It wasn’t perfect, but it was dominant. England’s Six Nation’s title defence is on track and John Mitchell’s tenure is up and running.
Here’s Sarah Rendell’s report from an odd, but crushing win:
Now it’s the centurion, Marlie Packer:
I’m on top of the world. We wanted to take the handbrake off and play a bit. There were some soft errors that let us down. When we tried to let off the handbrake it didn’t go as we wanted it to be. But it’s the first game of the tournament. We’ll fix things and come back stringer against Wales next week.
I [want to thank] all my friends and family. I’ve got a big crowd out here. So for them to make the trip has made it extra special for me. But everyone along my rugby journey. Everybody who has had a part to play, I carry them every time I wear this shirt and to have done it 100 times is very special.
[Can she provide three words for a young Marlie Packer?] Just keep smiling and doing what you’re doing. Sorry, that’s more than three words. I’m not good at counting!
And speaking of Ellie Kildunne, here she is:
Yesterday when we were training it was a bit windy so we were a bit worried about that. But we turned up on the day and the sun was shining. It was a fast track to run on so I enjoyed that.
[Her performance] is a credit to all the girls. We asked each other what we wanted from each other and I asked for confidence. That is what the girls gave me. They believe in me and I believe in them as well. We’re trying things, we looking for new opportunities. The confidence leaks in so we just go for things 100%. Sometimes you score tries and sometimes you get tackled. This time I was able to score two but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the other girls around me.
On Marlie Packer: We went through her story last night and she’s not had a smooth ride. But I’m so proud of her and I’m proud to call her my captain. She doesn’t just wear her heart on her sleeve. She’s so infectious. Well done Marlie Packer!
Here’s Kildunne’s first. My pick of the eight tries scored:
Ellie Kildunne in space 😮💨
— Guinness Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) March 24, 2024
Bonus point secured for @RedRosesRugby 🔒#GuinnessW6N #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/rmRwNby3F5
England move top of the table on points difference ahead of France. Kildunne was superb from full-back. As was Aitchison at first receiver who has surely done enough to earn a starting berth next week.
Full-time: Italy 0-48 England
Aitchison nails the conversion and England leave Parma two short of a half century. Six tries in a dominant second half to go along with the two they snagged in a spluttering opening 40 minutes, that was assertive from the five-time defending champions.
TRY! Italy 0-48 England (Powell, 80+2)
Powell gets her reward! Having just cantered 30 metres up field, she is on the back of a rolling maul to close out the match on a high.
Yellow card! Italy (Stevanin, 80+1)
Room for one more. Powell snatched an intercept and the prop was away after Italy worked the ball to the half-way line. Powell got so close but was hauled just short. Stevanin cynically slowed the ball down and was sent off.
79 min: A fumble from Jones – who was flat at the line – means England have likely missed their chance to add to their score. Scrum to Italy to close us out.
78 min: Sublime fro Aitchison. She gathers on the front foot, gets her head up and lands a pinpoint kick into the corner. Small sample size I know, but I’d be tempted to start her at 10 next game. She’s been magnificent.
77 min: I’m not sure what it’s called, but Rigoni just pulled off one of those behind-the-back-through-the-leg passes, like a dog shovelling sand at the beach. Know what I mean? Anyway, it ends with a knock-on and was totally the wrong option. But it looked good.
75 min: D’Inca is away down the right but the final pass to her was forward. Italy just haven’t been able to stitch a cohesive move together all day.
74 min: Kildunne awarded player of the match. Which is absolutely the right decision. And as expected Rowland’s yellow card remains a yellow.
TRY! Italy 0-41 England (Kildunne, 72)
Even with 13 on the field they still find space out wide! It’s thanks to quick ball and Kildunne’s wonderful finish caps off a brilliant individual performance. The forwards turned over an Italian scrum and the backs took it down the line. Breach carried forward before Hunt maintained speed on the ball with accurate fizzing passes. A spiral from Dow standing in the midfield found Kildunne and she pinned her ears back to slide over.
Updated
70 min: Italy have a golden chance to get on the scoreboard now they have a two player advantage. First they need to get out of their half. A tame kick is fielded by Kildunne but there’s a knock-on just outside of Italy’s 22. The hosts will have the scrum in the middle of the park.
