England vs Scotland LIVE: Women’s Six Nations result as Red Roses score 10 tries in emphatic win
Scotland #Scotland
Sarah Hunter retired in style as England’s Women’s Six Nations title defence got off to a flying start with a ruthless 58-7 victory over Scotland.
The game marked a special occasion for co-captain Hunter, who signed off on her rugby career with a commanding win on home soil at Kingston Park, where England easily secured the bonus point.
A quickfire second-half hat-trick from co-captain Marlie Packer capped off a disappointing afternoon for the Scots.
England vs Scotland LIVE: Latest Women’s Six Nations updates
FULL TIME! England 58-7 Scotland 18:40 , Jamie Braidwood
Another huge cheer goes up as Hunter is interviewed on the pitch. She goes out on the shoulders of Sarah Bern and Amy Cokayne.
A big win from England to start their Six Nations defence. The Red Roses scored 10 tries, including three from player of the match Marlie Packer, on an afternoon that will be remember for an emotional goodbye for long-standing captain Sarah Hunter.
Scotland were overpowered but rallied to get on the scoreboard in the final minutes, after Hunter had brought her 141st and final England appearance to a close.
FULL TIME! England 58-7 Scotland 18:34 , Jamie Braidwood
England 58-7 Scotland 18:34 , Jamie Braidwood
79 mins: Scotland started strong, and they are finishing strong as well! Musgrove goes for the line, but England’s defence stands firm!
England 58-7 Scotland 18:33 , Jamie Braidwood
78 mins: Rollie breaks away again! The Scotland full-back takes off from the halfway line and teases two England defenders to get to give metres out. Rollie is all alone, though, and England get back to win the turnover.
Brilliant fight from the Scotland back.
England 58-7 Scotland 18:31 , Jamie Braidwood
77 mins: Scotland have deserved that.
TRY! England 58-7 Scotland (Rollie 76’) 18:31 , Jamie Braidwood
Scotland get on the scoreboard! Rollie makes a brilliant burst following a Scotland lineout and beats a tackle to cross over.
Nelson adds the conversion.
England 58-0 Scotland 18:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Break! A rare moment for Scotland to cheer after Marlie Packer soulls England’s attack, as Beth Blackblock cuts a nice line from the England defence and carries for the halfway line… that will get Scotland up the pitch.
TRY! England 58-0 Scotland (M Packer 67’) 18:22 , Jamie Braidwood
This one does count! Marlie Packer completes her hat-tricks as she spins to join England’s maul, which crashes down across the line.
Three tries in around 10 minutes from Packer and England, who are up to 10 for the day.
England 53-0 Scotland 18:19 , Jamie Braidwood
64 mins: Is this another? Aitchison looks for the crossfield switch. It’s palmed down to Sarah Beckett, who picks it up and spins for the line.
Looks like the kick just went out of play, though.
Meanwhile, Poppy Cleall is hobbling off with what looks to be a right ankle injury. That’s a worry for England ahead of the rest of the tournament.
TRY! England 53-0 Scotland (M Packer 63’) 18:16 , Jamie Braidwood
And another! England turn to the lineout maul as they pin Scotland in the corner. Scotland aren’t able to come up with any answers, and Packer crosses for her second of the game.
England 48-0 Scotland 18:14 , Jamie Braidwood
63 mins: The attendance at Kingston Park is a sellout: 10,053 – a good start for England as they build up to what they hope is a record-breaking crowd at Twickenham against France on the final weekend.
England 48-0 Scotland 18:12 , Jamie Braidwood
Emotional scenes in Newcastle, but Sarah Hunter couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out.
England 48-0 Scotland 18:08 , Jamie Braidwood
60 mins: And here’s the moment we have all been waiting for: with a huge smile on her face, Sarah Hunter makes her way off the pitch for the final time in an England shirt. It’s by far the loudest Kingston Park has been all day, as Hunter raises her arms to applaud the crowd.
16 years, 141 England games – legend.
TRY! England 48-0 Scotland (M Packer 59’) 18:06 , Jamie Braidwood
57 mins: Here comes the England maul… and there was only ever going to be one result. England’s pack rumbles over the line after attacking the corner. Marlie Packer gets the score.
