England run rampant against gutsy Wales – but one thing threatens their Women’s Six Nations supremacy

Flanker Sadia Kabeya suffered a shoulder injury in England's win (Reuters)

Perhaps it will in time. While their first three opponents have not been able to truly test the world champions for long periods, their familiar French foes should. Francois Ratier’s side should be sniffing a real chance in Bordeaux – England do not lack for talent, but the sight of Delaney Burns calling the lineout and being involved in leadership meetings having not originally been named in the Six Nations squad shows how threadbare the Red Roses are at lock particularly. It is hoped that Lilli Ives Campion may be available for the Italy game in a fortnight; the fallow week comes at a good time.

Kabeya, sadly, was not the only English casualty of a stop-start first half. After Maddie Feaunati, coming of age in this campaign, had got the hosts going, Millie David raced on to a gorgeous Holly Aitchison pass to mark her debut with a score – before departing for a head injury assessment, which ended her first cap prematurely.

Millie David marked her debut with a try but failed an HIA soon afterwards (Reuters)

Wales, to their credit, stuck at it, keeping their discipline if not always their defensive solidity. Keira Bevan and Kelsey Jones provided two nicely-taken tries to break up the flow of English scoring, yet five tries were still celebrated by a close-to capacity home crowd before the interval. Two, perhaps unsurprisingly, were provided by their Cardiff-born captain, the second a score of immaculate construction involving just about the entire backline and sparked by her own right-to-left pass.

Marlie Packer also chipped in, with the veteran suddenly looking a figure of renewed centrality within the England pack. Some had wondered if this might be something of a farewell tour for the 36-year-old but there is precious little experience around her within the back five of the forward pack, and her performance levels remain high. Mitchell may need her at her best in France in round five particularly.

Marlie Packer remains an important figure for England (Reuters)

Of course, that depleted depth may not prove an inhibiting factor on England’s ambitions of an eighth straight title. The second-half surge here brought tries for Amy Cokayne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Jess Breach, Maud Muir and a second for Packer to take England past the 50 mark.

It felt tough on a Wales team who had battled hard, and captain Bethan Lewis and replacement Seren Lockwood ensured they snatched a late bonus point. Sean Lynn has experienced being at the helm of a women’s rugby winning machine; the Wales head coach is increasingly aware of how it feels to be on the other side of an unequal playing field.

Wales battled hard and earned a late bonus point (Getty)

Under Lynn’s leadership, Gloucester-Hartpury won three consecutive Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) titles before the boss answered his country’s call – his coaching qualities are not in question but Wales are still seeking a first Women’s Six Nations win under the head coach. There were plenty of positives to take here, though, with Bevan and Kelsey Jones first-half beneficiaries of some nice lineout variety inside the English 22. After the fallow week comes a trip to Belfast and an improving Ireland, who will offer a good gauge of where Wales are.