The Red Roses put Scotland to the sword at the first standalone women's fixture at Murrayfield, Ireland hammered Italy in front of a record home crowd and Wales fell to defeat against France.
As the Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series draws closer, the Six Nations is a vital opportunity to make a case for a place in the travelling squad.
Red Roses revel in Murrayfield history
England ran riot 84-7 against Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield as a 30,498-strong turnout set a new Scottish record attendance at a women’s sporting event.
The dominant 12-try victory was the 35th consecutive Test win for the defending world champions that secured top spot as one of two remaining unbeaten sides this campaign.
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England clinched a bonus point inside 32 minutes through Ellie Kildunne twice on the wing, Meg Jones after a lineout outside the 22 and Kelsey Clifford from close range.
Then, Rhona Lloyd scored the first Scotland try at a standalone women's game at Murrayfield, charging 25 metres after Chloe Rollie collected a deft chip over England’s defensive line.
Emma Sing scored before the break for a 35-7 lead and England accelerated in the second half as Sarah Bern scored twice in five minutes helped by Amy Cokayne, Marlie Packer and Mia Venner.
Sadia Kabeya and recent debutant Haineala Lutui crossed in the final ten minutes as Zoe Harrison perfectly slotted all her conversions.
The victory was another chapter in England’s world-leading streak with the inaugural Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series in 2027 on the horizon.
Only France are also undefeated as England fight for an eighth-straight championship, playing Wales in Bristol in Round 3. Scotland head to Parma looking for a second win of their campaign against Italy.
Green wave rolls over Italy
Ireland outplayed Italy 57-20 for a first win of the Six Nations campaign with 9,206 – a home record attendance - at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway.
Ireland came to the newly completed rugby hub in western Ireland for the first time and the afternoon was captured by County Galway local Béibhinn Parsons, who earned a first half hat-trick in 21 minutes.
Emily Lane raced Ireland into the lead early and after Vittoria Vecchini scored for Italy, Ireland piled on six more tries to snatch a 45-10 lead at the whistle.
Parsons secured her three tries helped by Aoife Wafer, Robyn O’Connor and Ellena Perry, punctuated by Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi’s 60-metre line break.
Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Brittany Hogan scored the eighth and ninth Irish tries in the second 40 while Italy collected a hard-fought bonus point thanks to Veronica Madia and Alyssa D’Inca's tries three minutes from full-time.
Third-placed Ireland’s next battle is against mighty France with Ireland targeting an upset against Les Bleues to right Rugby World Cup wrongs when France edged Ireland 18-13 in the quarter-finals.
Resilient Wales overpowered by France
Wales fell to defeat 38-7 at Cardiff Arms Park after holding six-time champions France level at the break. Wales took the lead inside the first quarter of an hour through a penalty try as France were reduced to 13 players as Yllana Brousseau and Pauline Bourdon Sansus were sin-binned.
Madoussou Fall levelled the tie into the break in the redzone, and France pulled away in the second half as Manae Feleu, Lea Murie, Bourdon Sansus each scored once, while Anais Grando twice went over.
While Gwen Crabb was also yellow carded, Wales showed glimpses of improvement, particularly in the first half.
A confidence-building result was just what the side in red needed with the steep challenge of England in Bristol ahead to avoid extending their Six Nations winless run to eight matches.
