Scotland vs England LIVE: Women’s Six Nations result, final score and reaction
Follow live updates from the first match in the 2022 Women’s Six Nations at DAM Health Stadium
A Marlie Packer hat-trick helped England begin their Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 57-5 thrashing of Scotland. Simon Middleton’s side extended their remarkable winning streak to 19 matches after a nine-try triumph over their rivals in Edinburgh. Playing in the shadows of Murrayfield, Packer got the ball rolling for England and they went on to comfortably secure a bonus-point victory to start their pursuit of another Grand Slam title.
It took nine minutes for the defending champions to go over for the first time through Packer and Emily Scarratt kicked the conversion on her Test return after a broken leg last year. Scarratt would play 58 minutes and finish with a 10-point haul after England went over six times in the opening half. Packer claimed a first-half double with Poppy Cleall, Heather Cowell, Abby Dow and Leanne Infante also touching down to make it 38-5 at the break. Holly Aitchison and Connie Powell added further tries after the restart before prop Packer secured a personal treble after some assistance from the TMO.
Scotland suffered a heavy loss to their old foes but the score only told half the story, with Chloe Rollie’s early try able to give the home crowd something to shout about while a knock-on denied Rachel McLachlan a further effort in an overall display that showed they can build on last season’s fifth-place finish. Follow all the reaction from this Women's Six Nations opener with our live blog below:
TRY! Scotland 5-45 England (Aitchison, 54’)
Wassell gives away a penalty and Rowland kicks to the corner, will England punish Scotland in the first time in the 22 this half.
Yes they have. Rowland kicked it into the try area and Aitchison collects and dots down. Wow this must be heartbreaking for Scotland.
Scarratt with the conversion
Scotland 5-38 England, 51'
Scotland have another go with a line-out but England steal it, Packer the one who took it.
This must be disheartening for Scotland who have had 70% possession in the last ten minutes.
England clear their lines and they will launch their first attack of the half.
NO TRY! Scotland 5-38 England, 49 min
That is a difficult call, for me it should have stood, but Neville says McLachlan knocked the ball on in an earlier phase. So no try for Scotland.
England scrum as the Red Roses make their first change.
Muir is off for Cornborough.
TRY REVIEW! Scotland 5-38 England 49 mins
Scotland kick to the corner again, they need to come away with points here.
McLachlan thinks she has gone over but they are looking to see if there’s been a knock-on. Will it stay?
Scotland 5-38 England, 48'
Konkel made a great few metres there and P Cleall came steaming into the ruck. But she gave away a penalty as she touched the scrum-half, Maxwell.
Scotland kick to the corner and they are on the charge with a penalty advantage.
England’s defence is holding strong so far but they are metres away with a huge pass going loose. We come back for the penalty.
Scotland 5-38 England, 46 min
Scotland put in at the scrum, the first of the half, and it hit the ground but the hosts got it out. Muir gave away a penalty advantage though as we come back for it, Scotland kicking to the corner.
The kick isn’t good and doesn’t make many metres but it is still a good opportunity for the team. They need to strike here or you feel England will steam away.
Scotland 5-38 England, 43 min
Scotland have done really well from the start, they steal the ball at the ruck and get a penalty advantage. They ran the ball out to the wing but England steal it back.
P Cleall made a great break with Hannah Smith managing to take down the flanker. Scotland got the ball back though as Aitchison put in a high tackle in earlier phases.
An extremely fast paced start with it ending in Kildunne knocking on.
Scotland 5-38 England, 40 min
We are back underway.
What is freighting about the scoreline is that England aren’t in their firing form. If they can cut their sloppy mistake they could punish Scotland more here.
The hosts aren’t playing badly either, it’s just England are that much better. Middleton spoke at half-time about their mentality to see if they can keep the intensity up, we are expecting many more tries!
Half-time Scotland 5-38 England
England have scored six tries so far in this game but there best is arguably Abby Dow’s.
It was a great running line from the winger and a beautiful pass from Scarratt. Take a look below:
Half-time: Scotland 5-38 England
Well, what a half of rugby!
We knew England were going to have the upper hand in this match but I didn’t predict this scoreline! Scotland were the stronger team for the opening few minutes but Marlie Packer dotted down first to break the hosts’ momentum.
Poppy Cleall, Packer, Heather Cowell, Leanne Infante and Abby Dow added more tries with Chloe Rollie scoring for Scotland.
It will be a huge half for Scotland if they can pull this back but it looks likely England will start their title defence perfectly.
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