Episode 1 Women's Six Nations Rugby

Welcome to Twickenham and a very big deal for women's rugby. In August,

it is the World Cup in Ireland, but over the next couple of months it is

all down to the European elite who will battle it out for the Six

Nations championship. # They revolution will be televised.

# We can watch it in HD. # Talk like a weekend warrior from

the safety of your TV. # The graphics won't be as realistic

as Grand Theft Auto 3. # I suppose you better change the

channel. # Put the children of their tea.

# The revolution will be televised! # Choose to watch or not.

# But if we all stay on the safety of our sofas. Lloyds there won't be

much of a revolution to be watched. We will have highlights of every

round on BBC Two for what promises to be a fiercely competitive Women's

Six Nations. Coming up, we'll see up Scotland kick off the tournament

against Ireland, but first the holders France take on England, the

Red Roses, at Twickenham. I am sure you know the points system was

altered for the men's competition, and that is echoed in the women's

competition too. Plenty of incentive to play the

attacking rugby that we love to see. Let's get to the action, commentary

for England versus France comes from World Cup winner Kat Murton and Sara

Orchard. The reigning world champions are up

against the reigning Six Nations champions. Let's take a look at

England, the world champions, 994 caps with the coach giving Amber

Reed the nod at inside centre. Jade Le Pesq, normally seen on the

wing, is starting at scrum-half. Tamara Taylor winning her 99th cap,

she gets the ball clearly away. -- cleanly. Amy Wilson Hardy proving a

tricky customer for France to tackle. Oh, what a steal! They

manage to pluck the ball out of the air, it is flying down this nearside

wing, it is going to be an opening score here for France, Shannon Izar

goes over, France have the first strike in this Six Nations clash.

That has got to be heartbreak for England, playing so flat to the

line. If she had got it in her hand, it could be the try the risk and

reward has gone against them this time. The opportunity was there, and

it was taken. Having had all that possession, England will have to

rethink their tactics here. Le Pesq, Le Duff, moving forward. Oh, Harriet

Millar-Mills was trying to get that away, will France take it quickly?

It is a little tap off the foot by Furlan, the referee says no.

Millar-Mills was desperate to get out of the way, she was in such a

tight spot. France obviously looking to build, then. Oh! Well, you don't

see that very often! And it is now France to have a clear 8-0 lead at

the home of English rugby. Big shove goes in, England are going

backwards, still moving backwards, this is wonderful from the French,

there is the penalty. Pats on the back to all those French players,

who will be enjoying their scrum time this evening. If I was the

French captain now, I would be calling for a scrum, if they are

dominating like that is - that has got to be the call. It looks like

they might just go for the corner. A big moment, then, Mignot five metres

out from the English line. It goes in long towards the back, taken

cleanly. And here is a trademark move that we see a lot from the

French, they are spinning it around, this one is moving. They are going

to be going over the line. It is down, the try is given, number two

for France, nothing England could do about it, and that is a score we

have seen a number of times for the French at Twickenham, and it is that

woman again. It is Gaelle Mignot, the French captain.

It has gone loose at the back, and Katy McLean there, like a terrier,

working down the centre of the park. Advantage to England as well. In

from the side by the French. It looked like she was going to take it

quickly, but right in the centre, almost straightaway Sarah Hunter is

pointing at the posts. I think that is the right decision, whether

England have numbers out wide or not, it is really important they get

some points on the board. The Lichfield centre has got England

moving now. They trailed by ten points here, but finally they are

getting points ticking over in the right direction. Katy McLean, can

she get numbers out to the far side? Emily Scarratt decides to go route

one. The ball is just so slow for England, they cannot quite get it

away. Back down the line, she gets over the line! England get their

first try in this Six Nations clash. And that is why Waterman is a

world-class finish. She just finds that line, and she will get there,

what an incredible finish. Danielle Waterman, she has played in three

World Cup finals, she has won a World Cup, she has been to the

Olympic Games, and she still loves scoring tries. Emily Scarratt, then,

lining up the conversion for England. And this, if she can get

it, would put them within three points of the French. A little bit

of a turn on it, that looks good, and it is, classy taking there from

Emily Scarratt. And England are right back into this match. Hunt,

Taylor, she is happy to keep it moving from the past. It was Burford

involved in there. Advantage to England. And this penalty is within

range. A lot of England hands pointing at the post, whether they

are the captain or not, everybody is pointing at the post!

