Ian Malin has provided an expertly crafted match report, meaning it’s time to wrap up the blog. Thanks for reading!
Sarah Bern, a prop on the team sheet but a wing on the pitch:
⌚️ A perfectly timed assist from Sarah Bern nicely sent Jess Breach over the line for the try in a strong performance for the Red Roses! #Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/baWtpNzHVf
— TikTok Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 15, 2023
This is the try England scored with two less players on the pitch than Wales:
Only 13 England players on the pitch and they *still* manage to score! 🔥
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 15, 2023
Unstoppable.#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/6kUBWM5Viu
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham told the BBC: “I am so proud of the players, we had to dig deep today. At times today we can say we troubled England and we are really pleased with that. We showed them we could physically dominate them… Sometimes when you go down to 13 players you do galvanise as a team but there were moments where we could be better. We are closing the gap, I believe that, and it is a big gap to close.”
John has got in contact via Twitter and said: “It will be at least another World Cup cycle before professional contracts have the desired effect. The WRU also need to think carefully about their own domestic structure- is funnelling their best talent into a competition operated by the RFU the best thing long term?” The Premier 15s is the best option domestically at the moment, there has also been talk about having Welsh clubs in the Prem 15s but there has not been any confirmation on that. The England professional contracts came in 2019 and had a good impact quickly. There has been huge strides by Wales who have had contracts for just over a year, the impact is there.
Wales captain Hannah Jones told the BBC: “We are disappointed with the score. The aim coming into this was to see where we are at. I think we are closing the gap, there were moments of world class there. I’d like to thank the crowd today, it really does mean a lot”
England captain Marlie Packer told the BBC: “It was a really positive match. I am really proud of the girls performance. We went down to 13 but the test of character within the group [was good]. We talk about this group being new, there are only 10 players who played in the World Cup final. wales brought it to us but we are really happy with our performance.”
Player of the Match Tatyana Heard told the BBC: “It was an incredible team performance. We knew we needed that, Wales are a physical side. They are really aggressive, they are really fit so they were always going to push us… We just work really hard, everyone knows their roles. We stick to what we do, we want to be improving every week".”
Despite Wales being electric in the first half, the scoreline ended up worse than it did last year. Today they have lost 59-3, last year it was 58-5.
Full-time! Wales 3-59 England
The scoreline does not reflect the form of Wales, they were steamrolling England and I thought they could blow their opposition away. But the Red Roses converted their little chances in the first half and then went through the gears in the second to maintain their dominance in this tournament.
81 min: Wales win a penalty and that is that.
80 min: England win a penalty and they kick to a corner, will they get another try here?
79 min: England give away a penalty and Snowsill kicks away, England collect and they are on the hunt once again. It looks like Wales will not have a try this afternoon, frustrating after all their good work in the first 40.
78 min: England are in the attack again and they were going through the phases, there is a high tackle from Wales though so England can kick more metres upfield. The Player of the Match is named as Tatyana Heard.
76 min: This Wales side are really hard to score against this tournament so it says a lot about England they were able to score with two players off. Botterman, who is playing her first game since injury, wins another breakdown penalty as Wales looked to get into their 22.
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-59 England (Beckett, 74')
A huge statement, England score with two players off the field! Aldrcroft had space but she was tackled well, the ruck speed was good and Beckett snipes over the line. Tuima scores it, 100% from her boot.
Updated
73 min: England are on the attack now and they are ticking down the time on those two sin bins. Kabeya makes good metres and they are into the 22.
72 min: Muir is taking the line-out with Campbell in the sin bin. Wales steal the line-out! Williams is back on for Wales after her sin binning and so the hosts have a two player advantage now. But Botterman shouts in celebration as she latches on and wins a breakdown penalty! Huge.
70 min: But no. Wales may have more players on the pitch but Kabeya’s tackle dislodges the ball and they get a breakdown penalty! John is off after a huge hit from Muir. King is on for her first cap!
70 min: Wales are going through the phases but so far England’s defence is holding well. But here Wales spot an overlap on the wing, they can’t quite release it fast enough. They keep coming, really patient on the ball. They need something from this.
68 min: M Packer’s tackle was the one before Campbell, two incidents in a matter of seconds. Will Wales take advantage?
SIN BIN! Wales 3-52 England (Campbell, 68')
Campbell wraps her arms but her shoulder hits the head of the opposition, I can’t see the Wales player. The player is “passive” from Neville, so it is only a yellow. Campbell is in the bin, it’s her first cap! England down to 13.
