Scotland Women put in a very disappointing showing at the Pata Stadium in Calvisano this afternoon, a rampant Italy running in six tries to win 38-0.
The Scots, with seven of their eight contracted players involved, had a good build up to this trip and were making positive noises before kick-off, but all of that had changed in the first 20 minutes.
By then the Italians were 19-0 to the good and really the Scots were second best in all departments.
And with the Scots due to host world number three side Canada at Scotstoun on November 27, the players will have to pick themselves up quickly from this lacklustre effort.
Head coach Shade Munro did not sugarcoat things afterwards, stating: “Right from the first kick-off which was not executed properly we seemed to reacted badly.
“Credit to Italy, they played well, but this is a bit of a reality check for us and where we are at. We seem to be affected badly by things that do not go that well and are then unable to put things right.
“More mistakes then occur, a bit of panic sets in and then things go from bad to worse.
“It is not things that can’t be improved, it is just going to take us a bit of time.”
Italy got off to a flying start when the ball was fed wide on the left and centre Michela Sillari went over for an unconverted score.
That was in the fifth minute and things got worse for the Scots four minutes when second-row Gioradana Duca went over with Sillari converting to make it 12-0.
The Scots tried to get a foothold in the game, but they looked hesitant and passes just were not sticking.
That invited pressure onto them and the rampant hosts lapped it up, try number three coming from second-row Valentina Ruzza in the 17th minute.
Sillari converted and, at 19-0 down, Scotland had a mountain to climb.
In the 24th minute new skipper Lisa Thomson and winger Lauren Harris combined for the visitors’ best chance to date, the latter just being forced into touch metres short of the try line.
The Scots continued to struggle though and Italy made them pay with try number four in the 32nd minute.
This time it was back-row Ilaria Arrighetti bursting through a hole in the defence for a converted score and the visitors simply had no answers.
The Scots got off to a positive start after the break and full-back Chloe Rollie set-up Thomson from deep down the left.
Again the well-organised Italian defence stood firm though.
And it was them who scored try number five in the 51st minute, some great interplay by the backs seeing Sillari go over for her second of the day to make it 31-0.
Back-rows Rachel McLachlan and Lucy Winter came on for their full debuts, but the pain kept coming and Sillari rounded off a player of the match showing with her third try.
Replacement scrum-half Jenny Maxwell was yellow carded late on.
Scorers: Italy: Tries: Sillari 3, Duca, Ruzza, Arrighetti. Cons: Sillari 4.
Teams:
Italy: M Furlan (C); A Muzzo, M Sillari, J Busato, S Stefan; V Madia, S Barattin; G Giacomoli, M Bettoni, L Gai, V Ruzza, G Duca, I Arrighetti, G Franco, E Giordano. Subs: S Turani, M Merlo, S Tounesi, S Fedrighi, F Berna, M Cavina, B Mancini, C Sarasso.
Scotland: C Rollie; L Harris, L Thomson (C), H Nelson, A Evans; L Martin, M Grieve; L Cockburn, L Skeldon, M Kennedy, E Wassell, N Howat, S Cattigan, L McMillan, S Bonar. Subs: J Rettie, S McMillan, K Dougan, L Winter, R McLachlan, J Maxwell, B Nelson, A Sergeant.
Referee: I Tempest (England).
Thanks to Mark Brown/Rugby People for the match image
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