Preview: Red Roses vs Ireland
Everything you need to know ahead of the Red Roses' TikTok Six Nations clash with Ireland.
The Red Roses head to Welford Road to face Ireland with their 100% record still intact following a convincing win over Wales in the last round of the TikTok Women's Six Nations.
Centre Emily Scarratt is set to win her 100th cap in her hometown of Leicester with Leanne Infante also reaching a personal milestone of 50 caps. Sarah Hunter retains the captaincy whilst Zoe Aldcroft makes her first appearance of the tournament after recovering from injury. Elsewhere Helena Rowland will play full back for the first time in her international career.
Nichola Fryday captains the Irish again in much-changed matchday squad from their round 3 encounter with Italy. Molly Scuffil-McCabe makes her debut at full back while her Railway Union team mate Niamh Byrne is set for her first cap coming off the bench. Meanwhile the trio of Grace Moore, Meave Og O'Leary and Michelle Claffey are all poised to make their first appearances of the championship.
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England are top of the table on points difference courtesy of their 58-5 win over Wales in Gloucester in the previous round. France have matched the Red Roses' points tally of 15 after the first three rounds so Middleton's side will hope to establish some breathing room this weekend with a win over the Irish. England's winning run now stands at 22 in a row and should they stretch that to 23, it could set up a tantalizing Grand Slam decider in Bayonne.
Ireland sit fourth in the table having bounced back from their defeats to France and Wales in the opening two rounds with a 29-8 win over Italy in their last outing. Greg McWilliams' side come to Welford Road as the underdogs but the Irish have proved a tough nut to crack in recent history for Middleton's side. They will arrive at Welford Road determined to spoil the party and boost their chances of a top half finish in this year's edition of the championship.
- When? Sunday, 24 April
- Kick-off? 1200 GMT
- Where? Welford Road, Leicester
- Coverage? Watch live on BBC Two and iPlayer, listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, and follow on England Rugby Instagram and Twitter
Teams
Red Roses
15. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 51 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 99 caps)
12. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 6 caps)
11. Jess Breach (Harlequins, 20 caps)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 36 caps)
9. Leanne Infante (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 67 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 38 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 caps)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 53 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 48 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 81 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 133 caps)
Finishers
16. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 60 caps)
17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 26 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Wasps, 7 caps)
19. Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 4 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 53 caps)
21. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 57 caps)
22. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 60 caps)
23. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 21 caps)
Ireland
15. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC)
14. Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC
13. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere RFC)
12. Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC)
11. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC)
10. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC)
9. Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere RFC)
1. Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)
3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC)
4. Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs)
5. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union RFC)
6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC)
7. Edel McMahon (Wasps)
8. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC)
Replacements
16. Emma Hooban (Blackrock College RFC)
17. Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC)
18. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC)
19. Grace Moore (Railway Union RFC)
20. Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC)
21. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC)
22. Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC)
23. Niamh Byrne (Railway Union RFC)
Views from camp
Head Coach Simon Middleton: “I think what Scaz has done is remarkable, what a story. What could I say that hasn’t already been said about Scaz. There’s nothing she can’t do. If the situation was right, she’d be the first million pound player, that’s how good she is.
“She’s such a unique person, so calm, measured, has time for everyone. The quality she has in her play is phenomenal. She’s a pleasure to be around and she brings a real calm to any situation. She’s the ultimate big game player but also the ultimate consistent player. You could go on and on.
“I think Leanne's journey has been incredible too. She’s the ultimate fighter, she’s had such competition for that shirt. She’s come into camp with us and she’s been fantastic, her form in training and her attitude has been great. Everything she has got is because of her attitude and how she has really dug in. She’s a terrific player and a great competitor and I think it’s a great milestone for her that’s thoroughly deserved.”
Captain Sarah Hunter: “I’ve played with Scaz since she got her first cap and you knew then a special player was coming into the England setup. What she does with the ball, without the ball, have been things unseen in the women’s game before. But first and foremost she’s an unbelievable person to have in your team. When she wasn’t here, it was like you don’t know what you miss until it’s gone.
“She puts herself before anyone else, a wonderful person and incredible player, and I feel very honoured to call her not only my teammate but my friend as well which makes it even more special to be able to share an occasion like Saturday. What she’s done to bring the women’s game forward, on the pitch as well as off it, she’s just an all-round incredible person. There aren’t enough great words to describe Scaz. I hope she takes all the plaudits, she fully deserves all this attention.
“There’s not just one or two in each position, we’ve got three or four that are England standard that could play in a starting XV shirt with no question, and you wouldn’t have any hesitation of putting them in. This is the best strength in depth I’ve ever been part of in an England squad without a shadow of a doubt. But it’s not to the detriment of the squad and the team gelling or the relationships we have within the squad. It’s a really good thing, a testament to the programme that Simon and the management staff have put together.”
