England’s women’s rugby side delivered a spectacular performance at Murrayfield, crossing the try line twelve times as they thrashed Scotland 84-7 in the second round of the Women's Six Nations. Despite a spate of injuries that forced five changes to the starting XV, the Red Roses never looked unsettled.
They exploded into a five‑try first half, secured a bonus‑point, and then added another seven tries after the break, confirming their position at the top of the tournament table. The injury list was long. Veteran lock Alex Matthews missed the game with a shoulder problem, while front‑row stalwarts Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell and Tatyana Heard were all ruled out for the remainder of the championship. The most noticeable alteration came when full‑back Ellie Kildunne was shifted to the wing to replace Emma Sing, who started on the flank.
The reshuffle could have unsettled a less experienced side, but England’s depth shone through. From the first whistle, Scotland enjoyed the early ball, holding possession for the opening five minutes.
England, however, weathered the initial pressure and began to carve out opportunities. Their patience paid off in the eighth minute when Maddie Feaunati sliced through the Scottish defence and fed Kildunne, now playing on the wing, who sprinted to the corner for the opening try. Zoe Harrison’s conversion made it 7-0. Five minutes later, Sadia Kabeya combined with captain Meg Jones to breach the line again, exposing Scotland’s disorganised defensive shape.
The Red Roses continued their on‑fire display, and on the 23rd minute Kildunne collected a perfectly timed looping pass from Jones, scoring her second try of the day and marking her 50th international try. Kelsey Clifford then powered over from close range, sealing the bonus‑point with a fourth try before the half‑time whistle. Scotland’s sole highlight came when winger Rhona Lloyd collected a high kick and crossed the line, becoming the first woman to score for Scotland in a standalone women's fixture at Murrayfield.
Helen Nelson added the conversion, narrowing the gap to 28-7, but England quickly re‑asserted dominance. Maud Muir broke through the defensive line and off‑loaded to Emma Sing, who touched down for the fifth try, pushing the score to 35-7 at the interval. The second half was an English masterclass. Amy Cokayne, a reliable force in the back row, surged from a line‑out maul to score within minutes of the restart, and Harrison kept her conversion streak alive, taking the tally to 42-7.
Sarah Bern then demonstrated her power, forcing her way over for two successive tries in the 54th and 60th minutes, each followed by flawless kicks from Harrison. By the time the clock read 65 minutes, England had crossed the try line nine times. Veteran flanker Marlie Packer added her own try shortly thereafter, and Kabeya, already on the scoresheet, struck again ten minutes later, exploiting a fatigued Scottish defence that was beginning to crumble under relentless pressure and a series of unforced errors. With the scoreboard reading 70-7, England’s momentum was unstoppable.
In the final minutes, the young talents took centre stage. On her third test cap, Mia Venner sprinted to the corner to score in the 77th minute, while Haineala Lutui, on her second cap, powered over just before full‑time, sealing the final try. Zoe Harrison completed her perfect day with twelve successful conversions, bringing her personal tally to 12 points and cementing the 84-7 final score.
The crowd of 30,498 witnessed a historic night: not only did England dominate, but they also set a benchmark for attacking rugby in the women's game. The performance underscored the depth of the English squad, the adaptability of its players, and the strategic acumen of head coach John Mitchell, who managed a heavily altered lineup without missing a beat. Beyond the scoreline, the match highlighted the growing popularity of women’s rugby in Scotland and the broader United Kingdom.
Despite the heavy defeat, Scotland’s fans were treated to a moment of pride as Lloyd’s try marked a milestone for the nation’s women’s rugby history. The game also served as a reminder of the physical and tactical demands of international rugby, with England’s forwards dominating set‑pieces and the backs executing swift, incisive attacks.
In the wake of this victory, England sit atop the Women’s Six Nations table, holding a superior points difference over their rivals. Their next challenge will be to maintain this high standard as the tournament progresses, while Scotland will look to regroup, address defensive frailties, and build on the historic achievement of Lloyd’s try. Overall, the match was a showcase of skill, resilience, and strategic brilliance, confirming England’s status as the team to beat in this year’s Six Nations and providing an exhilarating spectacle for the growing audience of women’s rugby worldwide.