Red Roses storm past Italy in Parma

24 Mar 2024 | 4 min |

Red Roses storm past Italy in Parma

Marlie Packer led England to an eight-try victory over Italy on her 100th international appearance.

Bristol's Hannah Botterman and Abbie Ward both scored in the opening half to give England a 0-10 lead at the break, before tries from Marlie Packer, Helena Rowland, Mackenzie Carson, Connie Powell and an Ellie Kildunne brace extended the lead in the second half.

Four conversions from Saracens' Zoe Harrison accompanied to ensure a resounding victory in the opening round of the Guinness Women's Six Nations.

Sarah Beckett was shown an early red card in for an illegal tackle on Italy's Michela Sillari in the opening quarter. Undeterred, England pressed on and looked to have scored their opening try when the returning Ward stretched for the line, but the try was chalked off due to a double movement by the Bristol lock.

With over 30 minutes gone and both sides still searching for points, it was Botterman who broke the deadlock with a short-range effort to get England on the scoreboard. Ward followed up soon after, this time grounding the ball in one attempt to mark her return to the international fold.

It look just four minutes for the Red Roses to secure their third score following the resumption through Marlie Packer at the back of the driving maul. There was no stopping the women in white; the captain dotted down to cap off her 100th international appearance with a try.

The bonus point try came shortly after thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Kildunne. The fullback received a box kick on the opposition ten metre line and weaved her way through a loose Italian defensive line to coast in under the posts.

And the tries just kept coming; Rowland scored England's fifth after slipping through the grasp of Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, before Carson powered over from short range to bring her side into the thirties.

A yellow card to Rowland in the closing quarter saw her side go down to 13 players before Kildunne crossed for her second of the afternoon. Narrow Italian defence created an acre of space on the right flank for the Harlequins flyer, who needed no second invitation.

With the clock in the red there was time for one final action, and it was down to replacement hooker Powell to regather possession at the base of the driving maul and score the eighth and final try of the game.

A return to Bristol's Ashton Gate awaits England in round two as they host a Wales side hoping to bounce back after their 18-20 defeat to Scotland in the opening round. The two sides last played in Bristol in September 2022, with England emerging 73-3 victors.