Scotland start WXV2 title defence with victory over last year’s runners-up Italy in Cape Town
Scotland start their WXV2 title defence with a 19-0 victory over last year’s runners-up Italy; Scots secured their spot in the second tier of the competition after finishing fourth in the recent 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations championship
Defending champions Scotland started their WXV2 title defence with a 19-0 victory over last year’s runners-up Italy in Cape Town.
Tries from Chloe Rollie, Lana Skeldon and Coreen Grant helped Scotland, who edged out Italy for the title on points difference in 2023, claim a convincing win in soggy conditions at DHL Stadium.
It was still scoreless after 26 minutes when Italy’s Beatrice Rigoni missed a penalty, two minutes before team-mate Aura Muzzo was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on.
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That was a double setback for the Italians and Scotland took advantage almost immediately when full-back Rollie put their first points on the scoreboard after latching onto Emma Orr’s pinpoint pass to touch down.
Hooker Skeldon then added a second try on the stroke of half-time, with both scores being converted by Helen Nelson as Scotland went into the break 14-0 ahead.
As the rain became increasingly heavy, Scotland finished things off late on when, after winning a penalty and electing to have a scrum, wing Grant went over for the champions’ third try.
