England’s women’s rugby side delivered a spectacular performance at Murrayfield, crossing the try‑line twelve times in an 84‑7 demolition of Scotland during the second round of the Women’s Six Nations. Despite a spate of injuries that forced five alterations to the starting XV from their opening win over Ireland, the Red Roses showed no sign of weakness. The most notable change saw Ellie Kildunne, traditionally a full‑back, shifted to the wing to accommodate Emma Sing. Veteran centre Alex Matthews missed the match with a shoulder problem, while a further quartet – Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell and Tatyana Heard – were ruled out of the entire tournament.
The disruption did not unsettled England. They surged ahead with five tries before the break, securing a bonus‑point win. Kildunne was the standout, scoring twice, while Meg Jones, Kelsey Clifford, and newcomer Emma Sing each added a try. Scotland’s only reply came from Rhona Lloyd, who made history by becoming the first woman to score for her country in a standalone women’s fixture at Murrayfield.
Her effort narrowed the gap to 35‑7 at halftime, but the hosts were already in control. The second half belonged entirely to England.
Sarah Bern doubled her tally with two powerful runs, and additional scores came from Amy Cokayne, Marlie Packer, Sadia Kabeya, Mia Venner and Haineala Lutui. Zoe Harrison was flawless with the boot, converting all twelve tries and adding a decisive extra point, bringing her conversion total to thirteen for the match.
The final score vaulted England to the top of the Six Nations table. A detailed timeline illustrates England’s dominance. The opening minutes saw Scotland dominate possession, but England weathered the early pressure and struck first on the eighth minute when Maddie Feaunati broke through and passed to Kildunne on the wing, who sprinted for the opening try. Harrison’s conversion made it 7‑0.
Five minutes later Sadia Kabeya linked with captain Meg Jones to extend the lead, exposing Scotland’s defensive frailties. By the 23rd minute, Jones delivered a perfect looping pass that allowed Kildunne to claim her second try of the day, marking her 50th international score. Kelsey Clifford then powered over from close range to cement the bonus point, with Harrison’s boot pushing the scoreboard to 28‑0. Scotland’s brief moment of joy arrived when a high kick was gathered by Rhona Lloyd, who crossed for the historic try, and Helen Nelson’s conversion made it 28‑7.
However, England quickly resumed their onslaught. Maud Muir broke through the Scottish line, feeding Emma Sing on the right wing for another try, and Harrison’s conversion raised the half‑time score to 35‑7. The second half began with a line‑out maul that saw Amy Cokayne dive over, and Harrison added another conversion for a 42‑7 lead.
Sarah Bern then used her strength to force her way over at the 54th and 60th minutes, each time followed by a successful conversion, pushing England past the 50‑point barrier. Veteran Marlie Packer added the ninth try, while Kabeya returned for the tenth after a sustained period of pressure forced Scotland into repeated errors. With five minutes remaining, England gave the younger players a chance to shine. Mia Venner, on just her third test cap, scored at the 77th minute, and Haineala Lutui, on her second cap, capped the scoring on the final play.
Harrison completed her perfect day by adding her 11th and 12th conversions, sealing the 84‑7 result. The match was witnessed by a crowd of 30,498, who saw Scotland dominate early possession but ultimately succumb to England’s superior fitness, skill, and tactical execution. The Red Roses’ ability to adapt to personnel changes, maintain attacking fluency, and execute set‑piece moves under pressure highlighted why they are the team to beat in this tournament.
In the broader context of the weekend’s Six Nations action, France produced a strong second‑half comeback to beat Wales 38‑7 in Cardiff, moving them into second place behind England on points difference. Meanwhile, Ireland recorded a convincing 57‑20 victory over Italy in Galway, with Beibhinn Parsons scoring a hat‑trick and captain Erin King praising the squad’s resilience after a recent loss to England.
England’s captain Meg Jones reflected on the performance, noting the team’s relentless attitude and continual improvement. Former England World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi lauded the forwards for stepping up and delivering a powerful, collision‑dominant display, emphasizing how the side had learned from the previous week’s narrow win over Ireland. She also expressed disappointment for the Scottish supporters, who had turned out in large numbers but witnessed a one‑sided contest. Overall, the 84‑7 triumph not only reinforced England’s position at the summit of the Women’s Six Nations but also demonstrated the depth of talent within the squad, their capacity to overcome injuries, and their relentless pursuit of excellence on the international stage.