Marlie Packer scores four tries as England beat plucky Italy in Women’s Six Nations

Match details

Scoring sequence: 0-5 Packer try, 0-7 Harrison con, 0-12 Cokayne try, 0-14 Harrison con, 0-19 Rowland try, 0-21 Harrison con, 0-26 Venner try, 5-26 Vecchini try, 5-31 Cokayne try, 5-33 Harrison con, 12-33 penalty try, 12-38 Packer try, 12-40 Harrison con, 17-40 Ranuccini try, 19-40 Sillari con, 19-45 Burton try, 19-47 Harrison con, 19-52 Burton try, 19-54, Harrison con, 24-54 Sgorbini try, 26-54 Sillari con, 26-59 Packer try, 26-61 Harrison con, 31-61 Sgorbini try, 33-61 Sillari con.

Italy: V Ostuni Minuzzi, A Muzzo, M Sillari, S Mannini, A D’Inca (F Granzotto 60), V Madia (E Stevanin 60), S Stefan (A Bitonci 57), S Turani (G Dosi 64), V Vecchini (C Cheli 69), V Zanette (G Maris 40), V Federighi, A Frangipani (G Duca 44), B Veronese (F Sgorbini 44), A Ranuccini, E Giordana.

England: E Sing (C Moloney-MacDonald 62); M Venner, Meg Jones, H Rowland (H Aitchison 52), Ellie Kildunne; Z Harrison, L Packer (F Robinson 48); K Clifford (M Carson 40), A Cokayne (C Powell 48) , M Muir (S Bern 48), H Lutui (H Head 48) , D Burns, D Short (C Balogun 62), M Packer, A Burton. Yellow cards: E Kildunne (24).

Attendance: 4,376

Referee: J Ling (RA)

Full report to follow...

03:54pm

Player of the match Marlie Packer

“It was amazing to come back here two years on from getting my 100th cap. I take my hat off to our pack, who were unreal. We were working all week on our set-piece and it paid off. I just seemed to get hotter and hotter today! I am just enjoying my rugby and playing with a smile on my face. I have got my opportunity at the moment and I just want to take it and play with a smile. I just want to make every moment we get together an enjoyable one. The girls put in the hard work. Let’s recover from this and enjoy it. We look forward to Bordeaux!”

03:52pm

England’s fixtures

April 11- England 33 Ireland 12 (Allianz Stadium)
April 18- Scotland 7 England 84 (Murrayfield)
April 25- England 62 Wales 24 (Ashton Gate)
Today- Italy 33 England 61 (Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi)
May 17- France vs England (Stade Atlantique)

03:49pm

Today’s games

Italy 33 England 61
Scotland vs France 4.15pm
Ireland vs Wales 6.30pm

03:46pm

Full time

That is the final act of the game and England set up what looks like being the title decider next weekend in Bordeaux against France. It is now 37 straight wins for England, who will be chasing another Grand Slam next weekend. France take on Scotland at 4pm.

03:46pm

TRY! Sgorbini gives Italy good ending

England have comfortably won this game but Italy give their fans a good ending as Sgorbini breaks away from the maul to score Italy’s fifth try of the game. Not too many teams score five tries against this England team. The extras are added.

03:44pm

79 mins: Italy 26 England 61

Italy are on the attack inside the England 22 and win themselves a penalty, just five metres out from the line for offside. The hosts go to the corner.

03:43pm

77 mins: Italy 26 England 61

M Packer has been named player of the match, with four tries to her name and nearly 100 metres made from the back-row. Some pretty good statistics there and deservedly she wins the award.

03:41pm

75 mins: Italy 26 England 61

There will be some tired bodies out there in this heat in Parma as we approach the closing stages.

03:33pm

68 mins: Italy 26 England 61

England get within five metres of the Italian line but the attack is ended as they are punished for going off their feet at a breakdown just shy of the line.

03:32pm

67 mins: Italy 26 England 61

Robinson makes a great break into the Italian 22 and then England win a penalty as the hosts are caught offside. England go to the corner.

03:30pm

65 mins: Italy 26 England 61

Italy are being forced into a change at loosehead prop as Turani limps off in some pain.

03:27pm

64 mins: Italy 26 England 61

A big moment for Balogun. She was not originally in the matchday squad but after an injury to Feaunati before the game, she was promoted onto the bench and now comes on for her England debut.. Moloney-MacDonald is also on.

