England’s women’s rugby side delivered a spectacular performance at Murrayfield, crossing the try line twelve times as they overwhelmed Scotland 84-7 in the second round of the Women’s Six Nations. The match, played in front of a crowd of 30,498, highlighted England’s depth and attacking flair despite a spate of injuries that forced several changes to the starting XV. In the lead‑up to the game England had to cope with a significant injury list. Five players from the opening win over Ireland were unavailable, the most notable being full‑back Ellie Kildunne, who was shifted onto the wing to make room for Emma Sing.
Veteran centre Alex Matthews missed the fixture with a shoulder problem, while front‑row stalwarts Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell and lock Tatyana Heard were ruled out for the entire tournament. Coach John Mitchell therefore fielded a side with several fresh faces, but the lack of continuity did not diminish their confidence. The Red Roses started brightly and seized the initiative early.
Within eight minutes, Maddie Feaunati broke through the Scottish defence and passed to Kildunne, now playing on the wing, who sprinted to the corner for the opening try. Zoe Harrison’s conversion put England ahead 7-0. Five minutes later Sadia Kabeya powered over after a swift interchange with captain Meg Jones, extending the lead to 14-0.
England’s fluid passing and aggressive support play continued to reward them, and by the 23rd minute Kildunne scored her second try of the day – a milestone 50th international try – after a perfectly timed looping pass from Jones. England’s forwards added their weight in the middle of the first half. Kelsey Clifford barreled over from close range to secure the bonus‑point try, and the conversion from Harrison pushed the scoreboard to 28-0.
Scotland finally found a moment of joy when winger Rhona Lloyd collected a high kick and became the first woman to score for Scotland in a stand‑alone women’s match at Murrayfield. Helen Nelson’s conversion narrowed the gap to 28-7, but the Scottish side could not sustain any further momentum. The second half was a showcase of England’s attacking depth. Amy Cokayne, a reliable try‑scorer, crossed on the 48th minute after a classic line‑out maul finish.
Sarah Bern then demonstrated her power by scoring two tries within six minutes (54th and 60th), each followed by Harrison’s flawless conversions, taking the total past the 50‑point mark. Veteran Marlie Packer added her try on the 65th minute, while Kabeya returned to the scoresheet ten minutes later, underscoring the relentless pressure England placed on Scotland’s defence. In the final minutes, the younger members of the squad were given opportunities to finish the onslaught. Mia Venner, on just her third test cap, scored on the 77th minute, and Haineala Lutui, on her second cap, capped the scoring spree with a try as the clock ticked down.
Harrison completed her perfect day with twelve successful conversions, cementing an 84-7 final score that propelled England to the top of the Six Nations table. The match report also noted a few ancillary details: Scotland’s early possession in the opening five minutes, England’s patient build‑up play, and the impact of the crowd’s energy.
The full list of try‑scorers for England reads: Ellie Kildunne (8, 23), Meg Jones (13), Kelsey Clifford (32), Emma Sing (39), Amy Cokayne (48), Sarah Bern (54, 60), Marlie Packer (65), Sadia Kabeya (75), Mia Venner (77), Haineala Lutui (80). Zoe Harrison converted each of these twelve tries, with a perfect conversion record of 12 out of 12.
Beyond the England‑Scotland fixture, the article briefly touched on other Six Nations results. France rallied in the second half to beat Wales 38-7 in Cardiff, moving into second place behind England on points difference. Ireland secured a dominant 57-20 win over Italy in Galway, with Beibhinn Parsons netting a hat‑trick and captain Erin King praising the squad’s performance after a previous loss to England. Comments from key figures added perspective.
England captain Meg Jones highlighted the team’s relentlessness and continual improvement, while former World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi lauded the forward pack’s renewed power and the side’s overall execution. Alphonsi also expressed disappointment for the Scottish supporters, noting the missed opportunity for a memorable home performance. In summary, England’s women’s team demonstrated why they are the benchmark in European rugby.
Despite injury setbacks, they executed a fluid, high‑tempo game plan, combined forward dominance with backline speed, and maintained composure to secure a bonus‑point victory. The twelve‑try haul, flawless kicking, and depth across the bench not only cemented their position at the summit of the Six Nations but also sent a clear message to the rest of the competition: the Red Roses are in formidable form and intent on defending their title throughout the tournament.