Guinness Women's Six Nations 2025: Anna McGann hat-trick inspires Ireland to thrashing of Italy
Published 30/03/2025 at 17:49 GMT+1
Ireland earned their first victory of the 2025 Women's Six Nations campaign, as Anna McGann's hat-trick set the tone for a thumping 54-12 victory over Italy. Ireland were in control throughout the clash in Parma, leading from the opening minutes. The bonus point ensures they remain in touching distance with second-place France, while England lead the table by two points.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Anna McGann scored a superb hat-trick to lead Ireland to a resounding 54-12 victory over Italy in the Women's Six Nations on Sunday.
Aoife Dalton ensured Ireland would enjoy a superb start, as she powered over in the corner to give the visitors the lead just two minutes into the match - Dannah O'Brien duly converting from a wide angle.
And after Italy's attempt to hit back was thwarted by a knock-on, Ireland pounced to double their advantage inside the opening eight minutes, McGann charging over uncontested after Eve Higgins opened up the Italians.
Italy, who chalked up just one try in their opening-weekend defeat to England, did manage to reduce the deficit. Sofia Stefan gathered from a scrum, and went the whole way to dot down, but Michela Sillari missed the opportunity to put a further two points on the board with a wayward conversion attempt.
It did not take long, though, for Ireland to re-establish a two-try lead. Ireland again exploited their opponents in the wide areas for Amee-Leigh Costigan to crash home in the corner, as O'Brien clinically dispatched her third conversion.
By the 25th minute, Ireland had secured the bonus point, as McGann excellently capped off a sweeping move by the visitors, again finishing in the corner for her second try of the first half.
After the early flurry, the game saw a relative lull in scoring, until Ireland piled on more points with a Dorothy Wall try on 65 minutes. O'Brien, though, after scoring each of her previous five conversions, missed the target.
Beatrice Rigoni reduced the arrears in what served as a mere consolation for Italy, awkwardly bundling over after going to ground, with the TMO awarding the try, and the scorer then coolly converting.
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But Ireland ensured they would have the final say in Parma, Brittany Hogan charging over before McGann sealed her hat-trick with seconds to spare.
The bonus-point victory serves as a welcome response to Ireland's opening-day defeat to France, while Italy hunt their first Six Nations win since their slender triumph over the Irish in last year's competition.
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