6N Women: England Gallop to Grand Slam

SIX  NATIONS: England saved their best for last as they galloped away to 12 tries in an 80-0 victory over Scotland at Twickenham.

There was no doubting that they were the best team in the Six Nations, worthy winners of the Grand Slam.

On the Six Nations log they are an enormous 11 points ahead of second-placed Italy. It is simply the most emphatic Six Nations victory ever.

In five matches, the Red Roses scored 278 points, an average of nearly 56 a match.

Italy, too, have every reason to rejoice in their second position after thrashing France, once such a power in women’s rugby – as indeed were Scotland.

And on historic Cardiff Arms Park, Wales made it a trio of clear victories to end the Six Nations.

Results Round 5

England vs Scotland, 80-0
Italy vs France, 31-12
Wales vs Ireland, 24-5

Results, Rounds 1-4

Round 1
England vs Ireland, 51-7
France vs Wales, 52-3
Italy vs Scotland, 28-7

Round 2
Italy vs Wales, 3-3
Ireland vs Scotland, 22-5
England vs France, 41-26

Round 3
England vs Wales, 51-12
France vs Scotland, 41-10
Italy vs Ireland, 29-27

Round 4
Wales vs Scotland, 17-15
England vs Italy, 55-0
France vs Ireland, 47-17

Final Log

1 England with 28 points
2 Italy with 17 points
3 France with 16 points
4 Wales with 11 points
5 Ireland with 7 points
6 Scotland with 1 point

Round 5 Details

England vs Scotland at Twickenham

England dominated possession, territory and the whole match, as the score suggests. At half-time they already led 45-0. Unlike what happened in the men’s match, there was no comeback by Scotland in this one.

Scorers

For England:
Tries: Emily Beckett, Jess Breach 2, Natasha Hunt, Kelly Smith, Poppy Cleall 2, Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bern, Sarah Hunter, Sarah Scarratt, Catherine O’Donnell
Cons: Katy Daley-Mclean 8, Emily Scarratt

Teams

England: 15 Sarah McKenna, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Zoe Harrison, 11 Kelly Smith, 10 Katy Daley-Mclean, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Sarah Hunter (captain), 7 Vicky Fleetwood, 6 Sarah Beckett, 5 Abbie Scott, 4 Poppy Cleall, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Hannah Botterman
Replacements: 16 Lark Davies, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Shaunagh Brown, 19 Catherine O’Donnell, 20 Marlie Packer, 21 Leanne Riley, 22 Rachael Burford, 23 Emily Scott

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Hannah Smith, 12 Lisa Thomson (captain), 11 Annabel Sergeant, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Jenny Maxwell, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Sarah Bonar, 5 Nicola Howat, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Mairi Forsyth, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Megan Kennedy
Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Lisa Cockburn, 18 Katie Dougan, 19 Panashe Muzambe, 20 Debs McCormack, 21 Mhairi Grieve , 22 Lisa Martin, 23 Abi Evans

Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy), Nia Parsonage (England)
Timekeeper: Robert Ockenden (England)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)

Wales vs Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park

Win the defence and you have won half of the game. Ireland had nearly 70% of possession but Wales tackled and in the end Wales won by what looks like a comfortable margin. They worked hard and painfully for their comfort.

Teams

Wales: 15 Lauren Smyth, 14 Jasmine Joyce, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Lleucu George, 11 Jess Kavanagh, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Siwan Lillicrap, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Mel Clay, 4 Gwen Crabb, 3 Amy Evans, 2 Carys Phillips (captain), 1 Caryl Thomas
Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Cara Hope, 18 Cerys Hale, 19 Alex Callender, 20 Manon Johnes, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Robyn Wilkins, 23 Lisa Neumann

Ireland: 15 Lauren Delany, 14 Eimear Considine, 13 Enya Breen, 12 Sene Naoupu, 11 Beibhinn Parsons, 10 Nicole Fowley, 9 Kathryn Dane, 8 Claire McLaughlin, 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Ciara Griffin (captain), 5 Nichola Fryday, 4 Aoife McDermott, 3 Fiona Reidy, 2 Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, 1 Lindsay Peat
Replacements: 16 Emma Hooban, 17 Linda Djougang, 18 Laura Feely, 19 Edel McMahon, 20 Anna Caplice, 21 Nicole Cronin, 22 Ellen Murphy, 23 Laura Sheehan

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Nikki O’Donnell (England), Andrew Moule (Wales)
Television match official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assessor: Rob Davies (Wales)
Citing commissioner: Buster White (England)

Italy vs France at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua

Italy gave France a hot time of it in cold Padua beneath the Alps.

Manuela Furlan, Italy’s fullback and captain, played a major role in the victory, capping a great, running performance with an important try near the end, the second of two Italian tries in the last 10 minutes..

Scorers:

For Italy:
Tries: Sofia Stefan, Melissa Bettoni, Beatrice Rigoni, Manuela Furlan
Con: Michela Sillari
Pens: Michela Sillari 3

For France:
Tries: Caroline Boujard, Ian Jason
Con: Jessy Trémoulière

Teams

Italy: 15 Manuela Furlan (captain), 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Sofia Stefan, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sara Barattin, 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Giada Franco, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Valentina Ruzza, 3 Lucia Gai, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 1 Gaia Giacomoli
Replacements: 16 Lucia Cammarano, 17 Silvia Turani, 18 Sara Tounesi, 19 Valeria Fedrighi, 20 Francesca Sberna, 21 Jessica Busato, 22 Maria Magatti, 23 Camilla Sarasso

France: 15 Jessy Trémoulière, 14 Caroline Boujard, 13 Yolaine Yengo, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Ian Jason, 10 Pauline Bourdon, 9 Marie Saluzzo, 8 Gaëlle Hermet (captain), 7 Coumba Diallo, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 5 Audrey Forlani, 4 Céline Ferer, 3 Clara Joyeux, 2 Caroline Thomas, 1 Maylis Traore
Replacements: 16 Milena Soloch, 17 Lise Arricastre, 18 Katia Ambonguilat, 19 Marine Pellegris, 20 Emeline Gros, 21 Emma Coudert, 22 Camille Imart, 23 Marine Ménager

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Laura Pettingale (England), tba (Italy)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)