England’s women’s side, the Red Roses, delivered a spectacular performance at Ashton Gate, smashing Wales 62‑24 in a Women's Six Nations clash and crossing the try‑line ten times. The day began with an early surge as newcomer Maddie Feaunati broke through the Welsh defence inside the 22‑metre line, grounding the ball for the first try after just six minutes, with Helena Rowland converting the conversion.
Shortly thereafter, debutant Millie David collected a long pass from Holly Aitchison and sprinted to the try‑line, extending the lead before she was forced to leave the field following a head‑injury assessment. Wales responded with resilience, narrowing the gap when scrum‑half Keira Bevan snatched a ball from a ruck, slipped through a gap and scored, then added the conversion herself to bring the score to 12‑7. However, England’s momentum was unstoppable.
Flanker Marlie Packer powered over the line, and centre Meg Jones followed with a solo effort that secured a bonus‑point try, both conversions again handled by Rowland. Wales managed a further try from hooker Jones after a well‑executed line‑out, but the Red Roses entered the halftime break with a comfortable 29‑12 advantage. The second half saw England continue to dominate.
Hooker Amy Cokayne peeled off the back of a rolling maul to touch down, and Rowland added the extra two points. Wales suffered a setback when full‑back Kayleigh Powell was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on, leaving the visitors short‑handed for several minutes. Replacement winger Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald seized the opportunity, sprinting to the corner for a try that was promptly converted by Zoe Harrison, who also added the conversion for Jess Breach’s try later in the period.
Marlie Packer and Maud Muir each added a try on either side of a try from Wales flanker Lewis, with Harrison converting both. The final try of the match came from Welsh wing Seren Lockwood, securing a bonus point for the visitors as the clock wound down.
England finished with ten tries, a testament to their clinical finishing and depth across the back row and backs. Marlie Packer was named player of the match. In her interview with the BBC she praised the squad’s character and the atmosphere at Ashton Gate: “We’re really pleased. Wales gave us a tough game and have improved massively.
Our young squad stepped up and I’m proud of their performance. Wearing this shirt is a huge honour, and playing in front of a sold‑out crowd is incredible. We love being in the Red Roses camp – it’s a great environment that lets us produce this kind of product on the pitch.” Wales head coach Sean Lynn also reflected on his side’s effort, noting the importance of character: “That’s what I asked for today – character.
A year ago we would have collapsed, but the girls fought back with two tries and earned a bonus point. We’re disappointed to have conceded 62 points, but the Red Roses were clinical.” The broader tournament narrative shifted later in the week as France faced Ireland at the Stade Marcel‑Michelin. France’s 26‑7 victory demonstrated the efficiency required at this level.
Although Ireland displayed flashes of creativity and dominated large periods of play, costly mistakes and a poor kicking game allowed the French to pull away, tying England at the top of the table and setting up a potential showdown in the final round. In a separate fixture, Italy celebrated centre Silvia Turani’s 50th cap by dismantling Scotland 41‑14 at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. The Azzurre executed a high‑tempo, precision‑driven game plan that left the Scots scrambling. Scotland’s campaign was hampered by the late withdrawal of captain Rachel Malcolm and a spate of injuries, which exposed a gap between the two sides.
Overall, the England‑Wales match highlighted the Red Roses’ depth, with contributions from starters and replacements alike. The team’s ability to maintain intensity throughout both halves, capitalize on opposition errors, and finish with a high conversion rate underlines why they remain the benchmark in women’s European rugby. The win not only secured a third straight victory in the Six Nations but also reinforced England’s reputation as the tournament’s dominant force heading into the decisive stages.