England 43-0 Scotland 17:59 , Jamie Braidwood
The conversion is good, and now England begin to ring the changes in the front row. Liz Crake cames on for her England debut, with Lark Davies and Kelsey Clifford on as well.
TRY! England 41-0 Scotland (Kabeya 51’) 17:58 , Jamie Braidwood
48 mins: Scotland look to build on the halfway line but their attack is too slow and Lagi Tuima is quickly able to jump out and pressure the line. It results in a chance for England down the right wing – Abbie Dow hands it off to Sadia Kabeya, who takes a brilliant step around Helen Nelson and powers over!
England 36-0 Scotland 17:52 , Jamie Braidwood
45 mins: A chance for Scotland! Helen Nelson looks for the switch to Coreen Grant, but the bounce defeats her and Abby Dow is able to clean up. It comes back for the Scotland penalty, but England’s scrum is too big.
TRY! England 36-0 Scotland (Cleall 42′) 17:50 , Jamie Braidwood
England pick up where they left off! It’s an excellent attack from the Red Roses, and Poppy Cleall times her run to perfection to cut through Scotland for the sixth time.
England 31-0 Scotland 17:47 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re ready to go again in Newcastle. Simon Middleton just told the BBC that Sarah Hunter won’t be playing the full 80 minutes, so the final goodbye for the England captain will be coming up soon you would think.
Back underway.
Wales thrash Ireland 31-5 in Cardiff in Women’s Six Nations opener 17:43 , Jamie Braidwood
Wales opened their Six Nations campaign with a dominant 31-5 victory against Ireland at the Cardiff Arms Park.
The hosts secured the bonus point in a ruthless first-half performance where they scored four tries and despite an improved display after the break Ireland were unable to find any way back into the game.
Wales took the lead in the fourth minute as a good drive from the maul saw Alex Callender touch down in the corner, but they suffered a blow when Gwen Crabb was taken off with injury minutes later.
Scrum-half Keira Bevan added another try in the 14th minute, breaking forward through a gap, and the driving maul proved effective again for the Welsh as replacement Sioned Harries crossed in the 23rd minute.
They added a fourth just before the break when a smart move allowed Kerin Lake to burst through the Irish defence and hand the ball off to captain Hannah Jones who touched down underneath the posts.
After having a try chalked off at the start of the half, prop Sisilia Tuipulotu showed great strength to power over the line in the 46th minute and Ireland earned a consolation in the 65th minute when captain Nichola Fryday went over from close range.
Here’s Tatyana Heard’s first England score, which secured England their bonus point.
HALF TIME! England 31-0 Scotland 17:31 , Jamie Braidwood
A dominant start from the defending champions.
England 31-0 Scotland 17:31 , Jamie Braidwood
41 mins: England go searching for a fifth try as the clock goes into the red… Holly Aitchison looks for the crossfield kick, but it’s just over Breach’s head.
England 31-0 Scotland 17:28 , Jamie Braidwood
38 mins: A break from Francesca McGhie! But Jess Breach recovers well with the tackle in the corner. So close from Scotland, but that’s not the first time they’ve said that this half.
England 31-0 Scotland 17:27 , Jamie Braidwood
36 mins: Lucy Packer is inches away from a sensational 50-22 into the corner, but it rolls the wrong way of the corner flag. Scotland take the chance to come downfield… which is a relief for Bryan Easson’s side after the onslaught of the past 20 minutes.
TRY! England 31-0 Scotland (Cokayne 31’) 17:22 , Jamie Braidwood
Jeez… this is getting brutal from England, who have stepped it up in some style in the past 10 minutes. They keep the pressure on Scotland and go for the corner after winning a penalty yards out. It sets up the lineout maul, England’s first of the Six Nations, and it proves just as effective as it was during the World Cup.
England march Scotland back and Amy Cokayne scores her second try of the match. Tatyana Heard adds the conversion.
TRY! England 24 -0 Scotland (Heard 28’) 17:18 , Jamie Braidwood
And England go again… straight from kick off the Red Roses march downfield as Sarah Bern makes a break through contact. With Scotland on their try-line, it comes back to Tatyana Heard, who dances back inside and dives for the line for her first England try!
Heard adds her first conversion after a couple of earlier misses.