SIN BIN! Wales 3-52 England (M Packer, 68')
M Packer has a swinging arm that has head contact, mitigating factor is the player was falling and so she is heading to the bin. This may not be the only card for England, they are checking a tackle by Campbell.
68 min: Wales’ line-out works well and they are on the attack. Some boos ring around as the crowd believe M Packer has put in a high tackle, nothing official from referee Neville yet. There’s a break in play as some Wales players receive some treatment. Here the check comes from Neville, could be a card for the England captain.
66 min: It is frustrating as Wales showed so much fight and blistering defence in the first half. This second half they have just been blown away by an England side chomping at the bit. England turn the ball over at the breakdown and kick upfield.
65 min: This is getting painful for Wales now
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-52 England (Botterman, 64')
Kildunne passes to Breach who does well to cut inside. The ball is running through the phases now but England pass forward. We come back to an earlier advantage. Wyrwas takes it quickly and Botterman is over. Tuima slots the kick.
Updated
62 min: I mentioned Wales needed the points while they had the momentum and the missed opportunities are hitting them now. England have the penalty from the restart and Hale gets a warning from the referee. McKenna is on for Heard for England.
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-45 England (Muir, 60')
England’s line-out is good and they are on the attack here, they go on the charge and Muir is over! Tuima slots the conversion!
Updated
SIN BIN! Wales 3-38 England (Williams, 59')
Neville says there isn’t a high degree of danger as M Packer was already falling so she is put in the sin bin.
59 min: Uh oh, there could be a card here for Williams for a shoulder to M Packer’s head.
59 min: Apologies if I have missed any substitutes, they are coming thick and fast! Wales kick it in the air and Kildunne collects. England win the resulting breakdown penalty. Wyrwas takes it quickly but M Packer loses it at the breakdown.
58 min: England are going through the gears now, it feels like the visitors are just going to keep coming. England have brought on Campbell, who is on for her first cap! Wilkins is also on for Wales.
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-38 England (Kildunne,55')
England decide to run it and they move the ball quickly. Dow has space but she offloads to Kildunne who is over! Kildunne has been on the pitch for a matter of minutes in her first game of the tournament to score! With Sing off it is Tuima taking the kicks now, she slots it!
Updated
55 min: It’s Harries and K Jones who have come off for Wales with Williams and Hale on. The kicking game coming into play now.
54 min: England’s defence has done well to push Wales backwards in this attack. The hosts eventually knock on, a scrum to come. England have made two more changes with Wrywas on for L Packer and Kildunne on for Sing. And Wales have taken off Tuipulotu, they have other players on and I’ll update you when I can.
Updated
53 min: Wales must be disheartened by this scoreline now, it looks like England have run the show but that is far from the truth. The hosts are on the attack.
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-29 England (Breach, 51')
Bern gets the ball on the wing and she makes huge metres. She slickly offloads to Breach and the right-wing is under the posts. Wow. Sing coverts.
Updated
51 min: Wales’ line-out functions again and they are edging closer to the line. It looked as though Bevan had knocked on but the referee says it has gone backwards. But Aldcroft reads the play well and intercepts! Here come England.
50 min: Wales have a line-out and it’s clean. They are running through the phases but they are not yet in their own half. England are doing well to slow down Wales’ rucks but they concede the penalty. Snowsill kicks to the corner, Wales are looking for their first try of the game.
48 min: That England try seemingly came from nothing, the Red Roses easily create things and Wales need to be more clinical when they have chances. Wales make their first change with Fleming off for John.
TRY! Wales 3-24 England (Aitchison, 46')
Oh my that was lovely! Aitchison has great hands to keep the ball and she makes a great break. She has support on the wing but she keeps going to score herself! Sing misses the kick.
Updated
45 min: It looks like Tuipulotu is receiving treatment for her shoulder, she seems to be staying on. It’s a bold call, if she gets an injury as a result it will be questioned as to why she wasn’t taken off. She is a key player for Wales.
45 min: Wales have turned it over! Possession going back and forth. Callender picks up the ball and makes a huge break! She is eventually brought down but that was lovely by the back row. Bern goes into the breakdown and latches, she turns it over. Time is off again as Tuipulotu receives more treatment.
