Scotland 7-84 England: Women’s Six Nations rugby union – as it happened

Key events

Match report

Sarah Rendell has filed her report in a flash! Just like a speeding Kildunne down the left wing.

Murrayfield’s foundations were ‘rocked” as Sarah put it. Fair play. That felt like a seismic shellacking.

Thanks for keeping me company. We’ll be back next week for England’s home game against Wales.

Casting my eye at some stats. Here’s what stands out:

England made 18 linebreaks to Scotland’s two. That reall is indicative of the power the teams possess.
England, as you’d expect, bossed a number of other metrics like defenders beaten (52-20), metres gained (715-246) and off-loads (12-0). It’s all about gainline dominance in this sport, eh?
England also owned the kick battle with Harrison just superb throughout. The Red Roses made 831 metres from 26 kicks out of hand. For Scotland, that’s 393 metres from 17 kicks.
Scotland also only made 59% of their tackles. Won’t win too many games that way.
With all that go-forward, it’s no surprise to see that 80% of England’s rucks lasted three seconds or less. That’s blistering!
And as mentioned before, Scotland lost four line-outs (three that they simply coughed up, one that was stolen). All were in England’s 22.

The BBC has switched over to the Wales v France game.

I’ve yet to hear from any coaches or players, including player of the match Maddie Feaunati.

I’ll see what I can dig out before Sarah’s report lands.

Katy Daley-McClean, on BBC, is on a different page:

I don’t think the scoreline represents Scotland. I don’t remember a performance that England have been this dominant.

I get it. To a point. But Scotland did cough up four line-outs inside England’s 22. They had chances to score tries of their own and didn’t take them. They routinely spilled the ball and failed to make ground after going two phases. They got what they deserved, if you’re asking me.

Am I being harsh?

Take nothing away from England. They were outstanding.

Full-time! Scotland 7-84 England

The score tells the story. There will be talk about how this doesn’t accurately reflect Scotland, but it does. They were too disjointed against a ruthless England side who were so much better than they were last week. What a performance. How does any other side compete with them?

TRY! Scotland 7-84 England (Lutui, 80)

Cherry on the top! England consume Scotland’s scrum and once the ball pops out the back for the Red Roses, it’s just a question of who will dot down. It’s Lutui. A proper hiding delivered today as Harrison makes it 12 from 12 off the tee.

79 min: England almost score another off the back of a Harrison break and a kick ahead. Will it be Venner? Will it be Breach? They both swoop over the bobbling ball. It’s Breach who picks up but she can’t control it as she tries to dot down in one motion. Scotland have a scrum close to their own line.

TRY! Scotland 7-77 England (Venner, 77)

Lovely feet out wide! Scotland have truly been hammered. Robinson, who has been brilliant since she came on, brust through midfield. M Packer carried on the attack with Sing making ground down the right wing. Scotland just couldn’t form their defensive line and the ball kept shifting left before it landed in Venner’s bread basket. A quick step in the tram and she skinned her defender, rounding out a simple score.

Harrison is a sniper. That’s 11 successful shots at goal from as many attempts.

Now it’a Mia Venner’s turn! Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

TRY! Scotland 7-70 England (Kabeya, 75)

She deserves that! Bafflingly, she wasn’t on the shortlist for player of the match, but at least she has a try.

It came off the back of a line-out, but took a lot longer than anticipated. Powell got the maul on but it spluttered. So short carries from the forwards inched them on. M Packer came close with a pick and go before Kabeya put the icing on with a burrow from close range.

Harrison doesn’t miss. She lands another great conversion.

74 min: More pain incoming for Scotland. A penalty gives England the chance to set up a line-out within touching distance of the line.

72 min: Some fortune for Scotland as England make a mess of the line-out. Scotland have the scrum and opt for a cross-field kick off the back of it. It doesn’t quite work so England have the line-out again. They’ve lost maybe two metres but this time win the ball.

70 min: England win a bit of kick tennis. A minute ago they were defending inside their own 22. Now, after dominating with the boot, they’re throwing to the line-out 10 metres inside Scotland’s half.