Yellow card! England (Rowland, 69)
It’s not dirty, it’s just reckless. Rowland steamed in to clear away Stecca who was over the ball as England smelled the try line. But she came in too hot and it was shoulder to head. Yellow card but little chance of an upgrade.
There’s a possible head shot from Rowland at the breakdown. Did she lose her feet? Did she make a sufficient attempt to wrap her arms? The TMO will decide.
68 min: Italy botch a line-out and England are on the front foot. All back-line players involved. Not sure if it’s just because of Aitchison but there’s no doubting the extra zip since she’s started pulling the strings. They work it one way, then another. Into the corner, Dow burrows over. She deserves a try but is held up.
65 min: Italy knock on from the line-out so England can counter. Jones straightens and makes metres but there’s an English knock-on in the clear-out so it’s back to Italy for a scrum.
63 min: Kildunne thumps Muzzo into touch as Italy threatened down the left. A monster hit shows that England will be desperate to keep a clean sheet.
TRY! Italy 0-36 England (Carson, 61)
Inevitable. The replacement prop is the beneficiary of quick ball through the hands. Aitchison has made a huge difference since coming on. She’s flat at the line and is picking the right pass, dictating play. Carson gathers, straightens and has a clear run to the line. Harrison has three conversions in a row.
Updated
61 min: Ward wins the line-out and Kildunne joins the attack before off-loading in the tackle. She’s really having an outstanding game. England’s move faltes before Breach bursts over a challenge on her wing. They’re lining up…
60 min: A gorgeous box kick forces Ostuni Minuzzi to turn before fielding the bouncing ball. Kildunne is on her in a flash and a rushed clearing kick from Madia doesn’t get very far so England have the line-out feed inside Italy’s 22. Maddie Feaunati makes her debut as she replaces the Marlie Packer who gets a standing ovation having completed her 100th Test.
58 min: Both sides emptying the bench. Italy have a 6-2 split. I should have said that eight minutes ago England changed their entire front row. They’ve also switched scrum-halves with Natasha Hunt on for Lucy Packer.
56 min: Stefan has persisted with the box kick and this time finds her target. She’s got England turning and a bouncing ball has D’Inca interested. But Breach cleans up and England exit well from the back of their line-out.
TRY! Italy 0-29 England (Rowland, 54)
The floodgates are open! Aitchison, on the pitch for Scarratt, plays a lovely short no-look pass at the line with Rowland off her shoulder. She’s away and that’s a delicious first phase score. Harrison is into her stride now as she adds two more to the score.
53 min: Kildunne – again – ignites a move from deep. She finds Dow who powers down the line just the right side of the touchline. She’s ankle tapped but stays in field. Packer recycles and Scarratt attempts a long floated pass to exploit the overlap but the ball was just beyond her range and it goes forward before being knocked-on. I wonder if patience would have been the wiser option.
Updated
TRY! Italy 0-22 England (Kildunne, 50)
Scorcher! She’s been magnificent all day and that was a blockbuster. It was an admittedly poor box kick from Stefan but a sharp take from the England full-back. She launched into the air and gathered. As she touched grass she was off. Step one, step two, after-burners engaged and she was over the line in a flash to bring up England’s bonus-point. Harrison finds her range and lands the extras.
50 min: Kildunne runs from deep and connects with Kabeya who shovels on for Scarratt. But they seemingly get in each others’ way… hang on a minute…
48 min: Italy finally, FINALLY, stitch a move together and Muzzo down the left has room to run. The ball is moved back the other way but England pinch it back. A kick from England, then another from Italy has Kildunne needing to mop up. Rowland eventually puts her boot through the ball but can’t find touch. Stefan box-kicks and Kildunne once again cleans up.
Harrison misses for the third time today. She’s usually more precise from the tee. That was the most difficult of the lot. She’s hitting them well. Just not where she’s aiming.
TRY! Italy 0-15 England (Atkin-Davies, 45)
No stopping that. Atkin-Davies finds the target with the throw five metres out and she benefits at the back of a mighty maul to dot down.
44 min: Penalty for England as they line up and isolate Maris – the Italian prop – who charged straight into the brick wall that is Marlie Packer. Harrison into the corner.
43 min: Harrison kicks straight out in search of a cross-kick pass. They keep trying that move but keep over-hitting them. Italy with the throw on half-way
42 min: Atkin-Davies throws another line-out skew. I think that’s her third of the match.
