England hang on to claim Women’s 6 Nations grand slam
There was a minute after France’s Joanna Grisez scored where fans were looking left and ideal wondering if this would be the day England’s stranglehold on this competitors would pertain to an end. The Red Roses were 31-7 up after 23 minutes but an undaunted France stayed in the fight and cut back the cause one point in the last minute. A French knock-on ended the game and the large pressure the hosts were under appeared to see by the wild events by the England players at full-time as they sealed their seventh successive Women’s Six Countries title.It felt like the French ran out of time and had their revival come 5 minutes previously they could have ended up being the first team since themselves in 2018 to beat England in this competitors. It was most definitely the visitors’finest getaway of this competition with the scrum-half, Pauline Bourdon-Sansus, and the wing Kelly Arbey having especially remarkable performances.Advertisement Related: Narrow win’perfect’for England
‘s World Cup preparations, states Mitchell To highlight just how much France had England’s number sometimes, the visitors
scored more points against England(42 )than the Red Roses had actually yielded in their four other Six Nations games collectively(29 )this year. An 80-minute efficiency has escaped the Red Roses– with the win over Wales in round 2 coming the closest– however they did still handle to extend their winning run in this competition to 34 games and 25 in all competitions.England will be hoping the next game at Twickenham will not be as close as this as in 5 months time when they will hope to be completing in a Rugby World Cup last. That trophy has actually eluded them given that 2014 and it stays their primary target in 2025 in their pursuit for sporting immortality. Their position as one of the very best groups in any sport would be sealed with that World Cup crown.That has actually been in the England head coach John Mitchell’s mind this Six Countries tournament as he has evaluated different combinations that have actually demonstrated their relatively endless depth throughout the team. Starting Emma Sing in the opener became a hugely useful move for the decider with Ellie Kildunne ruled out with a hamstring injury. Sing was generated to play the most significant game of her international career. She had a slightly anxious outing but scored 2 shots in her 3rd start.Advertisement Damp however clear conditions invited the groups, as well as red smoke and a fire program. The hosts scored first through the wing Abby Dow, the score making Dow the leading try-scorer of the tournament.But England were not commemorating
for long as France struck directly back. A well-worked effort put the fly-half, Carla Arbez, over and the toing and froing of scoring continued with Sing next in. The popular England maul was then released with Lark Atkin-Davies dotting down and Sing quickly added another. The French prop Assia Khalfaoui– who got a red card in this fixture in 2015– was revealed a yellow card for a high shot on Maud Muir. Taking advantage of being a player up, England scored through Claudia MacDonald.Francesca McGhie’s last-gasp try offered Scotland their 2nd Women’s 6 Nations win as they beat Ireland at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh.Amee-Leigh Costigan sent out Ireland ahead after running down the left flank to cross in the corner and Dannah O’Brien transformed from a tight angle.Advertisement The hosts managed to get their very first points of the game when Lana Skeldon broke away from a trample to ground, and they took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Emma Orr squeezed through a gap before diving over the
line, with Helen Nelson adding the extras.Ireland reacted early in the second half following a great show of strength on the tryline, where Linda Djougang
‘s effort was promoted
following a tv match authorities review, and Scotland’s afternoon took an additional twist when Rhona Lloyd was sent out to the sin-bin for head contact with Costigan in the buildup to the try.Despite being a player down, Rachel McLachlan raced into the ideal corner to ground for the hosts and Nelson converted, however the fly-half was soon shown a yellow card with simply over 10 minutes to play.Emily Lane powered over the line for Ireland and O’Brien’s conversion levelled the scores, but in the 80th minute a fast switch of play to the left wing saw McGhie crash over the line, with Nelson adding the bonus from a tight angle.
PA Media Advertisement A mistake came next with a pass from the scrum-half, Mo Hunt, leading Harrison to knock-on and Bourdon-Sansus attacked to rating. England were put under more pressure for the remainder of the half and France’s perseverance settled with a shot from Marine Ménager to cut the point deficit to 10 points at the break.England were forced into an early substitution in the 2nd half as MacDonald decreased and was in significant discomfort with a knee injury. She got back to her feet, however was removed quickly after. England continued to be rumbled by France and they required a leader to consistent the ship, in stepped their captain, Zoe Aldcroft, who wonderfully rounded off a try.France sniped back stayed in touching distance of England with a dazzling solo try by Arbey. An exchange of shots from Dow and France’s Morgane Bourgeois and Grisez finished the action
. One prize down for the Red Roses, another to enter 2025. The concern on everyone’s lips is if England can back up their latest age of dominance with the Rugby World Cup title, something they failed to do 3 years back.