Marlie Packer: 'My secret weapon is that I am enjoying it'

After she scored four tries in  England‘s 61-33 win against Italy, Marlie Packer stated that she is enjoying her return to a starting Red Roses jersey.

England’s result in Parma means that the world champions have set up a Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider with France next week in Round 5.

The two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner has now claimed back-to-back Player of the Match awards for her efforts against Wales and Italy.

Her quartet of tries against the Italians in Parma mean that the 36-year-old has scored 59 tries for England. She is just two tries short of England’s all-time leading try scorer Sue Day.

It was not long ago that it seemed as though Packer’s international career was coming to a close. At Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 the 36-year-old was more regularly seen as a water carrier or banging drums in the stands with her teammates.

All of a sudden the flanker is front and centre again after a string of injuries have left head coach John Mitchell with selection headaches ahead of each fixture.

“My secret weapon is that I am enjoying it and I have a smile back on my face,” Packer told BBC Sport at full-time. “I am getting the minutes. For the last couple of years Sadia Kabeya has had the nod over me but fair play and I have my opportunity at the moment and I am enjoying it. I have a smile and there is no pressure.”

Ahead of Saturday’s kick-off, England were dealt another blow as Maddie Feaunati was ruled out of the contest with a leg injury. As a result Abi Burton moved to No.8 and Haineala Lutui got a starting role in the second row.

Already across this Championship the Red Roses have seen Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt and Alex Matthews all ruled out of the tournament, while Hannah Botterman and May Cambell did not play a minute.

Sadia Kabeya and Lilli Ives Campion sat out the Italy fixture with injuries.

“I take my hat off to the pack, they were unreal,” Packer said. “All week we have been practising our set pieces and me and Amy [Cokayne] were the lucky ones to dot the ball down but it was all from the girls’ hard work.”