Back under way. England a woman down but no excuse for a messy half. They’ll want to sharpen up for the next 40 minutes.
Half-time: Italy 0-10 England
Italy kick off the back of a scrum but Kildunne returns with interest. Eventually it’s hoofed out of touch and that draws a close to a scrappy half. England dominated but lacked cohesion. Still, they’re good value for their lead. Back in a bit.
39 min: Italy lack the grunt needed to go through the close channels and the accuracy to go wide. Which means England are able to keep them at arm’s length before pinching the ball. Clifford with the steal and a lovely pass from Harrison has Breach away but it drifts forward so Italy have the scrum in their own half.
TRY! Italy 0-10 England (Ward, 36)
Ward has her try! Just strength from close range after Kabeya charged forward once more. Rowland deserves her flowers for the initial run that brought it so close. Harrison skews the conversion.
Updated
36 min: England into Italy’s 22 after quick work from the line-out. Rowland straightens and spots a gap and carries it to striking distance. Five out now…
34 min: A rare foray for Italy in England’s territory. Muzza with a jinking carry but the move is snuffed out as Kabeya provides a crunching tackle that forces the knock-on. The TMO is called up to review a potential dangerous hit by D’Inca on Harrison in the air. Yup, penalty awarded to England.
TRY! Italy 0-5 England (Botterman, 31)
Finally they get there! Botterman is a deserving scorere. She’s been everywhere. From a dominant scrum England go left. Harrison stepped off her right foot and almost went through. Scarratt acting as scrum-half kept things ticking along and it was just a question of who would provide the finishing touch. It was the bustling prop and England are (finally) on the board.
29 min: England get close with a maul but Italy’s defence holds firm. So England go wide with Scarratt acting as playmaker. Ward charges but is a metre short. Botterman carries well. Dow wriggles but can’t work the space. Italy stray off-side so England have a penalty five out. They choose to scrum.
28 min: Better from England. Kildunne started the move with a clean take under a high ball. Kabeya and M Packer over the gainline with strong carries. Scarratt with a cut pop-pass out the back of the hand for Dow against the grain from the wide channel. Botterman bashes two tacklers and Italy lose their feet at the breakdown so England have a penalty just beyond the 22 on the right.
27 min: Italy form an attack but rush a pass and there’s a knock-on. England can’t get their shape together so ball carriers are running from static starts. Another cross-kick doesn’t find the mark. My word folks. I hate to be negative but this really has been a tough watch.
25 min: Aldcroft pinches a line-out and Marlie Packer busts through a tackle around the fringe. Scarratt has the ball, spots some space in the back-field but over-cooks a cross-kick and Italy get the throw around half-way.
23 min: Atkin-Davies is having a mare. Sadly for the hooker, she’s thrown that one skew so Italy will have the line-out five metres from their own line. It’s knocked down and Clifford falls off her feet and gives away a needless penalty.
Updated
22 min: Some quality at last! Dow down the wing on attack, she skips past a tackler and then dinks a kick ahead. It’s perfectly weighted as it bounces about a metre or two away from Italy’s try-line. Stefan the captain is there to cover but a tricky bounce makes her life difficult. All she can do is tap it out so England will have a line-out within striking distance once more.
Updated
20 min: Italy survive. England’s maul spluttered and then stopped and there’s a rip from an Italian hand. They wriggle their way up to their 22 and then win a scrum. Botterman the guilty player who had the ball snatched from her grasp just a metre away from the Italian line. Italy are scrapping and hanging on.
18 min: Italy make a mess of getting out of their own half and a horrible box kick goes straight up as Cavina fails to get out of the way. She’s off-side so Harrison will nudge this into the corner.
They set a maul but Italy infringe again. So it’s another English line-out and another maul…
Try chalked off! Italy 0-0 England
Scratch that! Double movement is the call. Harsh, but also fair, if you know what I mean. I think either decision wouldn’t have evoked too much controversy. So Italy get a relieving penalty and kick beyond their 22.
TRY! Italy 0-5 England (Ward, 17)
What a finish! She was about five metres short but kept driving her legs after contact and reached out to dot down. Her first Test since having a baby last year, that will be a popular score.
Updated
RED CARD! England (Beckett, 16)
The yellow has been upgraded! And to be honest I think that is the right call. Sillari was able to continue but she doesn’t look long for this match. Beckett can have no complaints and now the defending champs must find a win with 14.