Previous encounters
- 23 February 2020: England 27-0 Ireland
- 1 February 2019: Ireland 7-51 England
- 24 November 2018: England 37-15 Ireland
- 16 March 2018: England 33-11 Ireland
- 17 March 2017: Ireland 7-34 England
- 13 November 2016: Ireland 10-12 England
- 27 February 2016: England 13-9 Ireland
- 14 November 2015: England 8-3 Ireland
- 27 February 2015: Ireland 11-8 England
- 18 August 2014: England 40-7 Ireland
Key stats
- The Red Roses have won their last eight meetings against Ireland
- Ireland's only two wins ever against England came in 2013 and 2015, in the years they won the Women’s Six Nations
- England have won their last 15 games at home in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations
- England have run in 31 tries from their opening two games of this year's Six Nations, 22 more than this weekend's opponents Ireland
- Ireland are currently seventh in the World Rugby rankings making them the third best ranked side in the tournament behind France and England
- Of Ireland’s two title wins in this competition, they achieved their only ever Grand Slam in 2013
- England have scored a total of 182 points in their last five encounters with Ireland whilst limiting this weekend's visitors to just 40
- England last tasted defeat in the Six Nations against France in 2018 and since then have won their last 17 games in the competition
- Ireland have won three and lost three in their last six contests in this tournament
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
Red Roses defeat Ireland in Leicester
England ran in 11 tries at Welford Road to down Ireland 69-0 in the TikTok Women's Six Nations.
Simon Middleton's charges are now unbeaten in 22 consecutive matches, and will play France in a Grand Slam decider next weekend, at Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne.
The Red Roses took little time to get things going against Ireland, crossing inside the opening two minutes, Lark Davis dotting down off the back of a trademark rolling maul. Their second came on the 17-minute mark, in the same circumstances and corner as the first, though Sarah Bern was the benefactor.
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Ireland looked frustrated, as Nicole Cronin's missed penalty kick in front of the posts symbolised their first half in attack, though their defence was commendable, thwarting multiple Red Roses' chances and forcing turnovers or penalties on their own line. Due to that effort, Greg McWilliams' side went in at the break just 10-0 down.
England enjoyed 59% possession in the opening half, and made 228 more metres, 26 more carries and 46 more passes whilst beating 11 more defenders than their counterparts. However, Ireland boasted more success at set piece, winning more scrums and lineouts, and forced five more turnovers than the hosts.
The Red Roses started the second half as they did the first, scoring inside the opening two minutes. After a succession of carries, the ball was spread through the hands to Marlie Packer on the wing, and the flanker powered past Michelle Claffey to go over. Emily Scarratt, making her 100th Test appearance, added the extras to make it 17-0.
Moments later Ireland flanker Dorothy Wall was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Jess Breach, who was subsequently replaced by Ellie Kildunne, and England took immediate advantage of the extra player as Davis bagged her second of the match - securing the bonus point. Scarratt's successful conversion extended England's lead to 24 points.
Lydia Thompson bagged the game's best score; a set piece move off a line out saw Holly Aitchison lift a pass behind the hard running line of Scarratt and into the path of Helena Rowland. The full back ate up space in front of her before committing the Irish line and fizzing a 15 metre pass into Thompson's hands for an easy try.
Replacement Poppy Cleall wrestled over from close range for England's sixth try on 56 minutes, and Leanne Infante - on her 50th cap - was replaced by Natasha Hunt just before Hannah Botterman claimed try number seven. Scarratt successfully converted both to make it 43-0, as the hour mark passed.
Cleall scored another on 65 minutes, off the base of a dominant five metre scrum, followed by a jinxing Kildunne try moments later. Both were converted - one by Scarratt and the other courtesy of Zoe Harrisson. Outside centre Sene Naoupu was shown a red card for a head clash with Scarratt, as the last 10 minutes of the Test saw second scores from Kildunne and Thompson, confirming a comprehensive win.
The match, attended by 15,836 fans, was the Red Roses' second clean sheet of the tournament.
Teams
Red Roses
15. Helena Rowland, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13. Emily Scarratt, 12. Holly Aitchison, 11. Jessica Breach, 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Leanne Infante, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Lark Davies, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Abbie Ward, 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Marlie Packer, 8. Sarah Hunter (c).
Finishers
16. Amy Cokayne, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Maud Muir, 19. Rosie Galligan, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Natasha Hunt, 22. Amber Reed, 23. Ellie Kildunne.
Ireland
15. Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 14. Aoife Doyle, 13. Sene Naoupu, 12. Enya Breen, 11. Eimear Considine, 10. Nicole Cronin, 9. Kathryn Dane, 1. Linda Djougang, 2. Neve Jones, 3. Christy Haney, 4. Nichola Fryday, 5. Aoife McDermott, 6. Dorothy Wall, 7. Edel McMahon, 8. Hannah O’Connor.
Replacements
16. Emma Hooban, 17. Chloe Pearse, 18. Katie O’Dwyer, 19. Grace Moore, 20. Maeve Óg O’Leary, 21. Aoibheann Reilly, 22. Michelle Claffey, 23. Niamh Byrne.
Fixtures & Results
Red Roses 69 - 0 Ireland
France v Red Roses - 30 April