03:24pm Tries • Key moments • Video

TRY! M Packer scores her fourth of the game

A rampaging run from near the edge of the Italian 22 is rewarded with a try for M Packer, her fourth of the match. She bounced off numerous defenders before finding a way of dotting down. It was great play by M Packer but poor defence from Italy. The extras are added.

03:21pm

58 mins: Italy 26 England 54

Italy go off their feet in defence at a ruck just outside their own 22 to gift England a penalty, which Harrison puts into the corner.

03:20pm Tries

TRY! Sgorbini secures Italy’s bonus point

It is not going to change the result of this game but Italy have kept going. The hosts are in possession inside the England 22 and, from about 15 metres out, Sgorbini spots a gap around the fringes of the ruck and bursts through that gap to score. That is now two tries Italy have scored from England’s guard defence around the ruck lacking. The conversion is added.

03:16pm Tries • Key moments • Video

TRY! M Packer gets her hat-trick

She is now just three tries off the record for England’s women. England are on the attack on the Italian 22 and have numbers out to the right. Harrison swings a long ball out to Venner, who nearly gets to the line, but offloads to M Packer, who does go over in the corner. Harrison nails the conversion from near the touchline.

03:12pm

49 mins: Italy 19 England 47

In light of that try, England have made a flurry of changes. Powell, Bern, Head and Robinson all come on.

03:12pm Tries

TRY! Burton takes advantage of dominant England scrum

It has been one-way traffic at the set-piece today and England’s scrum has been so dominant. They quickly win a penalty advantage and Burton is patient at the back of the scrum, keeping the ball under her control as the England pack moves towards the line. Burton dots down with ease and then Harrison gets the conversion.

03:10pm

47 mins: Italy 19 England 40

England have a scrum in a central position just inside the Italian half and earn themselves a penalty advantage. England swing it wide to the right into the hands of Venner, who kicks ahead deep into the Italy 22. The hosts are forced to scamper back and are under pressure right on their own line. It is advantage over but England force Italy back across their line and earn themselves a five-metre scrum.

03:06pm

44 mins: Italy 19 England 40

England are in possession inside the Italian 22 and make good ground but the attack is ended as Jones knocks on into contact five metres out from the Italy line.

Italy make a double chnage in the pack as Duca and Sgorbini enter the fray.

03:03pm

41 mins: Italy 19 England 40

England have changed loosehead props as Carson has come on for Clifford.

03:01pm

Second half

We are back under way in Parma.

Italy have made a change in the front-row as Maris has replaced Zanette.

02:58pm Analysis

“Gnawing sense of frustration”

England are already out of sight, but there will be a gnawing sense of frustration at the concession of three tries in the first half, the first time Italy have scored tries against England since 2017. Given that Wales managed to score four in their defeat in the last round, the defensive issues will give John Mitchell food for thought. His side has been stunning with the ball, however, and looks on course for another rout.

02:52pm

England Women’s all-time top try scorers

61: Sue Day
57: Marlie Packer, Nicola Crawford
55: Jess Breach
54: Emily Scarratt

02:47pm

Half-time

Stefan boots the ball out of play to bring the first half to an end. England have dominated that first period, getting a bonus point within 15 minutes, but Italy are still going, scoring three tries of their own.

02:44pm

39 mins: Italy 19 England 40

Italy steal possession before M Packer is then punished for a high tackle.

02:43pm

37 mins: Italy 19 England 40

Kildunne is back on after her yellow card and England have a penalty just outside the Italy 22 as the hosts fail to roll away. No thought unsurprisingly over going for goal as Harrison puts it into the corner.

02:41pm Tries

TRY! Ranuccini gets Italy’s third

The result is way beyond Italy already but are still going to play. They are in possession on the edge of the England 22 before loosehead prop Turani picks from the base of the ruck. The guards from England are not in place and Turani bursts through a gap into the 22. She then offloads for Ranuccini to score. The conversion is added.

02:37pm Tries • Video • Analysis

TRY! M Packer at the double

Italy cannot cope with England’s set-piece. Another try comes from the rolling maul, this time with M Packer breaking off and scoring. Harrison adds the extras.

