England v Wales | Talking points as the Red Roses score 10 tries against Wales

Back in Bristol seven months after their 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final victory against France, the Red Roses crossed the whitewash 10 times to pick up a 62-24 win over Wales in Round 3 of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

It was a five-star performance from John Mitchell’s side in the West Country. The onslaught started early as England dotted down five times in the first half. Just six minutes were on the clock when Maddie Feaunati battered her way over the try line.

Debutant Millie David shortly followed, although the 20-year-old was later removed after a failed HIA, while Sadia Kabeya left the contest early with a shoulder injury.

The 26,247 in attendance were thrilled as Wales got a try-scoring bonus point after the efforts of Keira Bevan, Kelsey Jones, Bethan Lewis and Seren Lockwood although braces from Meg Jones brace and Marlie Packer, as well as efforts from Amy Cokayne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Jess Breach and Maud Muir, mean that England go into the fallow week far happier.

Here are three talking points from England’s Round 3 win over Wales in the West Country…

Marlie Packer has a lot more to give to England

In just a few minutes on the pitch Marlie Packer proved beyond any doubt that she will be a Red Rose for some time to come. The 36-year-old was a constant threat in defence and attack. Frankly, it was a brilliant opening gambit from a player that will surely see her involvement grow with England over the remainder of the Women’s Six Nations.

This is, in part, fuelled by the injury sustained by Sadia Kabeya in the 21st minute. From the moment the 24-year-old hit the turf she was in plenty of discomfort and tapped her feet, clutching her left shoulder as team medics treated her. Immediately replaces by Demelza Short, just how long Kabeya’s return to full fitness will take is unclear at this point.

Tie in the absence of Alex Matthews and the lengthy injuries at lock which are pulling loose forwards into the second row, Packer is England’s most senior back-row and at a time that John Mitchell’s coaching are staff are looking at player depth, it could well be 114-cap Packer that provides a guiding hand as we wait for others to return.

A first full 80 minutes in a Test jersey since England’s dismantling of Samoa at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Packer bagged Player of the Match back at home in the West Country. A vintage performance from the former Red Roses skipper.

Wales cannot be without key two

If the past three weeks have told us anything, it is that Wales have more confidence, and both Keira Bevan and Kelsey Jones have been the catalysts of it. Pick out the top performers in Wales’ games against Scotland, France and now England, that pair would be somewhere near the top.

Bevan’s performance on Saturday was symptomatic of that. In the first half the Bristol half-back was the grounding force for Wales. A huge break from the 28-year-old set the foundations for her own score several minutes later. Anything good that Sean Lynn’s team patched together against the tide of an overwhelming England side, Bevan was its source.

Much of the same can be said for Kelsey Jones too. The Gloucester Hartpury hooker brings a palpable energy to the Wales pack. An unerring reliability at the lineout. She fights for everything in a Wales shirt. And fights very, very hard.

These kind of performances are what can turn Wales around sooner rather than later. In the lead-up to the tournament Lynn discussed how he wanted his team to embody ‘consistency’. Bevan and Jones provide that in bucketloads.

It will come as little surprise that both players’ efforts are reflected on the scoreboard. Bevan notched nine and Jones five as Wales lodged their highest points tally against the Red Roses ever and got themselves a bonus point

Meg Jones may be the most important player in England’s attack

Over the first three rounds of this year’s Women’s Six Nations we have seen England’s new attack fail to have effect against Ireland, fizz in Edinburgh and, in Bristol, flow smoothly as five of England’s 10 tries came through the backs. Meg Jones was a scorer of two tries, and also set up two on a thoroughly good day for the Wales-born, Welsh-raised England captain.

Against Wales, England’s objective was very clear; get the ball out wide and get it out there quickly. Jones was the conduit that plenty of England’s attack flowed through.

Her assist for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald’s second half score was an example of this with the whipped long pass, as was her second try at the conclusion of the first 40 minutes when the 29-year-old shipped the ball out to Moloney-MacDonald, whose interchange with Ellie Kildunne ended with Jones sliding over the whitewash.

You are transfixed when watching Jones in the backfield. England’s captain has the ability to beat players by herself, but instead is showing off her distribution in a backfield that contains a series of creative forces.