England 'put foot on Ireland's throat'

SATURDAY WRAP: England flyhalf Zoe Harrison said her team had put their “foot on the throat” of Ireland in a 49-5 thrashing on Saturday to stay on track for a seventh straight Women’s Six Nations title.

Harrison scored 17 points, including a second-half try, as the visitors easily recovered from conceding a 24th-minute score from Ireland wing Amee-Leigh Costigan in Cork.

England, hosts and favourites for this year’s Rugby World Cup, moved back to the top of the table above France, who had powered past Wales 42-12 earlier in the day.

“That one was about being patient,” Harrison told the BBC.

“Taking our time to get there and when it was our time, to put our foot on the throat.

“Half-time helped us to put right what we were doing wrong,” the 26-year-old added.

With two rounds to play, it is likely the Six Nations title will come down to the last game of the tournament between England and France at Twickenham on April 26.

Ireland remain third in the standings before fourth-placed Scotland host Italy on Sunday.

Costigan, who played Sevens at last year’s Olympic Games, handed the home side the perfect start with a superb finish from a Dannah O’Brien chip.

But by the break they trailed 5-7 after lock Morwenna Talling responded for the visitors, ending Ireland’s early resistance.

England were a different side after half-time, crossing six times including a well-taken effort from a show-and-go by Harrison.

Earlier, wing Emilie Boulard scored twice in 11 minutes in France’s win over Wales.

Hooker Manon Bigot, captain Manae Feleu and flank Lea Champon also crossed and France were awarded a penalty try in Brive.

Wales flank Kate Williams and lock Gwen Crabb scored tries for Sean Lynn’s side, still looking for their first win of the campaign after losses to Scotland and England.

See below for Saturday’s scores and scorers!

Ireland 5-49 England

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Try: Costigan

For England:
Tries: Talling, Harrison, Jones, Bern 2, Kildunne, Clifford
Cons: Harrison 6, Aitchison

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Anna McGann, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Eve Higgins, 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Emily Lane, 8 Aoife Wafer, 7 Erin King, 6 Brittany Hogan, 5 Dorothy Wall, 4 Fiona Tuite, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Niamh O’Dowd.
Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Siobhan McCarthy, 18 Christy Haney, 19 Ruth Campbell, 20 Grace Moore, 21 Aoibheann Reilly, 22 Nicole Fowley, 23 Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Morwenna Talling, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 1 Hannah Botterman.
Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.

Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

France 42-12 Wales

The scorers:

For France:
Tries: Boulard 2, Bigot, Feleu, Champon, Penalty
Cons: Bourgeois 5

For Wales:
Tries: Williams, Crabb
Con: Bevan

Teams:

France: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Kelly Arbey, 13 Marine Ménager (captain), 12 Montserrat Amédée, 11 Émilie Boulard, 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 8 Téani Feleu, 7 Séraphine Okemba, 6 Charlotte Escudero, 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 4 Manae Feleu (vice captain), 3 Rose Bernadou, 2 Manon Bigot, 1 Yllana Brosseau.
Replacements: 16 Élisa Riffonneau, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Kiara Zago, 20 Axelle Berthoumieu, 21 Léa Champon, 22 Océane Bordes, 23 Lina Queyroi.

Wales: 15 Jasmine Joyce, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones (captain), 12 Courtney Keight, 11 Carys Cox, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Keira Bevan (vice captain), 8 Georgia Evans, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Gwen Crabb, 4 Abbie Fleming, 3 Jenni Scoble, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Gwenllian Prys.
Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Natalia John, 20 Alaw Pyrs, 21 Bryonie King, 22 Sian Jones, 23 Nel Metcalfe.

Referee: Holly Wood (England)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England), Maria Heitor (Portugal)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)