16 min: Atkin-Davies finds her jumper and England go to the maul. It’s been a potent weapon over the years and again it rumbles on. It stalls so they’re down the line. Harrison plays a beautiful skipped pass to Kildunne who pops back infield for Breach. That was sharp before it was knocked on.
14 min: England – with only seven in the scrum – win a penalty at set-piece. Shows what I know. I thought Italy were dominant. Luckily I’m not the referee so Harrison boots it over half-way and England will have the line-out.
13 min: Sigh. Italy knock on as they go down the wide channel. Great read from Breach as she rushed up on defence. Feels like Italy are rushing things unnecessarily.
13 min: Italy with the line-out and a player advantage. Eventually they secure the ball, though it’s a mess. They’ll still have their hands on it as an English hand knocked-on in the line-out. Scrum between half-way and the 22 over on the left.
Yellow card! England (Beckett, 11)
No question. In fact, I’d be surprised if this wasn’t upgraded to red. She’s trying to clean out Sillari but loses her footing as she wraps up the Italian, twists her body and falls over Sillari’s knee. For those of you who can remember it, think Shannon Frizzell’s twisting of Bongi Mbonambi’s knee in the early minutes of the men’s World Cup final.
Good news though, Sillari is OK and will continue. Phew. That looked bad.
11 min: I’m sorry to report but this is a proper dross so far. Both teams are better than this. England certainly are. They’re on the ball and Aldcroft does well in a dominant carry. But once the ball goes down the line there’s a lack of spark and accuracy and once again there’s a knock on. Potential croc-roll with Sarah Beckett in trouble. She might have ended Michel Sillari’s season with a truly reckless challenge at the breakdown.
10 min: Italy show some patience having won the line-out after the penalty. Down the line they go but it’s not threatening. An English hand juts out to steal an intercept but knocks-on. Not deliberately so it’s an Italian scrum on half-way.
8 min: ANOTHER botched line-out. Atkin-Davies misses her jumper. Scarratt rushes onto the loose ball but knock-on as she stoops to gather. Really scrappy from England. Italy kick it clear and Kildunne does well to take it back into Italian territory with Scarratt on the support line. Kabeya charges over the gainline with a strong carry. Beckett is hammered in the tackle by Sgotbini and Rigoni gets over the ball to steal a penalty.
7 min: Now England lose a line-out and Italy have it. Ostuni Minuzzi joins the line from full-back but there’s an Italian off her feet and England are gifted a penalty. Good work from Dow who made a tackle and then got to her feet to pressure the breakdown.
5 min: Italy knock-on in the line-out from the penalty. A little scrappy from both side. Understandable perhaps given this is the first game of the competition. England’s scrum is immense and they delay taking the ball out to find the penalty and they do so. Harrison hoofs it past the half-way line.
4 min: Italy secure the ball and send it wide. It’s a little disjointed with runners moving laterally. There’s a spill in contact but it’s an Italian scrum. England shove well but Italy keep the ball and are up to half-way where they win a penalty on the deck as Marlie Packer’s hand touches the floor at the breakdown.
Updated
2 min: England turn Italy over immediately from the kick-off and are on the attack inside Italy’s 22. Scarratt at scrum-half spirals it and it goes down the line. Breach is bundled out into touch so Italy have the throw.
England kick off. Here we go!
It looks like a gorgeous day in Parma. Not a massive crowd. But a beautiful setting.
The anthems are getting under way. Not long now.
John Mitchell is on the telly and he says he expects things might “get stick” in his first game.
I think he’s providing caveats unnecessarily. I know this is his first game in charge but surely, surely, he will expect something more slick than sticky.
The broadcast has started on the BBC and rightly they’ve kicked off with Marlie Packer. She’s a gem, isn’t she?
She could be the best player in the world right now (I know I said that was Emily Scarratt, but it’s a coin flip, to be honest).
“I just feel extremely honoured,” she said of her milestone. “It’s always a privilege to wear the shirt and to lead out the Red Roses is something very special. But to do it on my 100th cap and also be captain is just the icing on the cake. It’s something I love, I love leading the girls, I just love to put on the shirt. So yeah, just happy.”
A reminder of yesterday’s results:
- France 38-17 Ireland
- Wales 18-20 Scotland
What’s more impressive than playing in two World Cup finals, winning multiple Six Nations titles and representing your country more than 60 times?