44 min: The line-out is good and Wales boot it away, Dow collects and she kicks away. Wales choose to run it and huge hits come in from England’s defence. Tuipulotu has remained down since a big hit but she is back to her feet. England turn over the ball at the breakdown and they are on the hunt.
42 min: England made a change at half-time with Burns on for Matthews. England are on the attack at the start of this second half. They are into the 22 but just as they tip into it Wales win a breakdown penalty through Callender.
Back underway! Wales 3-19 England
A huge second 40 to come. Can Wales capitalise on their great form or will England race onto the win?
Abby Dow evades five tackles here but there’s an additional Welsh player that doesn’t get in tacklable distance, so it’s the six defenders the winger beats. An unbelievable player who broke her leg in this fixture last year.
THIS! This is the try of the match so far. 🔥
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 15, 2023
Abby Dow, take a bow.#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/kLzP5lPAIK
Here is the opening score from Lucy Packer, I am researching to find Abby Dow’s cracking try now!
👊 @lucypacker_ charging her way over for @EnglandRugby 💥#TikTokW6N #OurCharge #WALENG pic.twitter.com/3eScWdFXhZ
— TikTok Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 15, 2023
Some half-time stats for you in this one just to demonstrate how much the scoreboard doesn’t reflect the game. Wales have had 60% possession to England 40, the hosts have made 360 metres to England’s 256 and Wales have made 52 tackles to England’s 99.
Half-time: Wales 3-19 England
Wales have been blistering in attack and defence, having the first points of the game but the scoreboard doesn’t tell the story of the game with England striking when they have had a slight chance. Ioan Cunningham’s side are still in this though and the second half will be an interesting 40 minutes.
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-19 England (Dow, 41')
ABBY WOW! What an individual bit of skill. Beating five defenders after a lightning pass from Aitchison. Just gorgeous rugby. Sing gets the kick!
Photograph: Catherine Ivill/RFU/Getty Images
Updated
40 min: Neumann drops an easy pass and England have a scrum, they could score another here before half-time.
39 min: Wales must be frustrated, they have been the better side in this game but the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it. They’ve had a few chances but they haven’t converted. England are attacking once again now with Aitchison kicking. Wales collect and decide to run it.
TRY! Wales 3-12 England (Heard, 36')
There’s the maul but Wales are doing really well to stop England going over. Aitchison takes it and kicks through, Heard collects and dots down. I thought they would review the grounding but they didn’t, Sing misses the conversion.
Updated
36 min: It was to check a deliberate knock on but there isn’t anything more given than a penalty. England kick to the corner, I’m guessing a driving maul is incoming.
36 min: England come away with the ball from the scrum, Dow is passed the ball but her pass to M Packer doesn’t stick. We come back to an earlier Wales knock on so England have another shot. Referee Joy Neville is reviewing something here now though, I think for a deliberate knock on?
35 min: Wales knock-on as they force a pass they didn’t necessarily need to make but the hosts are playing superbly this afternoon! England have the scrum.
34 min: Tuipulotu is staying on and England kick upfield. The line-out is good and England’s deadly maul comes into play but wow! Wales defend it well and turn it over. They kick is away with Aitchison kicking too. Dow comes away with it but Wales get it back. I can’t type fast enough to keep up!
33 min: Wales are being really patient here but Aldcroft wins a breakdown penalty! The defence from England so strong there. There’s a break in play as Tuipulotu receives some treatment, she seems okay to continue.
32 min: The line-out is clean and Callender forms a maul. England defend it well and so Wales run it through the phases. The English defence is maintaining for now, can Wales find a way through?
31 min: Lovely, slick rugby from Wales but then they knock-on with Sing starting the move. Aitchison hesitates before she goes into contact and Evans wins the breakdown penalty! Wales kick to the corner and they will be looking to get their lead back.
29 min: Sing showing Middleton that she doesn’t need to kick the conversion closer to the posts with a great kick. England are with the ball again, Aitchison kicks but Keight collects well and now Wales are on the attack.
CONVERTED TRY! Wales 3-7 England (L Packer, 26')
England have the advantage as Wales are off their feet and Dow goes for the line, she is brought down a metre before the line. L Packer snipes and she is over! Sing gets the conversion.
Updated
26 min: There is a lot of talk about this being surprising about Wales having the upperhand but Wales were all over England in the 2022 Women’s Six Nations and it was just in the second half where the Red Roses got the momentum. Wales have had a whole year of professionalism since that match, it could be their day! England are on the attack now though.
