burst into the 22, but Evie Gallagher rescued the

visitors before Sofia Stefan spilled the ball to ease the pressure.

Another charged down kick, this time by Giordana Duca on Caity Mattinson, gave Scotland another nervous moment, but again they frustrated their hosts.

Emma Orr offloaded for Rhona Lloyd in one promising Scotland advance and the ball was recycled from right to left with Italy again forcing the error.

However, Scotland finally led for the first time when Aura Muzzo and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi contrived to give up possession and Orr waltzed through to touch down.

Orr was integral to the next Scottish try as she passed into the path of Chloe Rollie’s darting run, which the Italians could not halt short of the line.

A second successful kick by Rigoni brought Italy back within seven and set up a tense finale. Bryan Easson’s side continued to press and Rollie almost found a way through for her 21st international try and a bonus point, but Stefan’s tackle was up to the task.

Rollie was sin-binned in the final minute for a dangerous clean out, but the full-time whistle soon brought elation for Easson’s players as Scotland celebrated a first win on Italian soil since 1999.