Scotland have returned to sixth place in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini after a historic 17-10 win over Italy in the penultimate round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2024.

Scotland had never beaten the Azzurre on Italian soil in the Women’s Six Nations ahead of kick-off, with their only previous success coming in 1999 before their hosts joined the tournament.

But tries from Lana Skeldon, which Helen Nelson converted, Emma Orr and Chloe Rollie saw them break that duck and, in turn, overtake Italy in the rankings.

Scotland’s rating has been boosted by 1.37 points to 77.17, still leaving them 4.44 points adrift of Australia in fifth.

With the loss of an identical number of points, Italy’s reduced rating of 75.13 places them seventh.

Scotland wrap up their Women’s Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Belfast on Saturday and victory at the Kingspan Stadium would guarantee them third place in the standings, their best finish for 19 years.

Third place in the Women’s Six Nations 2024 also qualifies them for WXV 1 in Canada later this year and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.

Italy are fourth in the standings on six points, level on points with Ireland and two points adrift of Scotland in the race to become the fifth qualifier for England 2025, with a trip to winless Wales to come in the final round.

The Women’s Six Nations is set for a dramatic finale in Bordeaux on Saturday as the two standout teams in the competition go head to head for the title.

Both top-of-the-table England and France in second have won all four games to date, with the Red Roses’ latest triumph, an 88-10 victory against Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, giving them a perfect record of 20 points from a possible 20.

Speedsters Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne scored hat-tricks and Megan Jones and Jess Breach bagged a brace apiece as England overran Ireland to post 14 tries.

Kildunne is both the tournament’s top try and points scorer with her nine tries bringing her 45 points.

Natasha Hunt, Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya and  Maddie Feaunati also crossed for the rampant Red Roses, while Holly Aitchison was on target with nine conversion attempts.

France, meanwhile, recorded their second biggest win over Wales in Cardiff, 40-0 thanks to tries from Annaëlle Deshaye, Joanna Grisez (two), Romane Ménager, Gabrielle Vernier and captain Manaé Feleu.

Lina Queyroi kicked four out of five conversions and Morgane Bourgeois added the extras to the final try a minute from time.

Queyroi and Aitchison have both made a competition-best 15 kicks (penalties and conversions) but the French fly-half has the better success rate in front of goal (75% to 52%).

Neither of the results from Twickenham or Cardiff affected the rating of the four teams involved, so England’s advantage over New Zealand at the top remains 5.62 points.

France stay third, Wales are eighth and Ireland are 10th.