Scotland player ratings v Italy | 2026 Guinness Women's Six Nations

It was a performance that Scotland will want to quickly forget, as Sione Fukofuka’s team left Parma having been defeated 41-17 at the hands of an Italy side that proved to be voracious and more determined from the opening whistle.

Scotland was nowhere to be found in the opening half, with the Azzurre running the show and scoring five uncontested tries. Despite a slight improvement in the second half of the match, Scotland conceded two more tries, while Lana Skeldon and Molly Poolman scored two.

The Scottish front row had a positive outing, but the backline looked clueless and unable to evade the Italian tacklers. Here are all the player ratings from a sun soaked afternoon in Italy.

1. Demi Swann – 6

Fought well in the scrum, helping to win one penalty to her side and tried to stop the Italian maul in its tracks. Didn’t miss any of her eight tackle attempts, but seemed a bit slow to get up from the ground.

2. Lana Skeldon – 6

While the Scottish lineout didn’t create any try opportunities, it didn’t misfire under Lana Skeldon’s watch, with the hooker completing all of her throws. Tried to look energised as a ball carrier, but the Italian defence worked well to pin her down. Scored her side’s first finish of the day from a driving maul.

3. Elliann Clarke – 6

It wasn’t a performance worth remembering from Scotland, but Elliann Clarke, like front-row partners, did her work well with the visitors’ set-piece working well enough to provide at least a platform to attack from.

4. Emma Wassell – 5

It might’ve started poorly, but Emma Wassell ended up putting in a slightly more positive performance than most of her teammates. The experienced lock made 15 tackles and two steals, and tried to fight against her side’s general apathy until she had to come off for an HIA.

The option to not contest the Italian lineout ended up being a mistake, as it allowed the home side to set the driving maul easily.

5. Hollie Cunningham – 5

As already stated, the Scottish own lineout feed went well, although it didn’t impact the end result in any way. However, when Italy had the throw-in, Scotland was completely overpowered, with Cunningham unable to engage the opposing driving maul positively.

6. Eva Donaldson – 6

The Sale Sharks utility forward was by some distance Scotland’s best forward operator, not only for her commitment as a defending unit, but also for winning the gain line every single time she was called to run with the oval-shaped ball.

7. Alex Stewart – 4

Alex Stewart was due to start as a bench replacement, but as Rachel Malcolm picked up an injury before kick-off, Alex Stewart ended up on the starting line-up. However, the Edinburgh flanker didn’t make much of the opportunity she had, with some tackling and defensive reading errors compromising Scotland on two occasions.

8. Rachel McLachlan – 4

As Stewart McLachlan looked far from her best. Made no impact as a ball carrier, was easily beaten in the breakdown battle and was outmanoeuvred in the scrum exit, while conceding three penalties.

9. Leia Brebner-Holden – 5

Almost non-existent, like most of the Scottish backline. Although there was an improvement in final 30 minutes, the scrum-half failed to energise her team in the opening half, as Scotland’s attack was easily predicted by Italy.

10. Helen Nelson – 4

Not a day worth remembering for Scotland’s general, Helen Nelson. The fly half made three critical tackling and defensive mistakes that opened a giant gap, with Alyssa d’Inca and Aura Muzzo quickly taking advantage of.

Her and Scotland’s inability to adapt to the Azzurre’s game plan was a staggering issue that ultimately gifted Italy their biggest win over the Thistle since 2018.

11. Shona Campbell – 5

The winger had an intense afternoon, making 14 tackles and covering nearly 100 meters with the ball under her wing, looking determined, with Rollie, to change the game’s outcome until the very end. Missed two key tackles near the Scottish try-line, which ended in Italian celebrations.

12. Meryl Smith – 5

Tried to step up, but was a spectator for most of the game, although she tried to shut off Italy from getting inside Scotland’s 22. There was evident miscommunication among her, Nelson, and Scott during Italy’s scrum feed, leaving Scotland’s initial defensive line caught off guard on several occasions and proving detrimental to their side

13. Lucia Scott – 5

As her centre pairing partner, Scott had little impact on Scotland’s performance in Parma. Carried the ball more than a few times and tried to shrug off the superb Italian defence, but was largely hindered by her side’s inadequate support.

14. Francesca McGhie – 5

Had fewer chances to impact the game compared to Shona Campbell, despite the 65 running metres. Italy understood the assignment by not giving an inch of space to the prolific winger, who spent most of the time waiting for her team to send the ball her way.

15. Chloe Rollie – 6

One of the few players who showed any kind of fire. Chloe Rollie tried time and time again to find a way to give her team a way to fight back, but the general apathy was too much to handle, although the fullback’s best intentions. Although she missed the target in a few passes, it was because of her that Scotland enjoyed a few positive moments in the second half.

Replacements

16. Elis Martin – N/A

Came in with seven minutes to go.

17. Leah Barlett – 5

Did well in her set-piece duties, making the most of the 34 minutes that she had at her disposal.

18. Molly Poolman – 6

Bagged a try and was up to the fight, fending off a few incoming tacklers to win the gain line in most of her carries.

19. Holland Bogan – 6

Five tackles completed in five attempts, Holland Bogan made sure to make an impact.

20. Louise McMillan – 5

Delivered a performance equal to Cunningham, at a point when Italy had already secured the win.

21. Becky Boyd – 6

A clear improvement compared to McLachlan, with Boyd injecting aggression and physicality to a Scottish forward pack that was being outmatched.

22. Rianna Darroch – N/A

Didn’t have time to have any impact on the outcome of the game.

23. Rachel Philipps – 6

Tried to make sense of the Scottish inability to run with the ball, showing a bit more desire to make an impact than Scott.