After the
victory over Japan
at the Waitakere Stadium in Auckland for 21-8, the third and final match of group B, and the
historic qualification to the quarter finals
in a world cup,
Italy
will face
France
at the Northland Events Center in Whangarei
in New Zealand
where the
Rugby World Cup 2022
is underway .
For the blue a very tough challenge, but which could be worth a sensational semifinal.
It is the first time that one of our national
teams of oval balls has passed the first round of a final phase of a world championship competition, both in the women's and men's fields, and
Andrea di Giandomenico's
team will have to play to the maximum to get the better of one of the greats. favorite for the final victory.
A match from inside or outside
, where both teams arrive at the match as runners-up in their group, the Azzurre behind Canada, the French behind England.
Problems of absences for both teams, Italy having to do without
Sara Tounesi
(
disqualified for a serious reaction foul
in the match against Japan) and
Giada Franco;
France, on the other hand, had to renounce Laure Sansus, who got injured in the match against England and was unable to recover quickly.
All key elements of the respective teams, who will have to find the appropriate countermeasures to replace them.
The blue coach
Di Giandomenico
will also have
Manuela Furlan
at his disposal who starts from the bench;
the Italian captain, who recovered from the serious injury suffered at the beginning of September in the friendly match played against France, said in this regard: "
It was very hard, but the support of the girls, the coach, the staff, the trainer, the physiotherapists, all those who are behind the scenes and not seen ... were essential to keep me from giving up even on the dark days that there have been.
If I am here now, it is thanks to all these people and also to myself that I have never stopped believing in that small possibility of being able to reach the goal
".
handle
National women's rugby team with Japan
Captain Manuela Furlan on the match with France
:
“
It is a much better prepared team than the one we faced in the two pre-World Cup Test Matches, just as we are too.
We know them well, they are very unpredictable.
It will be a different game than those played against in the past: it will be a good challenge.
We are not satisfied with the last game against Japan where we did not express our maximum potential.
This feeling has remained with us: we want to redeem ourselves and show what we are capable of
”.
gettyimages
National women's rugby team
The formations
Italy:
Ostuni Minuzzi;
Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, Magatti;
Sideboard, Stefan;
Giordano (cap), Sgorbini, Locatelli;
Duke, Fedrighi;
Gai, Bettoni, Turani
Available:
Vecchini, Maris, Seye, Merlo, Veronese, Barattin, D'Incà, Furlan
Herdsman
Di Giandomenico
France:
Boulard;
Grisez, Filopon, Vernier, Menager;
Drouin, Boudron;
Escudero, Mayans, Hermet (cap);
Fall, Ferer;
Joyeux, Sochat, Deshaye
Available:
Touye, Lindelauf, Khalfaoui, N'Diaye, Gros, Chambon, Queyroi, Jacquet
Herds
Darracq
Arb.
Hollie Davidson (SRU)
On the shirts of Italy there will be a black ribbon as a sign of mourning for the death of Alfredo Gavazzi, former President of the Italian Rugby Federation in office from 2012 to 2021
.