A courageous response by Italy, with tries by Vecchini and a penalty try, which led to a yellow card for Kildunne. But the difference in the physicality between the two sides is marked. Marlie Packer underscores this by driving over for his second try of the half from another maul.

02:37pm

31 mins: Italy 12 England 33

England have penalty advantage from a maul deep inside the Italy 22 for an illegal change of bind. The ball is sent into the hands of the backs and Rowland puts a grubber kick through. Jones hacks on but the ball just rolls dead before she can dot down.

Engalnd go back to the corner...

02:35pm

30 mins: Italy 12 England 33

England’s scrum dominance continues as they win another scrum penalty on the Italy 10-metre line. Harrison takes England into the corner.

02:29pm

PENALTY TRY ITALY!

England can have no complaints. Kildunne was the last defender and Italy probably would have scored so Kildunne is sent to the bin and the penalty try is awarded. Kildunne gave the game away really by her reaction as soon as she committed the offence.

02:28pm

25 mins: Italy 5 England 33

Italy are banging on the door, just five metres out. They come down the blindside before what appears to be a deliberate knock-on from Kildunne. Not only could Kildunne see yellow, but this could also be a penalty try. Kildunne is the last woman down the England line and makes no genuine attempt to catch it. It will surely be a yellow but will it also be a penalty?

02:27pm

24 mins: Italy 5 England 33

Italy are in possession inside the England 22 and win a penalty as England are punished for failing to roll away, around 10 metres out from their own line.

Italy decide to take the quick tap. It looked like there might have been a knock-on but it was deemed to be stripped by England so Italy’s attack continues...

02:22pm

TRY! Cokayne at the double

Italy cannot cope with the England rolling maul. England have a lineout inside the Italy 22, around 15 metres out, and the maul just keeps rumbling all the way to the line, where Cokayne just simply drops down and says thank you for her second try of the game. An armchair ride for Cokayne. Harrison adds the extras.

02:19pm Tries

TRY! Italy respond through Vecchini

Italy think they are over for their first try of the game. They have a lineout five metres out from the England line and set the maul. It rolls towards the line and the home side think they have scored. The officials are initially unsure whether the try is scored and the TMO is brought in to check. The hooker Vecchini clearly gets the ball down on the line and we only needed the one replay to see that. The conversion goes wide of the right upright.

02:14pm Key moments • Tries

TRY! Venner secures England’s bonus point

It has taken not even 15 minutes for England to score the bonus-point try and this is already getting very ugly for the hosts. England are on the attack again and come down their right. Venner, on the edge of the Italy 22, dummies the pass outside and shoots through a gaping hole to score. Harrison’s kicking streak ends at 18 as the conversion is missed.

A stunning try by England. Their power is already taking the game away from Italy, but you have to admire England’s footballing prowess. Meg Jones’ hard carry in the midfield was followed up by a wickedly spinning chip by Harrison, which is met by a perfect nudge by Ellie Kildunne just before it goes into touch, with Helena Rowland winning the race to the ball to score.  Mia Venner’s try moments later has secured the bonus point.

02:12pm Tries

TRY! Rowland over on her 50th cap

A great way to celebrate a milestone appearance for Rowland. Harrison puts a grubber kick through into the Italy 22 and the ball looks like it will roll into touch. However, Kildunne displays her speed to hack it forward near the left touchline and the ball goes back inside, allowing Rowland to score. The conversion is added by Harrison.

02:08pm Tries

TRY! Cokayne rumbles over

Perhaps too easy for England but they do not need to apologise for their early set-piece dominance. Five metres out from the Italian line, England win the lineout and set the maul. There is no stopping the rolling maul as Cokayne goes over. Harrison, as you guessed, adds the extras.

First rendition of ‘Swing low, sweet chariot’ rings out from the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. A small but vocal group of England supporters is enjoying this blitzkrieg start.

02:08pm

7 mins: Italy 0 England 7

That is not what Italy wanted. They concede a try and then put the kick-off straight into touch. England’s pack dominates and wins a scrum penalty. From the advantage, England win a further penalty on the Italian 10-metre line. Harrison takes an aggressive approach with her kick and puts it right into the corner. Superb from Harrison.

