Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

England overpower Italy in winning start to Women’s Six Nations campaign | Women’s Six Nations

March 23, 2025
in Rugby
0
Home Rugby
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Wales’ big new rugby hope being mentored by England and Lions star

Kicking off Lions tour against Argentina in Ireland is profitable for everyone | British & Irish Lions

Super Rugby Final – head to head stats

No one expected it to be easy for Italy. No one expected it to be anything other than straightforward for England. The Red Roses duly achieved a resounding six-try win in launching their attempt at a seventh successive title, but after scoring five first-half tries they stuttered after the break and waited until two minutes from time for a second-half score. “We left a bit out there,” the head coach, John Mitchell, conceded.

England’s hot streak now stretches to 21 consecutive matches, since after the World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022, but there was ultimately a lack of fluency here in York that may concern Mitchell, who celebrated his 61st birthday and ushered in what may become a special year with a win.

In 152 days’ time, England begin a home Rugby World Cup against the USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. It is inconceivable they could suffer the same fate of the men’s side of a decade ago, when Stuart Lancaster’s team failed to make it out of the pool. But they are sure to be tested in the tournament’s later stages, so this Six Nations will be about refining combinations and systems. After an uncertain start, Italy improved markedly, while England’s accuracy was not what they would have hoped.

“It was a really good performance,” Mitchell said. “The objective was to build pressure on Italy … We started really well but we also knew we’d go through a period of the game when we’d have to work our way through it.

“We let them off with a bit of poor execution but generally, I thought we stuck at it … I just think [it’s] combinations, getting used to each other.”

The captain, Zoe Aldcroft, born down the road in Scarborough, said it was a “super special” day. “The crowd were fantastic and there were a lot of familiar faces which was lovely,” the blindside flanker said.

“The first half was really good, just then a little bit of [poor] execution. They had some good carries second-half and maybe we could have matched that. We’ll work on everything in that second half.”

A blend of Italian nervousness and English precision led to a try bonus point being wrapped up before the half-hour. An errant Beatrice Rigoni pass gifted England an attacking scrum after which Mia Venner, on full debut, got the hosts up and running after three minutes, the full-back Emma Sing converting.

Emily Scarratt scored the second and, although the excellent Rosie Galligan then knocked on in seemingly scoring a third, the Italy hooker Laura Gurioli was sent to the sin-bin for coming in at the side and a penalty try was awarded anyway. Holly Aitchison soon pumped a high kick to Claudia MacDonald, who snaffled it and scurried around the cover to score.

Emma Sing adds two of her individual 11-point haul. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

Scrum-caps off to Italy, though, they refused to buckle, and on their first visit to England’s 22 they shoved the No 8 Francesca Sgorbini over the try‑line. When Amy Cokayne added a fifth try before half-time no one would have believed that England would subsequently remain scoreless until the 78th minute. But that is what happened. Sgorbini was later denied a second try owing to an infringement by Beatrice Veronese.

Mitchell, who revealed after the game that he has confirmed internally his selection for the first two matches, including the visit to Cardiff next week, began to unload his bench, and the appearance of Hannah Botterman and Sarah Bern was ominous for Italy.

With a quarter of an hour left, though, the contest had become scrappy and the crowd were contemplating a second Mexican wave. The introduction of Ellie Kildunne, another Yorkshire-born Red Rose and the women’s world player of the year in 2024, visibly lifted home supporters.

skip past newsletter promotion

The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week’s action reviewed

Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

after newsletter promotion

Jade Shekells and Flo Robinson also came off the bench for their debuts. Bern was soon rampaging through the middle, leading to Sadia Kabeya touching down, and England’s frustration appeared to have been relieved. But the television match official pulled it back for a forward pass.

Quick Guide

How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?

Show

Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.Turn on sport notifications.

Thank you for your feedback.

Sing finally succeeded in adding a sixth England try, completing an individual haul of 11 points, and the crowd went home satisfied. Job done and a victory to kick off a significant year. But Mitchell and his squad would have hoped for more after such a dominant first half.

The Italy front-row Sara Seye said: “We had a good chat at half-time. We spoke about defence. We said we had to do the basics right and keep building … You know they’re a good side, with good players coming off the bench. You just have to get your mind off of that and be yourself – be Italy.”

Expanding on his two-week selection policy, and what lies ahead before the World Cup, Mitchell added: “I like to plan. It would be stupid not to plan with what’s ahead in the year. A lot of thought’s gone into this, and we’ll be a better group for making sure everyone has purpose. We built pressure [today] but we also got some great examples of having to take some punches and deal with it.

“We’ve got a squad that’s got started [against Italy], and another group that’s ready to go again next week. It’s all good. The Red Roses don’t sit still.” It wasn’t perfect, but England and Mitchell may be grateful for having had a proper test.



Source link

Tags: campaignEnglandItalyNationsoverpowerstartwinningWomens
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Wales’ big new rugby hope being mentored by England and Lions star

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 19, 2025
0
Wales’ big new rugby hope being mentored by England and Lions star

Sam Scott has been taken under the wing of an England internationalWales U20s tighthead prop Sam Scott(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)Big things are expected of Wales U20 tighthead...

Read more

Kicking off Lions tour against Argentina in Ireland is profitable for everyone | British & Irish Lions

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 19, 2025
0
Kicking off Lions tour against Argentina in Ireland is profitable for everyone | British & Irish Lions

This is about the game time and the cash. In the first place, Andy Farrell has 38 players he needs to use in the first three games of...

Read more

Super Rugby Final – head to head stats

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 19, 2025
0
Super Rugby Final – head to head stats

I feel this is the biggest rivalry in Super Rugby? Last 10 years they've been very close. Team Statistics The Crusaders & Chiefs have played each other 51...

Read more

Terron Armstead Happy To Not Have To Block Jared Verse Anymore

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 18, 2025
0
Terron Armstead Happy To Not Have To Block Jared Verse Anymore

Los Angeles Rams star Jared Verse is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most feared edge rushers in the league. Even though he only had 4.5...

Read more

Guy Pepper: England’s Next Back-Row Star?

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 18, 2025
0
Guy Pepper: England’s Next Back-Row Star?

Henry Pollock has set the rugby world alight this season. The young flanker has been sensational and has rapidly become one of the best-known players in the game today....

Read more
Next Post
Liverpool and FSG face a big reset with 11 players in doubt – even if they’re champions! – Liverpool FC

Liverpool and FSG face a big reset with 11 players in doubt - even if they're champions! - Liverpool FC

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

PFL books Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes title struggle for Jan. 25

PFL books Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes title struggle for Jan. 25

November 20, 2024
Ferrari turns into critical menace in F1 title battle in opposition to McLaren: Zak Brown’s feedback

Ferrari turns into critical menace in F1 title battle in opposition to McLaren: Zak Brown’s feedback

September 4, 2024
Sneijders’s Man Utd prediction will both infuriate or amuse Liverpool followers

Sneijders’s Man Utd prediction will both infuriate or amuse Liverpool followers

July 8, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Lionel Messi becomes top scorer in FIFA competitions after goal in Club World Cup
  • Andy Reid addresses Travis Kelce usage during 2025 season
  • Former ONE Heavyweight champion goes scorched Earth on former boss who is ‘biggest failure in history of sports’
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.