According to Abbie Ward, that would be coming back to full fitness and form after giving birth. The powerful lock returns to international duties after the birth of her daughter in July last year. She scored in her first game back for her club, Bristol, in November and has been immense since.
She spoke with Sarah Rendell about the unique challenge that some elite female athletes face.
If you’re hoping for a close thing today you might be disappointed. Games between England and Italy tend to end in one-sided thumpings with the last three fixtures won by England by scores of 68-5, 74-0 and 67-3.
So, if you’re keen on something tight and nerve-jangling, why not take a read of the report from yesterday where a missed kick prevented a draw between Scotland and Wales:
It’s a big day for John Mitchell. Even so, he’s able to look beyond himself and accept that one day the Red Roses will, maybe even should, be coached by a woman.
He was in top form in a chat with Rob Kitson:
Italy team
The men’s side exceeded expectations in this year’s Six Nations and the under-20s programme is starting to bear fruit.
It’s now over to the women’s team to underline the rise of Italian rugby.
It’s a tough start to the campaign and no one should bank on a win. But the Azzurre have been a force on the rise and they might have added to their solitary win – against Ireland – were they more clinical against Wales and Scotland. They won all of their matches in the WXV 2 series – beating South Africa and the USA along the way - and only lost the title on points difference.
Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, D’Inca’ Madia, Stefan (c); maris, Turani, Seye, Fedrighi, Tounesi, Locatelli, Sgobini, Caniva.
Replacements: Gurioli, Stecca, Gai, Pilani, Duca, Frangipani, Stevanin, Granzotto.
La formazione scelta dal Capo Allenatore Giovanni #Raineri per la prima partita del @Womens6Nations contro l'Inghilterra ▶ https://t.co/NkT9AJvzr3#ITAvENG 🇮🇹🏴
— Italrugby (@Federugby) March 22, 2024
📍 Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
📅 Dom 24 marzo, kick off ore 16.00
🎟️ @MailTicketIT
📺 @SkySport pic.twitter.com/PxjZvi7AJf
England team
It’s 100 up for the skipper with some familiar names back in the fold.
Marlie Packer will lead the team out on her 100th England appearance and she’ll have plenty of firepower behind her.
The dynamic midfielder (and perhaps the best player on the planet) Emily Scarratt, the metronomic fly-half Zoe Harrison and the totemic lock Abbie Ward all play for the first time since the World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in November 2022. Their presence alone means this is a side with serious business on the mind.
Keep an eye out, too, for loose forward Sadia Kabeya who was one of the breakout stars last year while Helena Rowland – a versatile playmaker at outside centre – could dazzle if given the chance.
Exeter’s Maddie Fe’aunati will make her debut when she comes off the bench to join the back row while Holly Aitchison could turn the dial up late in the second half.
England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Scarrat, Jess Breach; Harrison, L Packer; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Aldcroft, Ward, Kabeya, M Packer (c), Beckett.
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Fe’aunati, Matthews, Hunt, Aitchison, Jones.
Here it is...
— Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) March 21, 2024
Your Red Roses side for #ITAvENG in the #GuinnessW6N on Sunday, with captain @MarliePacker set to win her 100th England cap 🌹#WearTheRose | @O2
Preamble
So begins a new chapter in Red Roses history. John Mitchell takes charge of a women’s side for the first time having steered the men’s outfits of New Zealand, the United States and a host of club sides around the world while also serving in supporting roles with England, Ireland and Japan. It’s an impressive CV but this is a new challenge.
Not least because of the weight of expectation. With five consecutive Six Nations titles, there’s a case to be made that England’s women are the most dominant rugby side on the planet. But a World Cup is the ultimate goal and with a home tournament kicking off in 2025, now is the time to start shaping a group that can make good on their potential having lost to New Zealand in each of the last two finals.
There’s a milestone for the bulldozing force that is Marlie packer. She brings up her 100th cap for her country and the skipper will want to lay down a statement. Italy won’t be pushovers in Parma, but anything other than a comfortable win for England will come as a surprise.
It all kicks off at 2pm local time/3pm in the UK.
Get in touch if you have a thought you want to share with the group. How do you reckon Mitchell will get on? How can he take this steamroller forward?
Teams and updates to follow.
