Twenty and counting. England rang the changes in Parma after their emphatic win in Edinburgh but the result was the same, Simon Middleton’s side scoring 12 tries for that 20th successive victory. France had looked mightily impressive on Saturday and they are the only side that can live with England. Their meeting with the Red Roses at the end of the month is certain to decide the destiny of this year’s Women’s Six Nations.
In one of those nine changes the head coach made from the previous weekend the scrum‑half Natasha Hunt returned for her first international match in 18 months. Hunt is said to have fallen out of love with the game during lockdown but she looked delighted again to be in a white shirt, forming an instant rapport with her half-back partner Zoe Harrison.