02:04pm Key moments • Tries • Video

TRY! M Packer gives England perfect start

England’s early dominance is rewarded with a fine try. The visitors are carrying hard and gaining metres into the Italian 22. The ball is shipped into the hands of Harrison, who spots that there is no-one behind, and puts the kick in behind. M Packer has the pace to get to it first and dots down. M Packer’s impressive try-scoring record in international rugby continues. Harrison has been superb from the tee so far in this tournament and, unsurprisingly, makes no mistake with her first conversion of the game.

Powerhouse start by England. Emma Sing looked to have been taken out in the air, but England played on an after a couple of monstrous carries, Abi Burton was just not able to ground and it was called held up. Then came the skill, with Marlie Packer scoring from a delightful chip Zoe Harrison. Harrison lands the conversion to make it 16 successful kicks in a row.

02:02pm

2 mins: Italy 0 England 0

England think they are about to score a very early try but Burton is held up. After a couple of strong carries from Lutui and Clifford after quick ball, Burton looks destined to score but Italy do really well to hold her up over the line.

02:00pm

Kick-off

We are under way in Parma. Can Italy cause an almighty shock or will the England juggernaut continue on?

01:56pm

Reminder of the teams

Italy starting XV: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Sara Mannini, 11 Alyssa D’Inca, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sofia Stefan, 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 3 Vittoria Zanette, 4 Valeria Federighi, 5 Alessandra Frangipani, 6 Beatrice Veronese, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 8 Elisa Giordana.

Replacements: 16 Chiara Cheli, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Gaia Dosi, 19 Giordana Duca, 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Alia Bitonci, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Francesca Granzotto.

England starting XV: 15 Emma Sing; 14 Mia Venner, 13 Meg Jones (captain), 12 Helena Rowland, 11 Ellie Kildunne; 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Haineala Lutui, 5 Delaney Burns, 6 Demelza Short, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Abi Burton.

Replacements: 16 Connie Powell, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Christiana Balogun, 20 Haidee Head, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.

01:54pm

Anthem time

It is a beautiful afternoon in Parma as both sides emerge from the tunnel. England led out by Helena Rowland ahead of her 50th cap. It is now time for the national anthems. “God Save The King” followed by “Il Canto degli Italiani”.

01:52pm

England head coach John Mitchell

“Maddie [Feaunati] could be back available next week. It happened in one of the warm-ups, non-contact, just a small issue with the soft tissue. Better off to take precautions.

“The biggest challenge is to adapt and we have had to adapt to moving parts, which we have been used to every week. It is nothing new but it presents an opportunity for a young player.

“Wales did well around structured attack and we hurt them in the unstructured game. We have been tweaking a few things. The good thing about a fallow week is you can get feedback and you can learn. We are looking to improve on some areas.”

01:46pm

Italy head coach Fabio Roselli

“Honestly, we cannot see the table. We know we are going to play against the strongest team in the world so that is what we discussed at the start of the week, to be aware of playing against the strongest team. But at the same time we are refusing that the ending has already been written. It is a good opportunity. We want to see what kind of team we are building, playing at the highest level, that is our challenge.”

01:42pm

‘Women’s rugby is exploding – but Italy are being left behind’

England’s growing injury list has become inconsequential when you consider their emphatic performances so far across the Women’s Six Nations.

John Mitchell’s side have averaged nine tries a game – and the Red Roses juggernaut is showing no sign of stopping on Saturday when they face Italy in Parma.

In terms of investment, hype and excitement, their meeting with the Azzurre at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi will be something of a culture clash.

England’s players are riding high on their status as world champions inside stadiums with bumper crowd attendances. Italy, meanwhile, endured a disappointing World Cup and their national women’s programme is still in its infancy.

01:36pm

A taste of England’s unavailable list

Injury:
Alex Matthews
Lilli Ives Campion
Sadia Kabeya
Hannah Botterman
Morwenna Talling
Natasha Hunt

Pregnancy:
Zoe Stratford
Abbie Ward
Lark Atkin-Davies
Rosie Galligan

You can add Maddie Feaunati to that injury list now.

