27-04-2025
Italy claim bonus-point win as Wales finish bottom
Women's Six NationsItaly (10) 44Tries: Stefan, Granzotto 2, Turani, Minuzzi, Muzzo Cons: Silari 4 Pens: Silari 2Wales (12) 12Tries: Williams, Pyrs Con: Bevan
Italy finished their Six Nations campaign in style while condemning Wales to the wooden spoon for the second year had led at half-time in the Parma sunshine after Kate Williams and Gwenllian Pyrs scored either side of Sofia Stefan's the Italians ran away in a second half blitz, with Francesca Granzotto, Silvia Turani, Vittoria Minuzzi and Aura Muzzo all crossing for a bonus-point win, while Michela Sillari added 14 points from the boot. It was Italy's first win at home in two years as they finished fourth in the table, while Wales once again finished rock bottom, losing all five games for the first time in their head coach Sean Lynn had spoken about the importance of an 80 minute performance in the build-up to the match, which had been delayed a day due to Pope Francis' he only got a first 40 minutes as Wales were given a lesson in attacking rugby as Italy ran in five unanswered tries in a one-sided second-half.
Wales did enjoy all the early possession and territory, but struggled for collision dominance as they went through the indiscipline gifted them an attacking lineout and the Welsh maul, which had stuttered against Ireland, went back to being a weapon with the pack driving Williams over for her third try of the responded in style with fly-half Veronica Madia showing her creativity with the boot, her cross-field kick just beating Alyssa D'Inca on her the hosts were not to be denied when some loose kicking from Lleucu George saw Sara Seye and Elisa Giordano burst through some weak tackling, with returning scrum-half Stefan finishing under the added the conversion and, sensing it might be a close game, a later penalty to give Italy the then shifted back to Wales and a fumble under the high ball from Minuzzi gave them a good attacking platform, but basic errors crept in and Wales could not they were given another chance on the stroke of half-time. The attack once again coming off lineout ball and the forwards showed good patience, keeping it tight until Pyrs pounced from close added the conversion to give Wales a 12-10 half-time lead, the first time this campaign they went down the tunnel the optimism was short-lived as Italy came out with a change of tactic as they chose to engage in a kicking battle with almost paid off with a chip through setting up Giordana Duca, who would have been through if not for a last-gasp tap tackle from Jasmine kept coming with wave after wave of attack as Wales struggled to live with their offloading game and when points were on offer Silari took the opportunity to kick Italy back in responded by making some early changings, with Alex Callender, Hannah Bluck and Carys Phillips all coming onto the they were not able to make an impact as Italy kept piling on the pressure and managed to get the ball out wide to Granzotto who did well to ride the defensive tackle and get the ball down in the desperately needed to get a foothold, but they could not live with the scintillating Azzurre went for the jugular and opted for a tap penalty in front of posts, and while the defence did well to repel the charging Sara Tounesi, they could not prevent Turani from stretching over the fourth try came from the full-back Minuzzi, whose outstanding 50-22 launched Italy upfield, the forwards then carried hard before Minuzzi ran a fine line to cut through the were reduced to 14 players when Natalia John was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, and took full advantage as Granzotto completed another fine finish in the corner while Muzzo crossed at the death to pile on the misery.
Line-ups
Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Sara Mannini, Alyssa D'Incá; Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan; Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Sara Tounesi, Giordana Duca, Beatrice Veronese, Francesca Sgorbini, Elisa Giordano (capt).Replacements: Desiree Spinelli, Emanuela Stecca, Gaia Maris, Isabella Locatelli, Alissa Ranuccini, Alia Bitonci, Beatrice Rigoni, Francesca Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Natalia John, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine bin: Natalia John (76 mins)
