England opened their Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 33-12 victory over Ireland, maintaining their long run of dominance in the championship while also underlining that the gap between the teams is beginning to narrow.
The result was not a statement of perfection from the Red Roses, but it was another reminder of the power they bring into the tournament. England did not need to produce a fully consistent performance to get past one of their main challengers, yet they still finished with a comfortable 21-point margin.
That was a marked improvement for Ireland in one respect. England had beaten them by 44 points in last year’s tournament, so this latest meeting suggested the visitors have at least reduced the size of the deficit. Even so, the reigning world champions remain the side everyone else is chasing.
Injuries cast a shadow
Despite the win, the afternoon ended with concern for England after injuries to Morwenna Talling and Natasha Hunt. Both players were forced off, and the victory was quickly overshadowed by worries about the extent of the damage.
England head coach John Mitchell said he expected the pair to be ruled out for the rest of the tournament, although the exact prognosis has not yet been confirmed. The loss of Hunt is significant, but the setback for Talling may be even greater for England’s balance and options in the pack.
Mitchell’s squad is already stretched in that area. With Talling sidelined, England now have four locks unavailable because of injury or pregnancy, leaving the side with added depth concerns just as the competition gathers pace.
England head to Murrayfield next
The Red Roses’ next challenge comes at Murrayfield in round two, where they will hope to keep their momentum while also managing the impact of the latest injuries. England remain the dominant force in the Women’s Six Nations, but the opening weekend showed that there are still issues to solve.
For Ireland, there were signs of progress even in defeat. Cutting England’s winning margin down from 44 points to 21 will offer some encouragement, particularly against a side that has so often been out in front of the rest of the field.
As ever, England leave the first round with the pressure of expectation intact. The rest of the championship will be watching closely to see whether any of their rivals can become the giantkiller the Women’s Six Nations is still searching for.