01:29pm

England’s fixtures

April 11- England 33 Ireland 12 (Allianz Stadium)
April 18- Scotland 7 England 84 (Murrayfield)
April 25- England 62 Wales 24 (Ashton Gate)
May 9- Italy vs England (Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi)
May 17- France vs England (Stade Atlantique)

01:23pm Analysis

Emotional day for upcoming debutant

A late team change for England. Maddie Feaunati has been ruled out with a leg injury. Abi Burton switches to No 8, with Haineala Lutui earning a first start for the Red Roses in the second row. Christiana Balogun, who comes onto the bench, is also in line to make her debut. It will no doubt be an emotional afternoon for the Bristol Bears player, who received the all-clear from Burkitt lymphoma three years ago.

01:21pm

Today’s games

Italy vs England 2pm
Scotland vs France 4.15pm
Ireland vs Wales 6.30pm

01:16pm

England forced into late change

John Mitchell’s side have plenty of players out due to injury and you can now add another name to that list. Maddie Feaunati, who was down to start at number eight, has been ruled out with a leg injury. That injury has forced a bit of a reshuffle. Abi Burton has switched from the second row to number eight, with Haineala Lutui coming from the bench to start at lock. Christiana Balogun now comes onto the bench ahead of what would be her debut.

01:11pm

Zoe Harrison interview: The Red Roses fly-half who kicks better than most men

No one, save those with a prejudicial axe to grind, achieves much from comparing men’s and women’s sport. In rugby, such comparisons are even more counter-productive and futile.

Evidently, the men are bigger and stronger but women’s rugby has undergone a popularity boom in recent years, with fans drawn to its personable players, familial atmosphere, and the reliance on skill and space identification over brute force and power. It is notable, too, that many of the men’s bêtes noires – collapsed scrums, six-two bench splits and kick-fests – are nowhere near as prevalent in the women’s game.

The one incontrovertible leveller, however, is goal-kicking. The same size ball (even if there is a controversial reduction taking place this autumn), the same turf, the same distances, the same size posts, vaguely the same boots and, in the case of the Red Roses, the same levels of noise.

01:04pm Key moments

Teams

Italy starting XV: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Sara Mannini, 11 Alyssa D’Inca, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sofia Stefan, 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 3 Vittoria Zanette, 4 Valeria Federighi, 5 Alessandra Frangipani, 6 Beatrice Veronese, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 8 Elisa Giordana.

Replacements: 16 Chiara Cheli, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Gaia Dosi, 19 Giordana Duca, 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Alia Bitonci, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Francesca Granzotto.

England starting XV: 15 Emma Sing; 14 Mia Venner, 13 Meg Jones (captain), 12 Helena Rowland, 11 Ellie Kildunne; 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Haineala Lutui, 5 Delaney Burns, 6 Demelza Short, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Abi Burton.

Replacements: 16 Connie Powell, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Christiana Balogun, 20 Haidee Head, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.

12:58pm Key moments

The England train rolls on

England’s quest for yet another Women’s Six Nations title and Grand Slam crown continues as they have made the trip over to Parma to take on Italy at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. England have made an emphatic start to the defence of their Six Nations crown. A slightly clunky win over Ireland in round one was followed up by dominant wins over both Scotland and Wales. The win over Wales was England’s 36th in succession and demonstrated the immense strength in depth of the squad, with a whole host of stars from the World Cup victory either out injured or pregnant.

England’s final two games are both away from home, with it all heading towards a decider against France in Bordeaux next weekend. Both England and France have won three from three and are level on points with two rounds remaining, with England ahead only on points difference.

“This week is about re-establishing our processes and sharpening our focus now that we have new purpose,” John Mitchell said. “We have had a deliberate reset around learning where we will need to improve, we trust the way we play, and now it is time to get back to it. We have built momentum throughout this tournament by stacking strong moments together, and that will be crucial again this week. Italy will be full of confidence after their result against Scotland, and they will challenge us in different ways.

“For us, it is about staying locked in on our key actions: applying pressure and intentionally attacking the space with speed. Ultimately, it always comes down to showing courage in the moments that matter.”

Milestone day for Helena Rowland - Nigel French/PA

It is a milestone day for England centre Helena Rowland, who will win her 50th cap this afternoon starting alongside captain Meg Jones, who has been in fine form so far in this tournament.

Italy began the tournament with consecutive defeats to France and Ireland but bounced back with a 41-14 victory over Scotland last time out. When these sides met last year in Lincoln, England won 38-5. Today is the 27th meeting between the nations, with England winning all 26 games thus far.

Kick-off from Parma is at 2pm.

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