Rugby Union Apr 25, 2026

England 62-24 Wales: Red Roses stay perfect in Six Nations with 10-try romp at sold-out Ashton Gate

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
England 62-24 Wales: Red Roses stay perfect in Six Nations with 10-try romp at sold-out Ashton Gate

Meg Jones and Marlie Packer both scored twice as world champions England ran in 10 tries in a 62-24 Women's Six Nations demolition of Wales.

Maddie Feaunati, debutant Millie David, Amy Cokayne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Jess Breach and Maud Muir also went over at Ashton Gate, with Keira Bevan, Kelsey Jones, Bethan Lewis and Seren Lockwood replying as John Mitchell's table-toppers extended their 100 per cent record in the tournament with a third win.

England roared out of the blocks and went ahead with just six minutes gone when Feaunati's break took her side deep into the Welsh 22 and she eventually went over from close range with Helena Rowland adding the conversion.

David made her mark six minutes later, collecting Holly Aitchison's long pass before racing away to touch down, although the 20-year-old winger's big day would end prematurely after she failed a head injury assessment.

To their credit, Wales stayed in the game and quickly reduced the deficit when scrum-half Bevan picked up from the base of the ruck and went through a gap, converting her own try to make it 12-7.

However, flanker Packer was driven over before centre Jones scored a fine solo effort to claim the bonus point with Rowland successful from her first attempt, although Welsh hooker Jones also crossed from a well-worked line-out move.

But the Red Roses went in at the break with a 29-12 lead after Jones started and finished a thrilling attack involving winger Moloney-MacDonald and Ellie Kildunne.

England picked up where they had left off when hooker Cokayne peeled off the back of a rolling maul to touch down with Rowland adding the two points, and the visitors' hopes were dealt a further blow when full-back Kayleigh Powell was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.

Moloney-MacDonald took full advantage almost immediately with a fine finish in the corner, and Breach scored her side's eighth, converted by fellow replacement Zoe Harrison before Powell's return.

Tries from Packer and Muir either side of Wales flanker Lewis' effort - both of which were converted by Harrison - took England's tally to 10, but Lockwood had the final say to snatch a bonus point for the visitors with the clock in the red.

Player of the match - Marlie Packer - speaking to BBC:

"We're really pleased. Wales have given us a tough game, they have improved massively. We've got a young squad who stepped up today, I'm really proud of the girls' performance.

"It means everything. Just putting on this shirt is a massive honour. Being in front of this crowd at Ashton Gate is incredible. Today meant everything.

"Selling out these stadiums, means everything to us. We want to put a game on for them and hope they enjoy our performances.

"We're loving it every time we come into camp. We enjoy being with the Red Roses. It's a really good environment and a nice place to be, which means we can put this type of product on the pitch."

Wales head coach Sean Lynn, speaking to BBC:

"That's what I asked the girls for today, character.

"Before, 12 months ago, we would have flopped and fallen away, but to show that character to fight back with two tries and get that bonus point, I cannot fault character.

"We disappointed to have leaked 62 points, but that is a very good Red Roses side who were clinical."

In the partisan cauldron of the Stade Marcel-Michelin, the narrative of the 2026 Championship shifted from a three-horse race to a straight shoot-out between the old guard as France eventually beat Ireland.

France's 26-7 victory over was a lesson in the cold, hard currency of Test rugby: efficiency. While Ireland arguably produced the more inventive and dominant rugby for an hour-long stretch, they were ultimately undone by their own profligacy and a French side that refused to panic.

The result sees Les Bleues move level with England at the top of the table, setting the stage for a grandstand finish, while Ireland are left to reflect on a night where three disallowed tries and a faltering kicking game turned a potential historic win into a bruising defeat.

The match will forever be viewed through the lens of Ireland's first-half dominance. Scott Bemand's side played with a frightening intensity, led by the monstrous carrying of Aoife Wafer. Still, despite crossing the whitewash four times in the opening 40 minutes, they only saw the green light once through Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald.

Disallowed scores for Brittany Hogan and Emily Lane, combined with a miraculous try-saving effort by Anaïs Grando, left the game level at 7-7 at the interval. In a game of this magnitude, leaving 15 to 21 points on the field proved fatal.

In the sweltering intensity of the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Italy delivered a masterclass in clinical, high-tempo rugby to dismantle Scotland 41-14.

On a day to celebrate the 50th cap of the pioneering Silvia Turani, the Azzurre produced a performance of such rapier-like precision that the contest was effectively settled before the shadows had even stretched across the Parma turf.

For Scotland, this was a harrowing throwback to a less competitive era. Hamstrung by the late withdrawal of captain Rachel Malcolm and further depleted by a spate of mid-match injuries, Sione Fukofuka's side looked a step behind a revitalised Italian outfit that played with an ambition and accuracy that the visitors simply could not contain.

Tags:

rugby-union news

Share this article

Related Posts

Six Nations: Will Greenwood expects RFU to stick with Steve Borthwick and lead England into 2027 World Cup

Six Nations: Will Greenwood expects RFU to stick with Steve Borthwick and lead England into 2027 World Cup

Former World Cup winner Will Greenwood says he expects England to stick with head coach Steve Borthwick despite a shocking Six Nations campaign.After...

Women's Six Nations: Meg Jones to captain new-look England with Haineala Lutui in line to make debut against Ireland at Twickenham

Women's Six Nations: Meg Jones to captain new-look England with Haineala Lutui in line to make debut against Ireland at Twickenham

Meg Jones leads an England team featuring seven survivors from September’s World Cup final victory over Canada for the launch of their Guinness Six Na...

Six Nations: Maro Itoje says England 'are going places' despite record fourth tournament loss but will Steve Borthwick remain in charge?

Six Nations: Maro Itoje says England 'are going places' despite record fourth tournament loss but will Steve Borthwick remain in charge?

Maro Itoje insists England "are going places" despite enduring their worst Six Nations campaign, while head coach Steve Borthwick remains adamant he i...

Six Nations 2026 review: France's winning contradictions, England's optimistic loss, Scotland's eternal issue, Wales' relief, and Ireland's slip up

Six Nations 2026 review: France's winning contradictions, England's optimistic loss, Scotland's eternal issue, Wales' relief, and Ireland's slip up

It is being touted as the most entertaining Six Nations ever, and looking at the pre-tournament script compared to the end credits, you can see just w...

Steve Borthwick: England head coach given no guarantees over his job as RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney denies Andy Farrell contact

Steve Borthwick: England head coach given no guarantees over his job as RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney denies Andy Farrell contact

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has suggested Steve Borthwick will have the summer to inspire a response to England's worst ever Six...

Six Nations 2026: Men's fixtures, schedule, dates, Calcutta Cup and more as France defend championship title

Six Nations 2026: Men's fixtures, schedule, dates, Calcutta Cup and more as France defend championship title

All the fixtures and schedule for the 2026 Men's Six Nations as France defended their title against England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. Franc...