68 min: Another knock-on from Scotland inside England’s red zone. It’s just so frustrating. I don’t think they’ve been that terrible. The bagpipes are still playing as Flower of Scotland rings out. I guess the fans aren’t too fussed.

TRY! Scotland 7-63 England (M Packer, 66)

Unstoppable! The veteran rolls back the years. She’s on the shoulder of a great break from Robinson who found space off the back of the line-out. She also showed great awareness to spot the support run inside. The pass to Marlie Packer was perfect and the rush ahead would not be stopped.

Marlie Packer goes down for number nine! Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

64 min: Venner is hammered out of touch by Brebner-Holden. Then they need to be separated as a bit of tension boils to the surface. It was a tough take for Venner who had to catch above her head. Scotland show some bravery and throw over the top of the line-out. It works as they come away with the ball. But Nelson’s clearing kick is not a good one. England still inside Scotland’s 22 with this line-out.

63 min: England turn over Scotland inside their own 22 and Kabeya – my pick for player of the match – rampages through a half gap. She comes within 10 of the line before she’s stopped. They have the advantage, so even though Breach is drilled in the contact, England will have another chance to score. There’s a team warning for Scotland. Another infringement in the red zone and someone will see yellow.

62 min: Kildunne and Rowland are subbed off. On come Venner and Aitchison. Harrison stays on at fly-half.

61 min: Harrison launches a long clearing kick after the restart. Seems innocuous, but deserves a shout. She has been not perfect all afternoon.

TRY! Scotland 7-56 England (Bern, 60)

She’s only been on the field for a few minutes and already has a double! Pure power from England. Off the scrum, go-forward, Feaunati hammers the gainline and finds a teammate inside with an off-load. Burton involved too before Bern picks up and burrows to complete the score. As you’d expect, Harrison adds two more to her tally.

60 min: A Mexican wave ripples across the ground as England get going off the scrum. Feaunati finds space in midfield and off-loads back infield….

58 min: A mistake in the backfield from Scott will hand England a scrum on the left tram inside Scotland’s 22. Scotland were on the ball until they weren’t, thanks to Kildunne snaffling a pass and kicking ahead. Scott ran back to mop up but spilled the ball on the ground.

57 min: Nelson overcooks another kick. She’s not brought her kicking boots today. Out of hand, she drills one far too long and it bobbles out all the way at the far end of the pitch. England get a relieving drop-out from their 22.

TRY! Scotland 7-49 England (Bern, 54)

Total rugby! So much to love here. Off the line-out on halfway, they go down the line in a flash. Harrison and Rowland running the show. Sing has it from fullback and she makes great ground. Breach gets it and off-loads to Kildunne who darts down the left tram herself. She is held up in contact but manages to get the ball away to Packer before she’s bundled out. Then it’s about the forwards who carry hard and straight. Bern is the last to hold onto it and she bulldozes over from close range. Harrison adds the extras to maintain her perfect record from the tee today.

Substitute Sarah Bern gets on the scoresheet. Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

52 min: Another – what is that, four? – blown opportunity for Scotland. This line-out throw is not straight. Scotland always had little more than a slim chance today. But that is reduced to zero without a funcitoning line-out inside England’s 22.

From the scrum, England’s new front row win a penalty. So from throwing to the line just 20 metres from the line, Scotland now must defend a line-out on halfway.

51 min: What a run from Muir. How on earth does anyone tackler her? With three defenders apparently. But it’s Scotland back on the ball after winning a line-out. They now have a penalty as England are too exuberant on the ground. Jones, not rolling away, is the guilty party. Scotland will have another throw on England’s 22 as the visitors switch their front row in one shot. Cokayne, Muir and Clifford replaced by Powell, Carson and Bern.

TRY! Scotland 7-42 England (Cokayne, 49)

It’s not an England game without a Cokayne try and here’s another one! Simple as. Clean line-out ball. A formidable maul is set. It rumbles on and the hooker dots down.

Harrison has her toughest conversion of the day, using her right foot from far out to the right. No bother. She slots it with a simple swing of her boot.

