Unpacking Italians standing between Bok Women and title
SPOTLIGHT: Swys de Bruin’s Bok Women will be a whole different story when they face Italy in the final round of the WXV 2 in Cape Town on Saturday.
Last year the Bok Women went down 18-36 to Le Azzure in WXV in Cape Town, but that was then and this is now.
Now means a much improved South African side that has already shaken up the women’s game with some sterling victories over the Barbarians, Spain, and Japan, as well as a narrow defeat at the hands of Australia last weekend.
Italy’s women’s team has been around for quite some time and has been part of the Six Nations since 2007.
In 2022 they made history by becoming the first Italy team - male or female - to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, but that is where their journey ended.
Italy booked their place at the 2022 World Cup in September 2021, seeing off the likes of Ireland and Scotland to finish top of the European qualification standings.
It was yet another example of the Azzurre proving that they can match almost all the teams in the northern hemisphere.
Last weekend Italy beat Wales 8-5 in the second round of WXV 2 in Cape Town to leave the Welsh bottom of the table.
Captain Elisa Giordano scored the opening try as the Azzure went on to hand Wales a heartbreaking loss that went right down to the wire as Italy gained revenge for suffering a similar defeat in Cardiff in the Six Nations.
They dominated the game and looked by far the better side, with ball in hand as well as with the boot and demonstrating the true spirit if Italian rugby - never give up.
In recent years, several Italian players have been recognised at the annual World Rugby Awards.
Among them is Beatrice Rigoni, who featured in the 2021 Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year. She was also named in the Six Nations Team of the Championship in 2022 and 2024.
Other notable players include Sara Barattin and Sofia Stefan, who won the Try of the Year award in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
The current Italy women’s rugby squad includes the formidable Lucia Gai, Michela Sillari, and captain, Elisa Giordano.
Everything goes through centre Rigoni, an exceptional player, and Italy's top points scorer this year (26). She will have to be closely watched by the South Africans.
Up front, the 24-year-old Sara Seye is one of 24 female players now contracted professionally by the FIR.
Having honed a solid scrummaging technique was converted from back row to prop four years ago.
At 78kg, the Italian sits on the lighter end of the scale for a female international front-rower and she will face stiff opposition from the South Africans who pride themselves, just like their male counterparts, for the scrums and mauls.
The Springbok Women are currently third on the log with seven points behind Scotland (8) and Australia (10).
If South Africa manages to beat Italy by more or less 50 points and Scotland does not run away with scoring against Australia, the Bok Women stand a slim chance of winning of WXV 2 title.
Putting 50 past Italy would also mean that if the Wallaroos draw, South Africa can go top of the standings.
So the to-do list is to beat Italy by 50 and hope Scotland beat Australia in a low-scoring match.
While it is a long shot, the Springbok Women have certainly made their mark and have sent a stern message to the opposition ahead of next year’s World Cup.