TRY! England 17-0 Scotland (MacDonald 24′) 17:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Woooow! Claudia MacDonald!
What a try this is from the England wing. She sizes up Chloe Rollie at the halfway line and turns the Scotland full-back with the drop of a shoulder. From there, MacDonald takes off and bursts clear with a stunning show of speed.
This has felt like a much closer game, but England are well clear.
TRY! England 12-0 Scotland (Cokayne 18’) 17:06 , Jamie Braidwood
Wonderful try from England! They stretched Scotland from right, to left, to right again – Breach had Amy Cokayne in space outside her and there’s a simple pass to the hooker to touch down in the corner for England’s second try!
England 7-0 Scotland 17:06 , Jamie Braidwood
17 mins: Scotland concede the penalty from the scrum down and now England have the chance to launch an attack…
England 7-0 Scotland 17:04 , Jamie Braidwood
14 mins: Scotland look to go again as Rollie takes a high ball, but England get the intercept through Breach at the halfway line. It’s then knocked on by Mackenzie Carson, so Scotland get the scrum back.
England 7-0 Scotland 17:00 , Jamie Braidwood
12 mins: And suddenly Scotland break through! Nelson gets up the pitch and Abby Dow knocks on, but Scotland break with a brilliant line run from the inside centre Emma Orr. England get back to hold her up, s well as Rachel Malcolm. It came back to Orr, but she wasn’t able to touch down. Inches short!
Great defence from England but that was a stunning line from Orr, too.
England 7-0 Scotland (Reed, conv) 16:57 , Jamie Braidwood
That’s a fine first conversion from Amber Reed. It’s been a fast start to this game, but England worked their way up through the gears to get on the scoreboard.
TRY! England 5-0 Scotland (MacDonald 9’) 16:55 , Jamie Braidwood
8 mins: England are starting to get more carries now through Marlie Packer, who gets her fourth or maybe even fifth carry already to break towards the Scotland try-line. Poppy Cleall continues the charge before it’s worked inside, where Claudia MacDonald finds the opening score!
England 0-0 Scotland 16:52 , Jamie Braidwood
6 mins: Scotland get their first spell of possession, before Helen Nelson spots a gap downfield. The kick bounces into touch downfield and gets Scotland some valuable ground.
England 0-0 Scotland 16:50 , Jamie Braidwood
4 mins: Holly Aitchison sends a kick downfield, which is returned by Chloe Rollie. England find Jess Breach on the wing but Scotland are able to hold her back before winning the penalty just inside their 22.
KICK OFF! England 0-0 Scotland 16:47 , Jamie Braidwood
Smith’s kick is knocked on outside the England line and there will be an early try. But England’s push is too strong and they are ale to muscle Scotland back to win the penalty.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 16:46 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go then, an end of an era for England but the start of this year’s Six Nations for the Red Roses and Scotland.
Meryl Smith will get us underway!
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 16:43 , Jamie Braidwood
Sarah Hunter gets a huge cheer as the retiring England captain takes to the field for the Red Roses for the final time.
She is joined by her niece – now time for the anthems.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 16:39 , Jamie Braidwood
Scotland enter into this year’s Six Nations under different circumstances after Scottish Rugby announced last December that professional contracts had been awarded to 28 players, as part of its continued investment into the women’s game.
Easson welcomed the move but believes material benefits may take time to emerge. “Undoubtedly, professionalism makes a massive difference,” he said. “Clearly as coaches we want to see the performances grow in the field. That doesn’t happen overnight.
“For me, it has mainly been the off-field stuff. We don’t have to play on a Saturday and bring them back on a Sunday because they have to go to work on a Monday. In the last four weeks we have been able to have camps during the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and be able to rest them. They are no longer training at night after a day’s work.
“That has been the big difference – around rest and recovery – which allows us as coaches to increase intensity of training up to match intensity which in the longer term will improve performances. So that’s been the big thing.”
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 16:34 , Jamie Braidwood
Scotland finished bottom of the Six Nations table last season with five defeats, while England finished top with five wins, one of which was a 57-5 win over the Scots.
