2026 Six Nations Round 2 talking points: There's no place like home for Ireland

Round 2 of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations delivered record attendances, opportunities for teams to wrestle back form and the chance to maintain momentum.

On Saturday afternoon England beat Scotland 84-7 at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in front of 30,498 supporters, France beat Wales 38-7 in Cardiff and Ireland romped home to victory against Italy at Dexcom Stadium.

With preparations for another weekend getting underway here are three talking points from Round 2…

Home support can propel Ireland

After the disappointment of an opening weekend loss to England at Allianz Stadium a five-star performance against Italy was exactly what Ireland needed.

Plenty about their 57-20 was impressive. Whether that was the way in which Béibhinn Parsons faultlessly scored a first-half hat-trick or Aoife Wafer shone at No.8. But the overwhelming positive was the home support. There was just something so special about an afternoon in the sunshine on Ireland’s west coast.

Because Dexcom Stadium was rocking. In front of a new Ireland Women record of 9,206 home supporters, Galway turned out and got Scott Bemand’s team riding the Green Wave again.

Ireland will break their attendance record again in Round 5 when Aviva Stadium hosts the side for the first ever time in a standalone fixture when Scotland visit Dublin.

In recent weeks the Irish have been bullish about their ambitions. They are a side that want to reach the top two of the World Rugby rankings. Making every home game an occasion, with support like Saturday’s, is absolutely a way to do that.

Erin King, Ireland captain, said: “I want to thank everyone for being here. To break the record for the Irish crowd is unbelievable and we really appreciate all the support.

“It means that little bit more playing in front of your home crowd. Every game for us is just as important as the next, but I guess I’d be lying if I said it isn’t special getting to play in front of all our family and friends, and to have a record-breaking crowd just shows that.

“We talk about our Green Wave all the time, and it’s just growing, and we really, really felt everyone today, so we really appreciate the support. All the young girls coming through, we thank you so much for being here.

“Our Green Wave is getting bigger and that’s so important to us, and it’s why we play at the end of the day – to inspire that next generation. To see all these young girls here is one of the most important things to our squad.”

Do injuries matter for the Red Roses?

The lead-up to England’s game with Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield was marred by injury concerns.

That week the Red Roses confirmed that Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, Hannah Botterman and May Campbell were out of the tournament, while Alex Matthews was nursing a shoulder injury and had to sit out the game in Edinburgh.

Now, just a few days later, John Mitchell’s team are sitting back and reflecting on an 84-7 win over Sione Fukofuka’s Scotland. The 12-try hammering of the Scots put to bed plenty of those questions.

No Alex Matthews? Maddie Feaunati will put in a Player of the Match performance. Lock forward stocks running low? Abi Burton can do a job there. In need of some back-row cover? 19-year-old Demelza Short will look absolutely unphazed in her starting debut.

As you could perhaps expect there are two ways to look at Saturday’s fixture; how good England were or how badly Scotland performed.

On this occasion both things are relevant. The Red Roses’ backfield reshuffle to include Emma Sing in the No.15 jersey and place Ellie Kildunne on the wing gave the visitors a more physical and direct kicking threat at full-back, while also allowing Kildunne to add her traditional sprinkle of stardust.

It was the perfect tonic to those uncertain days. Coming into Round 2, England defence coach Sarah Hunter called the player drain on the Red Roses squad as “unheard of”. Now it is a problem dealt with.

France’s newest wing looks the real deal

Eyebrows were raised when François Ratier included 16 uncapped players in his Women’s Six Nations squad.

The decision to blood a whole host of young players was a risky one, but two weekends in it is a call that the new France boss is being rewarded for.

Already the side have racked up Championship wins against Italy [40-7] and Wales [38-7]. In Round 3 the side will host Ireland in Clermont-Ferrand at the Stade Marcel-Michelin.

One player that has excelled early on in the Test match arena is Anaïs Grando. The ASM Romagnat flyer has scored seven tries this season in AXA Elite 1 Feminine action and in two Tests has three scores.

Increasingly quickly the young wing has established herself as a rising star. In two matches she has completed eight line breaks from 21 carries, beaten six defenders and gained 95 post-contact metres.

Ireland’s visit next week will offer a wholly different challenge. France were able to contain the attacks of Italy and Wales with relative ease, although Scott Bemand’s team will come into this weekend with plenty of confidence after their 57-20 win against the Italians.

For Grando there is another chance for her to showcase the raw speed and power that has helped her thrive for France already this April.