Italy v England | Talking points as Marlie Packer scores four tries in Parma

A dominant first half in Parma and four tries from Marlie Packer went a long way to securing the Red Roses a 61-33 win against Italy.

It took England just shy of four minutes to get the scoreboard ticking in the Round 4 Guinness Women’s Six Nations encounter. Abi Burton had already been held up when Zoe Harrison lofted the ball past the Italian defensive line to help Marlie Packer claim her first of the game.

Four more minutes later Amy Cokayne had rumbled over from the back of a lineout maul as Italy haemorrhaged penalties. Things kept on getting better for England as Ellie Kildunne’s hack through landed at the feet of Helena Rowland at the try line. On the occasion of her 50th cap Rowland landed on the ball to register England’s third. With less than 14 minutes on the clock Mia Venner danced across the whitewash to secure the try-scoring bonus point.

Italy’s first march into England’s 22m yielded a score for Vittoria Vecchini. Undeterred by an Italian speed bump, England went to the other end of the pitch and Cokayne breached the whitewash for a second time. Before half-time things got more competitive. A deliberate knock-on by Kildunne resulted in a penalty try for Italy, Packer peeled over for her 57th England try and Alissa Raunccini was sent beneath the posts by Silvia Turani.

Having seen their dominance slip at the end of the first half, England were sure to get the first score of the second 40 minutes, as Abi Burton controlled the ball excellently at the base of the scrum to cross the tryline. Francesca Sgorbini duly got the hosts’ bonus point score and in turn helped Italy to their highest-ever points tally against England. The replacement Italian flanker’s score was sandwiched between another two Packer tries. Sgorbini’s effort with the clock in the red gave Italy more cause to smile at full-time.

The Red Roses have now set up a Grand Slam decider with France next week, provided Sione Fukofuka’s Scots do not upset François Ratier’s team in Edinburgh. Here are three talking points from Italy…

England’s clinical start made it impossible for Italy

Over the years England have made a habit of fast starts. These early shows of dominance knock opponents into submission. They are something we have seen in this Championship already as Scotland and Wales were put to the sword early. This was no different against Italy.

Within 15 minutes Marlie Packer, Amy Cokayne, Helena Rowland and Mia Venner had all dotted down. The bonus point was secure. Before the break both Packer and Cokayne had braces.

Across the opening 20 minutes the Red Roses boasted 81 per cent of possession. For Italy this must have felt like a never-ending tirade. It is little wonder that under such immense pressure the Italians gave away a string of penalties and invited even more pressure.

But there is another side to these fast starts. Because almost immediately after those blows land, England almost sit back a little bit and take stock of their work. Their dominance wanes. Teams begin to chip away at them.

On this occasion Vittoria Vecchini opened the scoring for Italy and a penalty try, which resulted in a yellow card for Ellie Kildunne, allowed Fabio Roselli’s team a foothold into the contest. Even if they were unlikely to turn the tide entirely.

By the end of the contest the Red Roses had conceded five tries. That’s nine in their past two games. It must be infuriating for defence coach Sarah Hunter. Particularly with France and the Stade Atlantique looming.

Abi Burton’s stock is high right now, very high

For the majority of her international 15-a-side career Abi Burton had been a bit part character for England. Test caps had been somewhat hard to come by. The majority of her match minutes have come when John Mitchell rested senior, more experienced players.

But amidst the injury chaos that the Red Roses have been faced with at this Women’s Six Nations, Burton has stepped up in a big way.

Would you mind playing lock? No problem. Call the lineout? Sure. Go back to No.8 a couple of hours before kick-off? Obviously.

In some ways this should come as absolutely no surprise. The 26-year-old has been a professional rugby player since she was a teenager and playing on the HSBC SVNS Series for England and Great Britain. She is a veteran of two Olympic Games. Even considering all those things, this past month has been sensational.

Against Scotland, when Lilli Ives Campion was withdrawn early with an injury, Burton finished her first game in the second row calling the lineout. Then against Italy she expertly controlled the ball at the back of a scrum to dot down and exploded in the loose to provide Marlie Packer with her fourth score of the afternoon.

It is a cliche that players get opportunities when others are unavailable for selection. Burton could now be an England mainstay for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2027 and beyond.

Sue Day is not enjoying Marlie Packer’s performances

A fortnight ago Marlie Packer’s performance against Wales was the story of the weekend. A rarely used commodity during Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the 36-year-old has quickly re-established herself as a fixture in the Red Roses’ back-row as injuries have ravaged John Mitchell’s side.

This weekend in Parma, Packer was again at the centre of things and had two tries in the first half. Then another in the 52nd minute. And another just short of the hour mark. She was Player of the Match again.

On the occasion of her 115th cap the Saracens back-row moved up to second all-time on the Red Roses’ try-scoring list. Now only Sue Day’s 61 tries in an England jersey stand between Packer and top of the pile. Day, who now works for the Football Association as its director of women’s football, registered her 61 tries in 59 appearances and competed for England at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.

An astonishing record, which was one point seemed insurmountable, has now been cut to just two. In so many ways it is testament to the high-standards and quality that Packer brings every time she plays. Which has been much the case for the past 18 years.