England made light work of Italy to secure their second victory in this year’s Women’s Six Nations following a 68-5 triumph at Franklin’s Gardens.
After an opening 58-7 victory over Italy, the Red Roses once again proved too strong for their opponents, scoring 12 tries in total.
Abby Dow starred, touching down four times, while Jess Breach scored a hat-trick, and Claudia MacDonald and Marlie Packer went over for a brace.
Tatyana Heard completed the scoring to hand England another dominant win. Despite having a number of injuries, they once again look like the team to beat in this year’s Six Nations.
First game since Sarah Hunter retirement
A much-changed England – following injuries to Poppy Cleall and Amber Reed and the retirement of captain Sarah Hunter – returned to the top of the table.
Packer took over as Red Roses captain, Bristol lock Delaney Burns earned her first cap, Zoe Aldcroft replaced Hunter at number eight, and Catherine O’Donnell stepped into the starting line-up to join Burns in the second-row.
England were on the scoresheet within two minutes, capitalising on an error by the Italians to allow Breach to dot down, with Holly Aitchison adding the extras to hand the Grand Slam holders the early lead.
Italy replied quickly through Sara Tounesi from a driving maul, but the hosts reasserted their dominance and, by the 32-minute mark, had already secured their bonus point, making it 22-5 when a lovely feed from Sarah Bern set MacDonald away for a pacey move across the whitewash.
England extended their lead before half-time, and Heard added her name to the scoresheet with a 45th-minute try, converted by Lagi Tuima.
⌚️ Abby Dow is making up for lost time. The full-back scored a sublime solo finish for her hat-trick try in Northampton.#Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/16FJOQLdsD
— TikTok Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 2, 2023
It was not all good news for the hosts, however, as MacDonald was forced off with an apparent ankle injury and was replaced by Emma Sing, who soon converted a second try for Dow three minutes before the Harlequins winger dotted down for her third.
With an Italian comeback all but impossible, England head coach Simon Middleton introduced seven players from his bench as Breach completed a hat-trick of her own.
Dow crossed for her fourth, and skipper Packer added two more tries to make it 12 on the afternoon for her clinical England side.
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