Italy have named the same team that defeated Scotland last time out for their Finals Day match with Ireland as Andrea Di Giandomenico’s side target a third-place finish.
The Azzurre bounced back from their defeat to defending champions England in their opening match to overcome Scotland 41-20 at Scotstoun Stadium to finish second in Pool A.
And Di Giandomenico has kept faith with the players that ran in seven tries last weekend for their visit to Ireland, with hat-trick hero Manuela Furlan starting on the wing again.
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Italy’s skipper is joined in the back three by full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi and left wing Maria Magatti, with Michele Sillari and Beatrice Rigoni forming the midfield partnership.
The backline is completed by experienced scrum-half Sara Barattin, who will win her 98th cap in the showdown with Ireland at the Energia Park in Dublin, and fly-half Veronica Madia.
Elsewhere, the front row sees Erika Skofca, Melissa Bettoni and Lucia Gai pack down together once again, with Valeria Fedrighi and Giordana Duca lining up in the second row.
The back row sees Elisa Giordano remain at No.8 as Francesca Sgorbini and Ilaria Arrighetti take their positions on either flank for Italy’s Women’s Six Nations finale.
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Meanwhile, Lucia Cammarano, Gaia Maris, Michela Merlo, Sara Tounesi, Isabella Locatelli, Beatrice Veronese, Sofia Stefan and Aura Muzzo have all been named on the bench.
Di Giandomenico said: “We have prepared the next match with great attention to detail and greater confidence in our means after the victory in Scotland.
“The precision in the construction of the game and the pressure in the defensive phase I think will be the two fundamental components that will be able to decide the match in Ireland.”
Italy starting XV
15 Victory Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 5 caps) 14 Manuela Furlan (Arredissima Villorba, 77 caps) – captain 13 Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 59 caps) 12 Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 45 caps) 11 Maria Magatti (CUS Milan, 35 caps) 10 Veronica Madia (HBS Colorno, 21 caps) 9 Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba, 97 caps) 8 Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 45 caps) 7 Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat, France, 7 caps) 6 Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais, France, 47 caps) 5 Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 20 caps) 4 Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain, France, 24 caps) 3 Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 72 caps) 2 Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais, France, 60 caps) 1 Erika Skofca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 caps)
Replacements
16 Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Beasts Neroverdi, 26 caps) 17 Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 2 caps) 18 Michela Merlo (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, 9 caps) 19 Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat, France, 17 caps) 20 Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949, 25 caps) 21 Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 6 caps) 22 Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 56 caps) 23 Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba, 15 caps)
