Packer scores four as England close in on Grand Slam

• Published2 hours ago

Women's Six Nations

Italy (19) 33

Tries: Vecchini, penalty try, Ranuccini, Sgorbini 2 Cons: Sillari 3

England (40) 61

Tries: M Packer 4, Cokayne 2, Rowland, Venner, Burton Cons: Harrison 8

England's veteran flanker Marlie Packer scored four tries to help the Red Roses thrash Italy in Parma and remain on course for an eighth straight Women's Six Nations.

Victory for France later in Edinburgh (16:15 BST) would set up a mouth-watering Grand Slam decider at the 42,115-capacity Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux next Sunday.

The Red Roses, who were crowned world champions in September, also extended their record winning run to 37 games.

A fast start saw the visitors secure the try bonus point inside the first 15 minutes, sealed by Mia Venner.

Packer grabbed two tries in each half, while hooker Amy Cokayne crossed twice and Helena Rowland also dotted down.

Despite England's dominance, Italy managed to secure a bonus point after tries from Vittoria Vecchini and Alissa Ranuccini, who scored either side of a penalty try, with Francesca Sgorbini grabbing the crucial fourth try.

Abi Burton's impressive form was rewarded with a second-half try as John Mitchell's England, despite continuing to look leaky in defence, always appeared to be in complete control.

Slow starts by France against Italy and Ireland will again make England heavy favourites to secure a fifth Grand Slam in a row, if it is a two-way battle for that prize next week.

Sgorbini's second try at the death brought Le Azzurre over 30 points, with defence an area of concern for Mitchell heading into next week.

France - Les Bleues - are the team who have come closest to ending England's remarkable ongoing unbeaten run, scoring 42 points to lose by only one point in last year's Grand Slam decider at Allianz Stadium.

• Women’s Six Nations: Red Roses continue ‘systematic dominance’

Packer shows worth as Red Roses defence remains vulnerable

The Red Roses have continued their impressive winning streak this campaign without a number of key players because of injury and pregnancy.

Their injury woes continued during the warm-up on Saturday as number eight Maddie Feaunati pulled out of the game, resulting in a late reshuffle in the pack, with Burton moving to number eight and 19-year-old lock Haineala Lutui promoted to the starting line-up.

None of that disrupted the visitors' start.

An intelligent kick through by Zoe Harrison was gathered by veteran Packer, who scored twice last time out against Wales in Bristol, and she got England off the mark.

Italy, who only announced their first professional contracts before the 2023 Six Nations, started well in their previous home match to record a comfortable 41-14 win against Scotland, but errors and sloppy defence prevented a repeat.

The hosts did manage to score three first-half tries, benefiting from a deliberate knock-on by Ellie Kildunne that resulted in a sin-bin and penalty try.

Given Wales registered their highest score (24) and a try bonus point against England, Mitchell will be disappointed that his side only narrowly avoided conceding their highest number of first-half points (21).

But despite the change in personnel, the Red Roses' set-piece remained dominant and a source of points.

Packer, who is now just two behind Sue Day as England's all-time top try scorer, powered through a number of defenders to score her fourth of the game.

The former England captain, 36, missed out on selection for the big knockout games at the World Cup but is showing her worth in a competitive back row.

Given her experience leading England to back-to-back Grand Slams in 2023 and 2024, the 115-cap flanker has found form that would make her worthy of inclusion in Bordeaux.

Line-ups

Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Mannini, D'Inca; Madia, Stefan; Turani, Vecchini, Zanette, Fedrighi, Frangipani, Veronese, Ranuccini, Giordano (c).

Replacements: Cheli, Maris, Dosi, Duca, Sgorbini, Bitonci, Stevanin, Granzotto.

England: Sing; Venner, Jones (c), Rowland, Kildunne; Harrison, L Packer; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Lutui, Burns, Short, M Packer, Burton.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Bern, Balogun, Head, Robinson, Aitchison, Moloney-MacDonald.

Match officials

Referee: Jess Ling (Australia)

Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) and Berenice Loubet (France)

Television Match Official (TMO): Leo Colgan (Ireland)

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