By Jackie Finlan

The Women’s Six Nations contested the first of five rounds this past weekend and saw Wales, France, and England all come away with tournament-opening wins. 

Wales Edges Scotland

The award for drama goes to Wales' 18-17 win over Scotland, which kicked off the tournament weekend on Friday. Playing under the lights at Colwyn Bay, Wales dominated the first half, leaning on the forwards to set the tempo. 

Led by hooker, captain and eventual MVP Carys Phillips, the pack deployed an effective driving lineout and defensive scrum that kept Scotland scrambling backward. The ability to finish, however, kept the point differential manageable for Scotland.

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Wales converted the advantageous territory into points approximately 12 minutes in, as quick hands moved down the line and fullback Jodie Evans, just before the hit, got the final pass to wing Jessica Kavanagh-Williams for the try and a 5-0 lead. 

Evans added a penalty 10 minutes later to stretch the Welsh lead to 8-0, and a dropped pass after the restart allowed Scotland to attack inside Wales’ 22 meter for the first time all game. Four straight penalties from Wales — three inside the 10 meter — allowed Scotland to spend approximately 10 minutes in scoring position, but no points evolved. Instead, Wales used a Scotland penalty to clear its lines, launch its driving lineout, and return to the opposite end of the pitch. 

Successful finishing passes plagued Wales throughout the first half, but the team connected for one more try before the break: Wing Hannah Bluck scored for the 13-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Scotland returned to the pitch ready to engineer a momentum shift. Captain Lisa Martin at inside center was truly inspirational, putting her teammates into situations where they could express themselves on offense and build confidence. Two minutes after the break, fullback Chloe Rollie inserted into the line with great speed to snap the shutout, 13-5. 

Wales restored the point differential at 18-5 after an intense forward-centric barrage at the line, opening up an abundance of space out wide for outside center Kerin Lake to score. And then Rollie struck again, taking a floating pass for a clean, fast break, and try to bring the Scots back to an eight-point margin at 18-10.

With 10 minutes to go and the wind at its back, Scotland pulled to within a point. A poor outlet pass from a Wales scrum influenced a blocked kick and turnover. The forwards went to work at the line and prop Jade Konkel dove over for the converted try, cutting Wales' lead to 18-17.

Both teams had opportunities to add to the scoreboard, but the final push went to the Wales forwards. They kept Scotland under pressure — and set up an easy try out wide that was foiled by some tunnel vision — and held on for the win. Scotland earned a bonus point in the loss.

France Shuts Out Ireland

France entered its home test against Ireland as the favorite and lived up to those predictions with a 24-0 win at the Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse on Saturday.

With more experience, confidence, and verve, Les Bleus scored three tries in the first half through Cyrielle Banet, Jade Le Pesq and Jess Tremoulier, who also added a conversion for a 17-0 halftime lead.

Ireland regrouped after the break and stepped up its defense, while France struggled to re-establish some consistency. The scoreboard didn’t nudge until the final five minutes of the match, when Le Pesq scored her second and Tremoulier added the conversion for the 24-0 bonus-point win.

Defending Champs Roll

The England concentrated its drama to the first half against Italy, before the visitors and reigning champions cruised to a 42-7 win at Stadio Mirabello in Reggio Emilia on Sunday.

During the first 20 minutes, Roses halfbacks Leann Riley and Katy Daley-McLean launched a quick-moving attack that was eager to move away from the breakdown and kick for territory. But much like Wales, several finishing passes went forward or knocked on, limiting the squad to one score.

Also like Wales, England’s driving lineout continued to be a reliable weapon, and after six minutes, the Roses had used three such set pieces to gain significant ground. Prop Sarah Bern — who was as tough in open space as she was at the try line — dotted down for the Daley-McLean-converted try.

The second quarter saw Italy find some rhythm and England commit penalties — specifically, around the lineout, where Italy was able to be disruptive at times. Italy used a driving lineout of its own to set up some pick-and-goes at the line, and lock Valentina Ruzza dove over. Michela Sillari converted for the 7-all halftime score.

The second half, however, was not even, as England began to execute those finishing moves to solidify an already dangerous attack. Italy essentially played defense for 40 minutes. England captain Sarah Hunter (three tries), MVP and flanker Poppy Cleal, wing Abigail Dow, and fullback Ellie Kildunne scored tries, and Daley-McLean added the conversions and a penalty in the 42-7 win.

Round 2 Matchups

All Times ET/PT

Wales at England

Date: Saturday, Feb. 10 | Time: 7:15 AM/4:15 AM | Where: Twickenham, England

Broadcast info: WATCH LIVE

France at Scotland

Date: Saturday, Feb. 1- | Time: 2 PM/11 PM | Where: Glasgow, Scotland

Broadcast info: WATCH LIVE

Italy at Ireland

Date: Sunday, Feb. 11 | Time: 8 AM/5 AM | Where: Dublin, Ireland

Broadcast info: WATCH LIVE

Jackie Finlan has been writing about rugby in the USA and around the world for years. She is the editor of The Rugby Breakdown, which mainly covers the women's game in the USA.