Amy Cokayne finishes off a massive maul by England. Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

47 min: How frustrating for Scotland. One step forward, one step back. They have the line-out but they throw it away as England read them like a book, pinching the ball in the air. England’s backline is very deep but the close the space in a flash. Some neat interplay between Sing, Breach and Kildunne down the left wing keeps the move alive. Harrison looks up and spots some space in the far right corner. She has the penalty advantage so rakes a kick ahead. It’s a little too long. No matter. They come back for the penalty that Harrison nudges out for a line-out about 10 metres out.

45 min: Scotland win the ball back by holding up Breach who ran out of room on the right wing. Kabeya won possession on the far wing as she snaffled a loose Scottish pass. Packer darted. Muir stood in at scrumhalf and Rowland flung a long ball for Breach. Perhaps it was the wrong option as the floating ball allowed the Scottish defenders to regroup. The scrum then goes Scotland’s way as they get a penalty that is kicked down field.

43 min: Wills leaves the field holding her right arm. She was clattered by two English players and looks in pain. Scott joins the party in time for this England scrum just inside Scotland’s half.

43 min: A little better from Scttland. Lloyd and then Coubrough and then Clarke make ground. Stewart has it but then momentum stalls on halfway and they start moving backwards. England swarm. They really do pick their moments. A double hit on Wills causes trouble in the line so Scotland try and rush things, ending with Coubrough knocking on.

41 min: An early spill of the pill gives Scotland a chance to set something up from a scrum inside their own half.

I want to see more punch from the Scots. Easier said than done, but that really was the difference between the teams. They more or less spent as much time on the ball. England just rampaged over the gainline with just about every carry.

Second half

The players are back.

And thanks to Geoff Wingall who pointed out that there were in fact six tries, and not seven that I reported.

Thanks Geoff. Let’s hope I can keep count for 40 minutes.

Half-time: Scotland 7-35 England

Feaunati squeezes her body through the morass of packs and holds up the maul.

That means that Scottish play comes to an end and with it an entertaining first half. Six tries, two for Kildunne, with some brilliant moments and a bit of shoddy defending.

None of this comes as a surprise. Still, I enjoyed that.

Back in a bit.

Flying Ellie Kildunne. Photograph: Molly Darlington/RFU/The RFU Collection/Getty Images

40 min: Scotland get one more chance before halftime as they are awarded a penalty that Nelson nudges out for a line-out inside England’s 22.

TRY! Scotland 7-35 England (Sing, 39)

It’s become a basketball game! Sing scores but it’s all about two mighty runs from English forwards. First Muir, who rampaged up field before running out of steam inside Scotland’s 22. Then Kabeya, who showed what an athlete she is, stepping and hand-offing and shrugging tacklers. She came within a metre. Packer flung it right and it found its way to Sing who could have passed to Kildunne, but instead went solo to score.

Rhona Lloyd of Scotland Women scores their first try. Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

TRY! Scotland 7-28 England (Lloyd, 37)

THAT IS A WORLDIE! My goodness, what a banger! Scotland were going nowhere on half-way. In fatc, they were going backwards with a series of soft carries. So Nelson, shallow at first receiver, popped a lovely little kick over the England line and it fell perfectly for Rollie who caught and passed inside in one motion. Then Lloyd had two defenders to beat, including Kildunne. She did just that and dotted down. Go and search out the highlights of this one.

TRY! Scotland 0-28 England (Clifford, 33)

Bonus point secured! That felt inevitable. The tap and go off the penalty. One carry is brilliantly cleared by Kabeya who ensured that Packer could pick the right pass. She spots Clifford to her right and pops the simple ball up for the big prop. There is no stopping her from right in front and she powers down England’s fourth try. Again, Harrison nudges the simple conversion.

England’s Kelsey Clifford (hidden) scores their side’s fourth try of the game as team-mates celebrate. Photograph: Ewan Bootman/PA

Scotland 7-84 England: Women’s Six Nations rugby union – as it happened | Women’s Six Nations

Match report

Leave a Reply Cancel reply