England's second-half resurgence provides bonus-point win over Italy in the Women's Six Nations
England started their 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 48-0 result over Italy to open their account with a bonus-point win in Parma.
England captain Marlie Packer, who earned her 100th cap in the match, additionally scored their third try to open the floodgates in the second half.
The defending champions’ opening victory did not come easily, with Sarah Beckett shown a red card in the first quarter, and Helena Rowland receiving a yellow with just over ten minutes left on the clock.
The match was scoreless for half an hour until England’s Hannah Botterman finally broke the Italian defence before Abbie Ward added their second on her first international appearance since the 2022 Rugby World Cup final.
England truly kicked into action in the second half and a further six scores followed suit from Packer, Rowland, Mackenzie Carson, Connie Powell and two from Ellie Kildunne.
The lineout bedevilled England in the first half, with both overthrown and inaccurate throws costing them attacking opportunities at the set piece.
Italy’s Michela Sillari went down clutching her knee in the tenth minute after a crocodile roll from Beckett, which saw the England number eight sent to the sin bin with a yellow card, and subsequently sent for a bunker review.
After having her knee heavily strapped, Sillari continued to play, but shortly left the field to be replaced by Emma Stevanin.
The bunker review deemed the clearout from Beckett to have had a high degree of danger with no mitigation, which reduced England to 14 women for the remainder of the match.
England’s early woes continued as a minute later, although Ward crossed the line, she was deemed to have made a double movement and the try was chalked off.
In the first 20 minutes, England had conceded ten turnovers to Italy’s three, and made ten handling errors to Italy’s eight; however, the Red Roses had 75% of the possession.
Dogged defence from Italy, including a fantastic jackal from Beatrice Rigoni, kept them in the game despite England being camped out in their half.
Italy, who enjoyed a successful WXV 2 campaign which saw them only miss out on the trophy by points difference, held England scoreless until the 30th minute when Botterman got a well-deserved try after a strong carrying effort in the first half.
Ward was duly rewarded with her first successful England try as a mother when she powered over the line five minutes later to double the score for the Red Roses, but Zoe Harrison was unable to convert.
Despite somewhat lacking cohesion at points in the opening half an hour, England led 10-0 at the break.
It was their worst half points-wise against Italy in at least 17 years and the fewest points they’ve scored in the first 40 minutes since they went into the break with the same scoreline in October 2022 in their RWC pool match against France.
Momentum was swiftly upped after the break however and England’s latest centurion Packer dotted down from the back of the driving maul in the first four minutes, a familiar scoring method for the Red Roses in recent years, to extend their lead to 15 points.
The bonus point soon followed as a now energised England had finally found their feet, Kildunne taking a high ball well before stepping and speeding her way to score the all-important fourth try for the Red Roses, successfully converted by Harrison this time.
Things were now clicking for the visitors as Rowland broke through multiple defenders to score their fifth and ballast their lead to 29-0.
Exeter Chiefs’ Maddie Feaunati came on to make her England debut in the 59th minute as she replaced Sadia Kabeya, while England stalwart Packer left the pitch to complete her 100th Test.
Replacement prop Carson crossed for England’s sixth at the hour mark, running a great line after a pass from Holly Aitchison. Harrison, who had now found her kicking boots, added the two points to make the scoreline 36-0.
Italy began to put together some positive phases of attack, but handling errors halted their efforts and put the ball back into English hands.
England were shown a second card to reduce them to 13 players after try-scorer Rowland made head contact in a clear-out in the 68th minute. The centre’s yellow card was also sent for a bunker review as she sat visibly disappointed on the sideline, but Rowland would later return to the pitch after her ten-minute suspension as the card remained a yellow.
Despite the two-woman deficit, Kildunne crossed the whitewash for a second time after the forward pack kept the attack alive to send the fullback over, her 25th try for her country and a ten-point contribution to their 41-0 lead.
Rigoni made a trademark pass through her legs in an attempt to ignite the Italian attack in the final minutes of the match, but she took her teammate by surprise, resulting in a knock-on.
With the clock in the red, Powell made a fantastic break for the line in search of England’s eighth, and an infringement from Stevanin after she was brought down saw the Italian sent to the bin with a yellow card which gave England the penalty and one last opportunity to score.
Harlequins’ Powell did then get her try from the lineout that followed as she scored from the maul, with Aitchison having the final word to end the match with the conversion after an impressive second-half performance from the Red Roses.
The result saw John Mitchell’s side top the table after the first round, with France just behind them on points difference after their win against Ireland.
Scotland finished the opening round in third after their historic victory over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, while their hosts sit in fourth.
Ireland ended the weekend in fifth and England’s opponents Italy completed the table in sixth.
England go on to host Wales at Ashton Gate in round two on 30th March and on the same day, Scotland will play France in Edinburgh before Ireland and Italy complete round two on the 31st at the RDS Arena.
Comments on RugbyPass
Unfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to comments