6N Women: England Win Big, France Bigger
In Dublin's cold weather, England continued their domination over Ireland with an even bigger victory than November's at Twickenham.
Then they won 37-15; this time it was 51-7 with eight tries to a penalty try.
Meanwhile in even colder Glasgow Italy scored four tries to one in yet another convincing win over the Scots.
Then down in slightly warmer Montpellier, France capped the other two, beating Wales 52-3. Astonishingly, Caroline Thomas, the French hooker scored a hat-trick of tries.
Details
England vs Ireland
At half time, before just under 5 000 freezing spectators at Energia Park, England led 13-0 and were 34-0 when Irlena were awarded a penalty try with 19 minutes to play. It came after a second scrum five metres from the England line was collapsed.
Scorers:
For England:
Tries: Jess Breach, Sarah McKenna, Sarah Bern, Lark Davies, Katy Daley-Mclean, Zoe Harrison, Emily Scott, Bryony Cleall
Cons: Katy Daley-Mclean 4
Pen: Katy Daley-Mclean
For Ireland
Try: penalty try
Tries
Teams
Ireland: 15 Lauren Delany, 14 Eimear Considine, 13 Sene Naoupu, 12 Michelle Claffey, 11 Megan Williams, 10 Nicole Fowley, 9 Ailsa Hughes, 8 Ciara Griffin (captain), 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Juliet Short, 5 Nichola Fryday, 4 Aoife McDermott, 3 Fiona Reidy, 2 Leah Lyons (Harlequins), 1 Laura Feely
Replacements: 16 Emma Hooban, 17 Linda Djougang, 18 Anne-Marie O’Hora, 19 Anna Caplice, 20 Claire McLaughlin, 21 Kathryn Dane, 22 Ellen Murphy, 23 Alison Miller
England: 15 Sarah McKenna, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Kelly Smith, 10 Katy Daley-Mclean, 9 Leanne Riley, 8 Sarah Hunter, 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Sarah Beckett, 5 Poppy Cleall, 4 Catherine O’Donnell, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Lark Davies, 1 Hannah Botterman
Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Bryony Cleall, 18 Shaunagh Brown, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Rowena Burnfield, 21 Natasha Hunt, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Emily Scott
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Tim Baker (Hong Kong), Helen O'Reilly (Ireland)
Television match official: Éric Gauzins (France)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Citing commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (Italy)
Scotland vs Italy
It was third time in a row for Italy's women, a hat-trick of victories over the Scots who were once one of the powerhouses of women's rugby. Italy have now won eight of the last nine matches between the two sides.
In Glasgow's freezing (literally) cold the scores were level at 7-all at half-time but in the end Italy were 28-7 winners. the Scottish try was scored moments before half when yellow cards had reduced the Italians to 13 players.
Scorers
For Italy:
Tries: Ilaria Arrighetti, Giada Franco, Beatrice Rigoni, Elisa Giordano
Cons: Michela Silari 4
For Scotland:
Try: Sarah Bonar
Con: Lana Skeldon
Teams
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Liz Musgrove, 13 Hannah Smith, 12 Lisa Thomson (captain), 11 Annabel Sergeant, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Mhairi Grieve, 1 Lisa Cockburn, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Megan Kennedy, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Sarah Bonar, 6 Rachel Malcolm, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 8 Siobhan Cattigan
Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Katie Dougan, 18 Mairi Forsyth, 19 Sophie Anderson, 20 Nicola Howat, 21 Sarah Law, 22 Lisa Martin, 23 Rhona Lloyd
Italy: 15 Manuela Furlan (captain), 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Sofia Stefan, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sara Barattin, 1 Gaia Giacomoli, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 3 Lucia Gai, 4 Valentina Ruzza, 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 7 Giada Franco, 8 Elisa Giordano
Replacements: 16 Silvia Turani, 17 Elena Serilli, 18 Sara Tounesi, 19 Valeria Fedrighi, 20 Lucia Cammarano, 21 Francesca Sberna, 22 Jessica Busato, 23 Camilla Sarasso
Referee: Nikki O'Donnell (England)
Assistant referees: Katherine Ritchie (England), tba (Scotland)
Television match official: Claire Hodnett (England)
Referee: Nikki O'Donnell (England)
Assistant referees: Katherine Ritchie (England), tba (Scotland)
Television match official: Claire Hodnett (England)
France vs Wales
Down at the Mediterranean, it was now quite as cold and the French generated even greater heat, scoring nine tries to nil. The score would have been even bigger had the conversions been more accurate, for seven were missed.
At half-time France led 23-3.
Scorers:
For France:
Tries: Caroline Thomas 3, Safi N’Diaye, Léa Murie 2, Romane Ménager 2, Doriane Constanty
Cons: Camille Imart 2
Pen: Camille Imart
For Wales:
Pen: Robyn Wilkins
France: 15 Caroline Boujard, 14 Ian Jason, 13 Marine Ménager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Léa Murie, 10 Camille Imart, 9 Pauline Bourdon, 8 Romane Ménager, 7 Céline Ferer, 6 Gaëlle Hermet (captain), 5 Safi N’Diaye, 4 Lénaïg Corson, 3 Clara Joyeux, 2 Caroline Thomas, 1 Lise Arricastre
Replacements: 16 Laure Touye, 17 Dhia Maylis Traore, 18 Sabine Argagnon, 19 Audrey Forlani, 20 Fiona Lecat, 21 Yanna Rivoalen, 22 Morgane Peyronnet, 23 Doriane Constanty
Wales: 15 Lauren Smyth, 14 Jasmine Joyce, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Alicia McComish, 11 Lisa Neumann, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Bethan Lewis, 7 Alisha Butchers, 6 Manon Johnes, 5 Mel Clay, 4 Siwan Lillicrap, 3 Amy Evans, 2 Carys Phillips (captain), 1 Caryl Thomas
Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Cara Hope, 18 Cerys Hale, 19 Natalia John, 20 Alex Callender , 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Elinor Snowsill, 23 Jess Kavanagh
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England), tba (France)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)