Head coach Bryan Easson knows the magnitude of the task ahead but is looking for “a consistent performance” from his side. He said: “We have played England in the past and played well for 20 minutes or 25 minutes and then dropped off. For me it is having that consistent 80-minute performance.
“We will be under pressure at times because we are playing the best team in the world. So it is about consistent performances from us, staying with them for 80 minutes.
“We have lost the last nine games but six of those games have been within a score, in terms of bonus points. We want to turn those tighter games into one or two-point victories rather than two or three-point defeats.”
‘Almost like grieving’: The ‘heartbreak’ fuelling Holly Aitchison and England’s rebrand
Holly Aitchison sunk back on her haunches, the hurt of dreams stolen away etched on the face of a player suffering defeat in a Red Roses shirt for the first time. England had given New Zealand everything at Eden Park, staying in the battle after an early red card to leave them a shot at victory in the final moments.
England, as they had all tournament, went to their maul, kicking to the corner with the clock almost dead and three points in it, five metres and one more application of their inexorable rumbling mass from victory. But, for once, their lineout power play failed: A snatching Black Ferns hand reaching up between the limbs to snatch the ball, and the trophy, from England’s grasp. Aitchison could only watch on, helplessly, from out in the backline, a 30-match winning run at an end.
“I can’t put it into words other than heartbreak,” Aitchison tells The Independent while reflecting nearly five months on. “Everything that you had worked for, feeling like you were in a really good place to achieve your goals, and then everything goes wrong on the day and you don’t come away with the medal.”
You can read Harry Latham-Coyle’s full interview with Holly Aitchison, here:
The ‘heartbreak’ fuelling Holly Aitchison and England’s rebrand
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 16:11 , Jamie Braidwood
Alex Matthews insists England have banished the demons of their World Cup final defeat as they chase a fifth straight Women’s Six Nations title.
The all-conquering Red Roses’ record-breaking unbeaten run of 30 matches came to a shuddering halt as they lost 34-31 to New Zealand in a final that had almost had its conclusion written before it was played.
Amidst the post-mortem of what happened on that day in Eden Park, long-term head coach Simon Middleton announced he would be stepping down at the end of the Six Nations as England continued to work out what went wrong.
Yet Matthews revealed it is not all doom and gloom in camp, as the side’s focus returns to retaining the championship they have so utterly dominated for the past few years.
“Since our review weekend, we haven’t mentioned it again,” said Matthews. “Our thing now is growing the gap to the other five teams.
“Obviously, it was heart-breaking to begin with. You spend so much time together, I think some girls felt quite lost getting back to normal life.
“I have always told myself it is just a game. I enjoy it and that’s why I play but you have to be quite sensitive with how everyone is dealing with it. You have to let everyone deal with it individually in their own way.”
Harry Latham-Coyle: Sarah Hunter’s selfless act helps define era as England’s greatest captain
It is an overcast day and Sarah Hunter is clutching only a towel in Bayonne. It is May 2022, the Red Roses are on the verge of completing a fourth successive unbeaten Women’s Six Nations campaign and their skipper can only watch on with a grimace. An untimely rib injury had ended Hunter’s tournament a week before the trip to the Basque Country – even the slightest of chuckles sent shoots of pain to her chest.
The rib injury that troubled her was a significant one, the towel about all she was permitted to lift before the time came to hoist the Six Nations trophy again. Having tried unsuccessfully to convince the medical staff to let her play on painkillers, Hunter’s attention turned to how best she could help out. While other players might have stayed at home, or flown down purely for the Saturday celebrations, come the Wednesday before the game, the England skipper was on a 6am flight from Stansted Airport to ensure she was there to support her squad in whatever way she could.
It spoke volumes about a character who has come to be a defining figure in the growth of the women’s game.
Sarah Hunter’s selfless act helps define era as England’s greatest captain
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 15:45 , Jamie Braidwood
England captain Sarah Hunter will retire after the Women’s Six Nations opener against Scotland this weekend.
Hunter, who has won a world-record 140 caps for her country, has decided to call time on her rugby career after Saturday’s clash in her home city of Newcastle.
The 37-year-old back-row forward has helped England win 10 Six Nations titles and the 2014 World Cup. She was also named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year in 2016.
