Scotland beaten by Italy in World Cup warm-up

Warm-up for the women’s rugby world cup between Italy and Scotland

Italy 34 (20)

Cons: Sillari 2 Pens: D’Inca 3, Vecchini, Muzzo, Rigoni

Scotland 29 (5)

Italy’s warm-up defeat in Parma continued Scotland’s difficult preparation for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Captain Rachel Malcolm earlier this week claimed that the tournament’s “very disruptive” build-up had put her side in an unfair position.

Head coach Bryan Easson will step down after the World Cup, which Malcom described as “a shock” and “upsetting,” while more than half the squad are uncertain about their contracts.

Unsurprisingly, Scotland started slowly in northern Italy before half-time, falling 15 points clear with Vittoria Vecchini and Aura Muzzo scoring the only goals of the contest.

Lana Skeldon of Bristol Bears scored Scotland’s only points of the opening period through a powerful rolling maul.

After the break, Easson’s side improved and scored three points on the conversion with the help of Evie Gallagher and Helen Nelson’s try in the corner.

However, D’Inca’s hat-trick was completed by Italian substitute Beatrice Rigoni, who had previously broken Scotland’s defensive line.

Gallagher crashed over for her second try, but the visitors were unable to cross again in the remaining time.

Scotland: Scott, Lloyd, Wills, Thomson, Thomson, Grant, Nelson, Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke, Wassell, Ferrie, Malcolm, McLachlan, and Gallagher.

Replacements: Rollie, Ramsay, Cockburn, Donaldson, Stewart, Mattinson, and Martin.