Granzotto looking forward to first Sandy Park visit

Exeter Chiefs Women’s new winger Francesca Granzotto will get her first taste of life at Sandy Park if selected for Italy’s first Rugby World Cup pool game against France this week.

She spoke to us from training camp in Parma before the Italy squad flew to London for Les Azzurre’s final preparations before that game on Saturday (KO 20:15). It will be the first of seven Rugby World Cup matches being played at Sandy Park.

For Granzotto, the pre-World Cup training is finally over!

She said: “At the beginning of the summer, it [training] was really tough because it was the preparation, but now we have played two games and I feel we are getting confident in our game.”

Italy played two warm-up games against Scotland and Japan…and they went rather well.

The 23-year-old, who scored a try and was Player of the Match against Japan, said: “We got two wins, so it was a good start. We know where we have to fix some stuff and work on, but it I feel like it was good. It gives us confidence to go to our first game against France, I guess.”

“It's always a tough match against them because we always play against them in the Six Nations and we know each other. Our way of playing is quite similar. We will have to analyse their games and see where we can get better. We will see!”

Saturday’s game will be Granzotto’s first time at Sandy Park. She has played in England before but never made it as far south west as Exeter. She has been assured of a warm welcome.

“I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to it,” concluded Granzotto.

Be a part of that warm welcome and watch Italy take on France at Sandy Park this Saturday with pre-match Party at the Park entertainment from former JLS member Marvin Humes and BBC Radio 1 duo Rickie and Melvin. Tickets start at £5 for children and £10 for adults and are still available here.