England's women's rugby side put on a spectacular display at Murrayfield, crossing the try line twelve times as they powered to an 84-7 triumph over Scotland in the second round of the Women's Six Nations. The win not only secured a bonus-point victory but also propelled the Red Roses to the top of the tournament table. In the lead‑up to the match England were forced to make a raft of changes because of injuries. Five starters from the opening win against Ireland were unavailable, the most notable being full‑back Ellie Kildunne, who was shifted onto the wing to make room for Emma Sing.
Alex Matthews missed the game with a shoulder problem, and a further quartet – Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell and Tatyana Heard – were ruled out for the remainder of the championship. Despite the upheaval England showed no sign of being unsettled. They exploded out of the gates and piled up five tries before the break, clinching the coveted bonus point. Ellie Kildunne was the star of the first half, touching down twice, while Meg Jones, Kelsey Clifford, and newcomer Emma Sing each added a try of their own.
Scotland managed a historic moment when wing Rhona Lloyd became the first woman to score for her country in a stand‑alone women's fixture at Murrayfield. Her try, converted by Helen Nelson, trimmed the deficit to 28-7, but the hosts were already well on their way to an overwhelming lead.
The second half belonged entirely to England. Sarah Bern added a double, and the back row contributed heavily with tries from Amy Cokayne, Marlie Packer, Sadia Kabeya, Mia Venner and Haineala Lutui.
Zoe Harrison was flawless with the boot, slotting twelve conversions – a perfect conversion record that helped push the final tally to 84 points. The match opened with Scotland dominating possession in the first five minutes, but England weathered the early pressure and struck first on the eighth minute. Maddie Feaunati broke through the Scottish line and fed Kildunne, now playing on the wing, who sprinted to the corner for the opening try. Harrison’s conversion made it 7-0.
Just five minutes later Sadia Kabeya linked with captain Meg Jones, who sliced through the defense to score, exposing Scotland’s shaky defensive shape. England’s patience paid off again at the 23‑minute mark when a looping pass from Jones found Kildunne for her second try of the day, which also marked her 50th international try. Forward Kelsey Clifford then powered over from close range to cement the bonus‑point achievement, and Harrison’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking, taking the lead to 28-0.
Scotland’s brief respite came when a well‑timed kick over the top was collected by Rhona Lloyd, who dashed to the try line for a historic score. Helen Nelson’s conversion made it 28-7, but England quickly re‑asserted dominance. Maud Muir broke through the defensive line and passed to Emma Sing, who touched down to push the margin to 35-7 at halftime. The second half began with a brief period of nervousness, but England soon found their rhythm.
Amy Cokayne, accustomed to scoring from close quarters, dived over from a line‑out maul, extending the lead to 42-7 after Harrison’s conversion. Sarah Bern then used her strength to force her way over the line at the 54‑minute and 60‑minute marks, each try followed by Harrison’s reliable kicking, taking the score past the 50‑point threshold. Veteran Marlie Packer added the ninth try, showcasing her experience, while Kabeya returned to the scoresheet ten minutes later, exploiting a fatigued Scottish defence that was struggling under relentless pressure and a series of unforced errors. With five minutes left, the Red Roses still had fire in the belly.
Young winger Mia Venner, on just her third test cap, scored on the 77th minute, and Haineala Lutui, on her second cap, capped the onslaught with a final try as the clock wound down. Harrison completed the conversion tally with her 11th and 12th kicks, sealing the 84‑7 result. The match was witnessed by a crowd of 30,498, many of whom had travelled to see Scotland, only to watch a dominant English side dominate every facet of the game – from set‑pieces to open‑play attacks. England’s ability to adapt to injuries, integrate new players and still produce a high‑octane performance underlines the depth and quality of the squad.
In the broader context of the tournament, the victory placed England firmly at the summit of the Six Nations table, while Scotland were left to regroup after a heavy defeat. The game also highlighted the growing popularity of women’s rugby, with a near‑full stadium and extensive media coverage, signalling a bright future for the sport. Quotes from the post‑match interviews reinforced the narrative of relentless ambition. England captain Meg Jones told the BBC that the team had been "relentless" and were focused on building each game, while World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi praised the forwards for stepping up and delivering a powerful performance.
She noted that the team had learned from a slightly rusty display against Ireland earlier in the week and had turned that into a clinical, high‑scoring display against Scotland. Overall, England’s twelve‑try demolition of Scotland not only showcased individual brilliance – from Kildunne’s speed on the wing to Harrison’s flawless kicking – but also demonstrated a cohesive team effort, strategic adaptability and a depth of talent that bodes well for the remainder of the Women’s Six Nations campaign.