6N: France Women Did It

It was  an exciting match in front of an excited crowds of 17 440, the biggest ever to watch a women's Test. In fact all three matches were exciting and surprising.

France are on course for the Grand Slam, though Wales stand in their path. France would be expected to beat Wales, even in Wales. If Wales won and England beat Ireland, England would win the championship. A Welsh victory seems unlikely. They have won one out of four while France have won four out of four.

Log after Four Rounds

1. France – 19 points

2. England – 16 points

3. Ireland – 10 points

4. Scotland – 5 points

5. Wales – 5 points

6. Italy – 5 points

The last three places are ordered by points' difference.

Results, Round 4

France vs England, 18-17

Italy vs Wales, 22-15

Scotland vs Ireland, 15-12

Previous Results

Round 1

France vs Ireland, 24-0

Wales vs Scotland, 18-17

England vs Italy, 42-7

Round 2

England vs Wales, 52-0

France vs Scotland, 26-3

Ireland vs Italy, 21-8

Round 3

England vs Scotland, 43-8

France vs Italy, 57-0

Ireland vs Wales, 35-12

France vs England at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble

It was a thriller all the way.

England scored first and then France scored twice to lead 10-7 at half-time.

After a try and a penalty, England led 17-13 with the clock running to full time. with just two minutes to go Jessy Trémoulière burst over for the winning try.

It was a great day for France.

Scorers:

For France:

Tries: Jessy Trémoulière 2, Caroline Drouin

Pen: Jessy Trémoulière

For England:

Tries: Abby Dow, Amy Cokayne 

Cons: Katy Daley-McLean 2

Pen: Katy Daley-McLean

Teams

France: 15 Jessy Trémoulière, 14 Caroline Boujard, 13 Carla Niesen, 12 Le Pesq, 11 Cyrielle Banet, 10 Caroline Drouin, 9 Pauline Bourdon, 8 Romane Ménager, 7 Gaelle Hermet (captain), 6 Marjorie Mayans, 5 Audrey Forlani, 4 Safi N'Diaye, 3 Julie Duval, 2 Agathe Sochat, 1 Caroline Thomas 

Replacements: 16 Milena Soloch, 17 Lisa Arricastre, 18 Patricia Carricaburu, 19 Celine Ferer, 20 Fiona Lecat, 21 Yanna Rivoalen, 22 Camille Boudaud, 23 Marine Ménager

England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abigail Dow, 13 Rachael Burford, 12 Amber Reed, 11 Danielle Waterman, 10 Katy Daley-Mclean (captain), 9 Leanne Riley, 8 Sarah Hunter, 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Poppy Cleall, 5 Tamara Taylor, 4 Abbie Scott, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Vickii Cornborough

Replacements: 16 Lark Davies, 17 Rochelle Clark, 18 Justine Lucas, 19 Rowena Burnfield, 20 Izzy Noel-Smith, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Lagi Tuima, 23 Charlotte Pearce

Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Assistant referees: tba (France)

Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)

Citing commissioner: Francisco Grillo (Italy)

Ireland vs Scotland in Donnybrook

The visitors, thrashed by England in the previous round, showed great resolution in this match.

Handling errors by the home side and great goal-line defence by the visitors gave the Scots a surprise victory

Helen Nelson opened the score with a penalty, which gave the Scots an 3-0 lead at half-time.

The Scots were first to score in the second half when Helen Nelson finished off a backline attack with a try. 8-0.

The dominant Irish scrum, was rewarded with a penalty try to bring the score to 8-7, and then came the brightest moment of the match when Ireland were on eager attack in the Scots 22. Fullback Chloe Rollie intercepted and raced away for a try, which Helen Nelson converted. 15-7 with 18 minutes to play.

Ireland came back with their forwards powering ahead till Paula Fitzgerald burst over for a try that made the score 15-12.

For the next 10 minutes Ireland attacked and the brave Scots held their line.

