Anti-France Italy launched: play at dawn
It is played at dawn
Andrea Di Giandomenico, coach of the Women’s National Team, has made official the lineup that will face France at the Northland Events Center in Whangarei on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. Italian time) in the match valid for the quarterfinals of the 2021 Rugby World Cup. The match will be broadcast live on Rai 2 and Sky Sport Arena.
Four changes in the starting XV from the match won against Japan that led to historic qualification to the World Cup quarterfinals. Expanded triangle formed by Ostuni Minuzzi, Muzzo and Maria Magatti will touch 50 caps. At the center the consolidated duo formed by Rigoni and Sillari – who became Italy’s top scorer during the World Cup scoring a total of 40 points – while in the middle together with Madia Stefan returns from the first minute.
In the third line together with captain Giordano and Sgorbini chance from the first minute for Locatelli. Fedrighi returns to the starting XV along with Duca in the second line, while in the first line with Turani and Bettoni Lucia Gai, absent from the winning debut against the USA in Group B, is back.
Worth mentioning is the recovery of Manuela Furlan who, after her injury in the pre-World Test Match in Nice just against France, returns to the match list starting from the bench with jersey number 23. Together with her, Vecchini, Maris, Seye, Merlo, Veronese, Barattin and D’Incà are ready to take over in the race.
In addition to the disqualified Sara Tounesi, Giada Franco – twice player of the match in the group stage – who is following the timetable for her return to the field related to the HIA protocol, will also not be able to be fielded.
“We are familiar with the qualities of France. They are a team we beat in the last pre-World Cup Test Match in Biella and have the ambition to try to go all the way in this competition. We are aware of our chances and what we have built throughout the journey leading up to this fixture. Our focus is on our performance: playing our best rugby we can put our opponents in trouble,” said Andrea Di Giandomenico.
Scotland’s Hollie Davidson will referee the Match.
This is the starting XV:
15 Vittoria OSTUNI MINUZZI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 19 caps)
14 Aura MUZZO (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 30 caps)
13 Michela SILLARI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 73 caps)
12 Beatrice RIGONI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 60 caps)
11 Maria MAGATTI (Cus Milano Rugby, 49 caps)
10 Veronica MADIA (Rugby Colorno, 35 caps)
9 Sofia STEFAN (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 72 caps)
8 Elisa GIORDANO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 59 caps) – captain
7 Isabella LOCATELLI (Rugby Colorno, 36 caps)
6 Francesca SGORBINI (ASM Romagnat, 16 caps)
5 Giordana DUCA (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 33 caps)
4 Valeria FEDRIGHI (Stade Toulousain, 38 caps)
3 Lucia GAI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 85 caps)
2 Melissa BETTONI (Stade Rennais, 75 caps)
1 Silvia TURANI (Exeter Chiefs Women, 23 caps)
On hand.
16 Vittoria VECCHINI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 13 caps)
17 Gaia MARIS (Wasps, 14 caps)
18 Sara SEYE (Transvecta Rugby Calvisano, 11 caps)
19 Michela MERLO (Rugby Colorno, 11 caps)
20 Beatrice VERONESE (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 15 caps)
21 Sara BARATTIN (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 110 caps)
22 Alyssa D’INCA’ (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 12 caps)
23 Manuela FURLAN (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 88 caps)
