England run rampant against gutsy Wales – but one thing threatens their Women’s Six Nations supremacy

There was Women’s Six Nations victory for a Cardiff-born captain at Ashton Gate; the problem, of course, for Wales is that Meg Jones proudly wears English white. In a different world – one, perhaps, in which greater investment had been made in women’s rugby long ago – then Jones might have been a star for the country of her birth. But, with opportunities limited in her teenage years, a special talent left Cardiff for Hartpury – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Having been such a key cog on and off the pitch in England’s World Cup win, this now looks a team built in their stand-in skipper’s image, full of creativity, quirk, and a relentless energy. ‘Twas ever thus in this competition, of course, but the last two weeks have been impressive even by the sky-high standards that England judge themselves by. Having put Scotland to the sword with 12 tries a week ago , the scoreline did not swell quite as high at Ashton Gate yet a 62-24 win was nonetheless a significant success in the context of an injury crisis seemingly ever-deepening.

A concerning shoulder issue for Sadia Kabeya here in Bristol means that six of the starting World Cup-winning pack are currently unavailable to John Mitchell; it seems to matter not a jot, at the moment. Flanker Sadia Kabeya suffered a shoulder injury in England's win (Reuters) Perhaps it will in time. While their first three opponents have not been able to truly test the world champions for long periods, their familiar French foes should.

Francois Ratier’s side should be sniffing a real chance in Bordeaux – England do not lack for talent, but the sight of Delaney Burns calling the lineout and being involved in leadership meetings having not originally been named in the Six Nations squad shows how threadbare the Red Roses are at lock particularly. It is hoped that Lilli Ives Campion may be available for the Italy game in a fortnight; the fallow week comes at a good time. Kabeya, sadly, was not the only English casualty of a stop-start first half.