25 min: England have a clean scrum and they get it out wide with Dow, Neumann tackles her into touch though to continue Wales’ momentum. They need to clock a few more points to really take the sword to England, a narrow lead could be swallowed up in the second half by England. The Red Roses steal the ball and they are on the attack but England knock-on!
23 min: Wales’ line-out is loose but England knock-on (again) so the hosts are with the ball. They pump the ball in the air and Dow collects well. The visitors are on the hunt but Wales win a breakdown penalty! They kick upfield but Wales knock on.
20 min: Time and time again England have handling errors, even when they dominated every team handling errors have been their Achilles heal. In the 2022 Women’s Six Nations England made a total of 80 across all five games. It’s not a new problem but now Wales are taking advantage. And Wales win the scrum penalty! England are coming undone.
Updated
19 min: Oh my word, what an error from L Packer! She knocks on as Matthews passes the ball to her at the back of the scrum. Wales’ pressure so far is getting to England, they are the team with the upper hand now. Wales now have the scrum.
18 min: England use it quickly from the back of the scrum and Heard is steam rolled by Snowsill. They are plucking away and then Wales knock-on with Harries hitting the ball from L Packer’s hands. Another scrum incoming.
16 min: Aitchison kicked a great restart kick and Norkett knocks on a few metres from their line! An England scrum here, a great position.
PENALTY! Wales 3-0 England (Bevan, 15')
Bevan slots it nicely, first blood goes to Wales and this crowd is bouncing!
14 min: Wales are getting so close, they really deserve the first points they have done absolutely everything so far. M Packer gives away another penalty and Wales have a big call, kick to the corner or points? They point to the sticks, penalty it is.
13 min: England are forced into an early change with O’Donnell off for Beckett, it seems to be for a HIA so O’Donnell could return if she passes it. England kick the goal-line dropout and Wales have it, attacking once again.
13 min: Again and again Wales come through the phases but England’s defence holds strong. And is K Jones over? It looks as though she had struck but M Packer holds her up! Goal-line dropout for England. My heart was pounding throughout that attacking play, what a cracking start to this clash!
12 min: The Welsh line-out is loose but they pick it up at the back and they are edging closer here! Wales lose control of the ball and Bern collects but Wales turn it back over! This game is thrilling so far. Huge moments coming.
11 min: The line-out is good from England but K Jones ripped the ball! Wales have the advantage too as M Packer gives away a penalty, the ball is kicked with Sing collecting so it comes back for the advantage. Bevan kicks to the corner, a great opportunity for the hosts.
9 min: The scrum is reset twice until it’s a clean scrum with Wales coming away with it. But they don’t have the ball for long with England turning it over at the breakdown! Then they get the penalty, Wales hooker Jones holding on. England relieve pressure once more. Wales need to strike when they can.
7 min: Wales are making slow progress as they go through the phases, England’s defence is impressive so far. Aldcroft charges down a kick by Bevan and England have it. They attack but Breach knocks on and its Wales’ scrum.
Updated
5 min: The first scrum penalty goes the way of Wales! That front three are impressive this tournament, huge moment and Elinor Snowsill clears their lines. The line-out is good from Wales and they are on the hunt to strike.
3 min: A clean line-out sees Davies throw long and England whip it out wide to Jess Breach who makes great metres! A loose pass in the midfield stutters the attack and Wales’ defence is good! There is a knock-on from a good Georgia Evans tackle, Wales have the first scrum. What a start!
2 min: A poor kick from Holly Aitchison sees Wales with it but referee Joy Neville has been told by the TMO it has been pulled back. Aitchison clears the line and England have a good position to attack.
Kick-off! Wales 0-0 England
Here we go! Can Wales down England? Or will the Red Roses continue their dominance?
Here come the players! I’m excited for this one
Players will be out on the pitch shortly with the anthems following! Cardiff is bouncing, the atmosphere is amazing at the sold-out Cardiff Arms Park.
How do you see this one panning out? I think Wales will challenge England but the Red Roses should come away with a narrow win. I’m going to predict a 25-20 England win.
