Marlie Packer scores four tries as England beat plucky Italy in Women’s Six Nations
Marlie Packer top-scored with four tries in Parma - Emmanuele Ciancaglini/RFU via Getty Images Italy 33 England 61 England are within touching distance of yet another Grand Slam. John Mitchell’s side were utterly dominant in the physical collisions, underscored by the fact that flanker Marlie Packer finished the contest with a remarkable haul of four tries. The only fly in the ointment was that England conceded five tries, with Italy’s total of 33 points a record in this fixture.
Given that Wales also managed to score four tries against England in the last round, it suggests there is work to do in defence ahead of their bid to complete the Grand Slam in their final-round game against France in Bordeaux next weekend. Yet on this form, it seems that yet another clean sweep will be a procession. This England side may be missing 17 players through injury – Maddie Feaunati became the latest casualty, having suffered a leg injury on Tuesday, and did not travel to Parma – but the depth of their resources, the quality of the athletes and skill set have set them a class above the rest in this competition.
It was heart-warming to see Christiana Balogun make her England debut, three years after she was given the all-clear from Burkitt lymphoma, while Helena Rowland marked her 50th cap with a first half try. Zoe Harrison could not quite maintain her remarkable sequence of successful kicks but still converted eight of England’s nine tries. This was a victory for England’s forwards.
Much has been made of the quality of their back-line talent, but seven tries were scored by the forwards, with Packer outstanding, while Amy Cokayne scored two and Abi Burton also crossed. England’s front row were outstanding, their combined carrying power and handling skills were the point of difference between the two sides, while Harrison pulled the strings superbly. Match details Scoring sequence: 0-5 Packer try, 0-7 Harrison con, 0-12 Cokayne try, 0-14 Harrison con, 0-19 Rowland try, 0-21 Harrison con, 0-26 Venner try, 5-26 Vecchini try, 5-31 Cokayne try, 5-33 Harrison con, 12-33 penalty try, 12-38 Packer try, 12-40 Harrison con, 17-40 Ranuccini try, 19-40 Sillari con, 19-45 Burton try, 19-47 Harrison con, 19-52 Burton try, 19-54, Harrison con, 24-54 Sgorbini try, 26-54 Sillari con, 26-59 Packer try, 26-61 Harrison con, 31-61 Sgorbini try, 33-61 Sillari con.
Italy: V Ostuni Minuzzi, A Muzzo, M Sillari, S Mannini, A D’Inca (F Granzotto 60), V Madia (E Stevanin 60), S Stefan (A Bitonci 57), S Turani (G Dosi 64), V Vecchini (C Cheli 69), V Zanette (G Maris 40), V Federighi, A Frangipani (G Duca 44), B Veronese (F Sgorbini 44), A Ranuccini, E Giordana. England: E Sing (C Moloney-MacDonald 62); M Venner, Meg Jones, H Rowland (H Aitchison 52), Ellie Kildunne; Z Harrison, L Packer (F Robinson 48); K Clifford (M Carson 40), A Cokayne (C Powell 48) , M Muir (S Bern 48), H Lutui (H Head 48) , D Burns, D Short (C Balogun 62), M Packer, A Burton. Yellow cards : E Kildunne (24).
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