NEWS
Spherical three of the Girls’s Six Countries brought extra immense wins for front-runners England and France.
Ireland didn’t have rather so important relaxing in Italy even if, shedding 24-7 in Parma.
Here’s what we discovered from the weekend, with assist from conventional gamers Sarah Hunter, Philippa Tuttiett and Megan Kennedy.
Will Ireland v England be a agonize?
Wales, armed with paunchy-time contracts since January 2022, showed promising signs of enhance within the first two rounds however were given a actuality compare by England on Saturday.
The Crimson Roses withstood Wales’ early efforts to gain by better than 50 aspects for the third match in a row.
Given Wales suffered in this sort of skill, it is difficult to now not envisage Ireland – winless in this yr’s event – now not being in for a torrid time when they host England next Saturday.
Venerable England captain Hunter expressed agonize about how many aspects the Crimson Roses could well maybe presumably drag up.
“We’re at a level now the set you might want to search competitive video games,” she said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“Ireland are in an actual refined patch with a fresh coach, fresh gamers, contracts, now not having the overall gamers they desire available.
“For the rugby world or for the unprejudiced, it does believe a number of concerns. From an England perspective, they’ll now not be preserving assist.
“They’ve received a Grand Slam they are desirous to head and gain. They would possibly be able to’t have enough money to take their foot off the pedal.”
- Hear to Rugby Union Weekly’s reaction from Cardiff
- ‘Massive consideration to ingredient’ keeps England ahead
Wales want ‘self belief’
Defeat in Cardiff used to be a disappointing discontinuance to Wales’ momentum following impressive wins against Scotland and Ireland.
They held firm for 25 minutes in front of a yarn crowd however were eventually dismantled – and that resulted in a scoreline that didn’t in actuality signify the balance of the match.
Venerable Wales centre Tuttiett says the aspect needs to achieve “that next level of self-belief”.
“So important of that play within the first half got here from sheer belief however as rapidly as that received examined you observed it tumble,” she said.
“Wales have had splendid momentum however they were humbled. They had England on the ropes at instances however they upright didn’t convert.”
Ireland must ‘battle via effort’
Ireland’s defeat in Italy formulation they have lost their first three Girls’s Six Countries fits for the first time since 2007.
It used to be presumably a predictable outcome, as there used to be a stark inequity within the trajectories of the two facets prior to the recreation in Parma.
Italy got here into the event riding high after reaching a major World Cup quarter-excellent and they have converted that momentum into a Six Countries gain.
Ireland’s preparations were mired by sexism allegations against the Irish Rugby Soccer Union, which the governing physique disputes.
Greg McWilliams’ aspect are fifth within the desk on aspects distinction, however that feels seemingly to alternate after their assembly with England.
However England head coach Simon Middleton used to be positive about Ireland’s future, announcing they “also can assist recovering”.
“They’ve had some refined classes to this level,” he said. “As soon as in some time you have to battle via the difficulty to win to the set it is top to silent be.”
- Italy gain against Ireland
- France blow Scotland away
‘A France aspect that could well maybe presumably beat England’
Scotland were heavily beaten on Sunday, conceding nine tries in France to dwell with out a gain in 12 competitive fixtures.
Great cherish Wales, Scotland didn’t capitalise on first-half alternatives.
“There have been some fabulous defensive efforts within the first half, and some resilience in there,” conventional Scotland prop Megan Kennedy advised BBC Scotland.
“That is one thing that’s been lacking within the past.”
France, on the alternative hand, regarded cherish a aspect ready to address England in front of what’s going to be a yarn-breaking Twickenham crowd.
The excellent-spherical encounter – that’s ceaselessly a Grand Slam decider – is decided to be the finest-attended females’s recreation in historical past, with stamp gross sales having already surpassed the yarn of 42,579 living eventually yr’s World Cup excellent in Serene Zealand.
England, who are wanting for a fifth successive Six Countries title, have beaten France of their closing 11 meetings, however Les Bleues look sure to flip that statistic spherical.
“France got here out all guns blazing and didn’t give Scotland a probability to mediate,” Kennedy said.
“Their offload recreation is stable and in that [second] half, we observed a France physique of workers that could well maybe presumably beat England.”
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