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has encouraged more male coaches to create a safe space for athletes to openly speak about their periods. Wales have been using period apps to aid players in training and Cunningham has spoken about speaking to his players about it. “It’s something that first and foremost that the players have to be comfortable in opening up and speaking about it, and if they’re not, that’s fine as well,” he told PA. “It was a period of adjustment. If I’m honest, I’m comfortable to speak about it, but I just wanted to make sure the players were comfortable. It’s growing that relationship with the players so that they know I’m coming from a care point of view, to be the best athlete that they can be in our environment.”
Wales last defeated England in 2015 and they be gunning for another upset to take control of the Women’s Six Nations table! Can they do it? Well they are in their best position to do so in recent history.
What do you make of the comments? Let me know via email or Twitter or if you have any other thoughts on the match!
Some fans on social media labelled his comments patronising and Middleton was asked by BBC Radio 5 Live about it, saying: “I don’t think so. I’ve been in the game 10 years with the Red Roses. We’re talking about something that makes the game a bit more rewarding for players who practise skills. It’s no different to the ladies’ tee in golf. It’s simply looking at the physiology of the players and trying to equate it to what we’re asking them to do.”
Former England player Katy Daley-McLean also spoke after Middleton made his comments. She told the Rugby Union Daily: “I don’t agree with Simon. Having played the game, if we start changing things like kicking, then we might as well shorten the pitch and change the ball size.”
Wales player Keira Bevan reacted to Middleton’s comments, saying: “To be honest I thought it was a quite bizarre suggestion as he has got some of the best kickers in the world in his team. Emma Sing slotted one from the touchline against Italy and that had another five or 10 metres in it. I saw former England coach Gary Street saying that players like Emily Scarratt and Katy Daley-Mclean, who are both fantastic kickers, are not freaks of nature, they just put the hours in and worked hard at it. I think it’s about that – how willing you are to work to get better at a skill and how much time you have. We have more time than ever now so it’s going to get better.” Read the full piece:
As previously mentioned, England head coach Simon Middleton suggested women’s players should be able to have closer conversion kicks than men in the build-up to the game today. He said: “I just think it is a bit of an unfair game because it is so power related. You want to be rewarded for good skill and I don’t think they get rewarded because of physical constraints that come with what we know is a natural discrepancy between male and female athletes. I would hazard a guess that if you gave that option to most kickers in the female game they would bring it in 10m. The closer the games get, the more vital those kicks are going to be. We should be throwing things in there if we think it can improve the game.” It’s fair to say the comments have started a debate with many women’s rugby players disagreeing with Middleton.
Wales have made two changes to their starting XV with Lowri Norkett coming in on the wing and Hannah Bluck starts at inside centre. Bryonie King could make her debut from the bench.
Wales: Keight; Neumann, H Jones (C), Bluck, Norkett; Snowsill, Bevan; Pyrs, K Jones, Tuipulotu, Fleming, Evans, Lewis, Callender, Harries.
Replacements: Phillips, Hope, Hale, John, Williams, King, Lewis, Wilkins.
England, meanwhile, have made three changes to their starting line-up. Emma Sing makes her first start for England as she starts at full-back with Abby Dow moving to the wing in place of the injured Claudia MacDonald. In the forwards, Lark Davies starts at hooker with Amy Cokayne playing for the RAF this weekend and Alex Matthews starts at No 8 after recovering from injury. Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir and Ellie Kildunne start from the bench following injuries.
England: Sing; Breach, Tuima, Heard, Dow; Aitchison, L Packer; Carson, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, O’Donnell, Kabeya, M Packer (C), Matthews
Replacements: Campbell; Botterman, Muir, Burns, Beckett, Wyrwas, McKenna, Kildunne
Hello and welcome to this Women’s Six Nations clash between old rivals Wales and England! It is a top of the table clash with both teams winning both of their matches so far with bonus-points. England are only in first position due to points difference.
Wales are on a progressive journey after introducing professional contracts last year. They played a great match against England in the tournament last year but faded in the second half for the Red Roses to claim the win. But Wales have improved their fitness and they could be lethal this afternoon. It would still be an upset for Wales to win but it would not be a surprise.
England have been dominant so far in the tournament but they haven’t been perfect. Their handling errors and some miscommunication at the breakdown have exposed some weaknesses. They will be favourites but face a tough crowd at the sold-out Cardiff Arms Park.
Simon Middleton also started a controversial debate around kicking conversions in the women’s game, we will go into more detail later this afternoon. For now we will bring you the team news with all the changes ahead of kick-off at 2.15pm BST.