She told BBC Sport: “Everything has to come to an end at some point. The RFU kindly put a Red Roses game finally at Newcastle, which is my home city where I grew up. I just couldn’t not give it a go to play in the game. I started playing rugby in Newcastle, finishing there feels like I’ve come full circle.”
Teammate Emily Scarratt paid tribute to the outgoing Hunter, labelling her “the best servant English rugby has ever had”.
Scotland starting line-up
Scotland XV: Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Christine Belisle; Lyndsay O’Donnell, Louise McMillan; Rachel Malcolm (capt.), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher; Caity Mattinson, Helen Nelson; Francesca McGhie, Meryl Smith, Emma Orr, Coreen Grant; Chloe Rollie.
Replacements: Jodie Rettie, Anne Young, Elliann Clarke, Eva Donaldson, Eilidh Sinclair; Mairi McDonald, Beth Blacklock, Liz Musgrove.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 15:30 , Jamie Braidwood
What is the Scotland team news?
Scotland have promised to play with more adventure having becoming rather too accustomed to losing narrowly during the World Cup. As such, head coach Bryan Easson makes a number of bold selection calls for the trip to Newcastle, trusting an inexperienced backline to pose England problems. Wing Francesca McGhie earns a first cap after impressing for the Thistles during the developmental Celtic Challenge, while young centre pairing Emma Orr and Meryl Smith are potential future stars.
The forward pack is much more experienced and entirely England-based, ready to lock horns with familiar Premier 15s foes. Rachel Malcolm, a back row colleague of Hunter’s at Loughborough Lightning, captains the side, though powerful number eight Jade Konkel-Roberts is not available after injury. Konkel-Roberts’ Harlequins teammate Beth Blacklock is set for a debut in the backline from the bench after impressive club performances.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 15:25 , Jamie Braidwood
England starting line-up
England XV: Mackenzie Carson, Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bern; Zoe Aldcroft, Poppy Cleall; Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer (co-capt.), Sarah Hunter (co-capt.); Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison; Claudia MacDonald, Amber Reed, Lagi Tuima, Jess Breach; Abby Dow.
Replacements: Lark Davies, Liz Crake, Kelsey Clifford, Cath O’Donnell, Sarah Beckett; Ella Wyrwas, Tatyana Heard, Emma Sing.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 15:20 , Jamie Braidwood
What is the England team news?
Sarah Hunter’s farewell dominated the build-up England’s opening fixture, with the 37-year-old named as co-captain with fellow back row Marlie Packer. Mackenzie Carson makes a second international debut in the front row – the Saracens prop previously represented Canada, but has observed a stand-down period and qualifies for England via her mother.
Injuries to Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland prompt an opportunity for Holly Aitchison at fly-half, with the playmaker partnered in midfield by Amber Reed and Lagi Tuima, who both missed out on Simon Middleton’s World Cup squad. Carson is joined in the squad by three more potential debutants – props Liz Crake and Kelsey Clifford should earn first caps from the bench, along with scrum-half Ella Wyrwas.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 15:18 , Jamie Braidwood
In the early match today, Wales have run in four tries in a dominant opening half against Ireland to lead 26-0 at the break. The Welsh are putting on a show at Cardiff Arms Park.
Women’s Six Nations 2023: England vs Scotland 15:16 , Jamie Braidwood
When is England vs Scotland?
England vs Scotland is due to kick-off at 4.45pm GMT on Saturday 25 March at Kingston Park in Newcastle, England.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC Two, with coverage from 4.15pm GMT. The action will also be available on the BBC iPlayer, or via the BBC Sport app or website.
Good afternoon 15:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of England vs Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations.
The Red Roses have not lost a game in the competition since 2018 en route to four consecutive titles, but are dealing with a number of significant absentees, with long-standing captain Sarah Hunter set to bow out after a hometown swansong on Saturday.
Hunter, England’s most capped player, will make her 141st and final appearance amid a period of significant change for the Red Roses, with head coach Simon Middleton departing after this tournament and a number of senior figures missing from his squad.
Scotland will hope to deny Hunter a perfect farewell; Bryan Easson’s side suffered a series of tight defeats in 2022, but it is hoped that the introduction of professional contracts and a planned evolution of their style will pay dividiends in this campaign.
Follow live updates from England vs Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations, below.
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