Scorers:

For Scotland:

Tries: Helen Nelson, Chloe Rollie

Con: Lana Skeldon

Pen: Helen Nelson

For Ireland:

Tries: penalty try, Paula Fitzgerald

Con: the penalty try counts seven points.

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Kim Flood, 14 Megan Williams, 13 Katie Fitzhenry, 12 Sene Naoupu, 11 Hannah Tyrrell, 10 Niamh Briggs, 9 Ailsa Hughes, 8 Paula Fitzpatrick, 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Ciara Griffin (captain), 5 Orla Fitzsimons, 4 Aoife McDermott, 3 Leah Lyons, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 1 Lindsay Peat

Replacements: 16 Ciara O'Connor, 17 Laura Feely, 18 Fiona Reidy, 19 Ashleigh Baxter, 20 Edel McMahon, 21 Nicole Cronin, 22 Michelle Claffey, 23 Louise Galvin

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Liz Musgrove, 13 Lisa Thomson, 12 Helen Nelson, 11 Hannah Smith, 10 Lisa Martin (captain), 9 Sarah Law, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Rachel Malcolm, 6 Sarah Bonar, 5 Deborah McCormack, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Megan Kennedy, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Siobhan McMillan

Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Katie Dougan, 18 Lindsey Smith, 19 Siobhan Cattigan, 20 Louise McMillan, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Lauren Harris, 23 Rhona Lloyd

Referee: Ian Tempest (England)

Assistant referees: Dermot Blake (Ireland), Glenn Sheridan (Ireland)

Television match official: Stefano Pennè (Italy)

Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

Wales vs Italy at Principality Stadium

For the first time Welsh women played a curtainraiser to the men's team on Principality Stadium this Sunday.

Four tries to two seems a fair enough victory, as do three yellow cards to none. Wales had three players in the sin bin, which certainly did not help their fightback. For one thing it made winning post-tackle ball nearly impossible.

Italy scored first through Isabella Locatelli but a penalty and a try Alisha Butchers gave Wales the lead which they lost when wing Maria Magatti scored to make the half-time score to 12-8 to the visitors.

The Italians scored on each side of half time when, following a break by Veronica Madia centre Beatrice Rigoni scored. 17-8.

Then the sin-binning started but despite this No.8 Sioned Harries scored and Robyn Wilkins converted from touch. 17-15.

Just before the end Michaela Sillari scored the last points of a lively match.

Scorers:

For Italy:

Tries: Isabella Locatelli, Maria Magatti, Beatrice Rigoni, Michela Sillari

Con: Michela Sillari

For Wales:

Tries: Alisha Butchers, Sioned Harries

Con: Robyn Wilkins

Pen: Robyn Wilkins

Teams 

Wales: 15 Hannah Jones, 14 Jaz Joyce, 13 Kerin Lake, 12 Robyn Wilkins, 11 Jess Kavanagh-Williams, 10  Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Sioned Harries, 7 Beth Lewis, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Mel Clay, 4 Siwan Lillicrap, 3 Amy Evans, 2 Carys Phillips (captain), 1 Caryl Thomas 

Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Gwenllian Pyrs, 18 Meg York, 19 Natalia John, 20 Nia Elen Davies, 21 Jade Knight, 22 Alecs Donovan, 23 Lisa Neumann 

Italy: 15 Manuela Furlan, 14 Sofia Stefan, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Maria Magatti, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sara Barattin, 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 6 Giada Franco, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Valentina Ruzza, 3 Lucia Gai, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 1 Gaia Giacomoli

Replacements: 16 Silvia Turani, 17 Eleonora Ricci, 18 Michela Merlo, 19 Elisa Pillotti, 20 Ilaria Arrighetti, 21 Beatrice Veronese, 22 Jessica Busato, 23 Aura Muzzo

Referee: Marie Lematte (France)

Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Tom Spurrier (Wales)

Television match official: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)

Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)