Emily Scarratt, then, with a chance to level here for England, high into

the air it goes, and we are level pegging. The ball comes back,

Burford know has it, she is quickly sucked up by French players. She

deals with it very well, nice to set up the platform here, Hunt. Nice

take there by Scarratt under pressure, flying down the far side,

still going forward, back inside, Le Pesq was there to take the last

pass, the French had to take it out of play. They could not get the

final pass away to Lydia Thompson, and it remains 13-13. At the moment,

the French, they have scored two tries to England's one, but we are

all even on the scoreboard with 14 minutes left to play. Penalty to

England, and a big decision now, what they do with this ball. It has

got to be, yes, Scarratt walks up to it. Will this be the kick for

England to take the lead for the first time in his match against

France? All the pressure on outside centre Emily Scarratt. The ball is

flying, and it is flying good and true, and England take the lead,

leading France 16-13 with 12 minutes left to play. Oh, that scrum has

gone straight down to ground, the referee will let it play. No, then

she blows the whistle. It is a penalty, and once again calm heads

by England. As Emily Scarratt looks to extend the English lead by

another three points, and she does. It is now England to lead here

19-13. A big hit there, but she managed to

get the ball away, England have numbers on the near side, Emily

Scarratt going strong, England extend their lead further, the final

flourish, Amy Wilson Hardy, and it looks like England will be

victorious at Twickenham against the French.

It was fantastic the way we dug in to come out in the second half,

after being behind in the first, and we knew we weren't perfect and have

a lot to work on. France came right at us in the first 40, had a lot of

momentum and possession, so we knew we were in a Test match, it shows

the strength of the team when we can grind out a win like that. It wasn't

perfect, but sometimes it is about winning. Well, what a victory, and

joining me to talk about it is the former England coach Gary Streeter

and Emily Scarratt, player of the match, congratulations, what a

difference from the first to the second half! Just a little bit! We

knew France were going to be a tough test, and they properly did

something different to what we were expecting in the first 40, so it

took longer to adjust to that. Second half, we stuck to our

processes, we got going forward, some of the girls' class really

showed in the second half. You know Emily and the rest very well, what

would Sarah have given confidence and said to these girls at

half-time? I didn't think there were any problems second half, so many

leaders in there, including Emily. At half-time they would just have

talked about getting the process is right, fewer errors, I think,

Emily's boot gave us a lot of territory. Is he right? Pretty much

spot-on, that is widely used to be a coach! We knew the first 40 wasn't

good enough, we reassessed and went back to the beginning, how we want

to start the game. It is simple things when it is done right, France

are a fantastic side, they will go on to have some really good

performances in this competition, but we are really pleased with the

end result. In a marginal match like that, a trustee boot makes the

difference, that must have brought a lot of confidence back to the girls.

Yes, hopefully, it does not always been that boot this season! We have

got some good kickers, we will keep practising, and in games like that

it really comes to the fore. There has been so much talk about the

women's side being a professional setup, what has changed for you all?

It just means we have more time together. As of January, all of the

girls stopped working, we have had more time together, a couple of

weeks leading into this game, rather than the two days we used to have.

It is just that time together, that understanding, learning about each

other, how we want to play. The second 40 was a better

demonstration. Do you envy that set up now? We were lucky for the last

World Cup, we work altogether after Christmas, but you can see the

difference now, we looked calm, assured, and I was confident we were

going to win with ten minutes to go. You have been involved in summary

different England teams over the years, where does this one right? It

is pretty special, always fantastic to play at Twickenham, coming back

from 13 points down at half-time is pretty special. Sometimes it is a

really good thing when you have tests like that, challenges like

that, it shows what you have got in you. It probably would have been

easier to roll over and settle for maybe a draw or a bit of a loss, but

we want more than that this season, it is a big season, and the girls

showed some real grit to get that win. Used Italy entertained the big

crowd here at Twickenham, thank you for joining us. -- you certainly

entertain. Scotland have not won in this tournament since 2010, so could

they turn around seven years of bad luck? They kicked the tournament off

against Ireland on Friday night, let's go over to the stadium in

common old. -- Cumbernauld. McMillan at the five metre line,

good play from her. The defence being caught at the moment. Scotland

bashing their way towards the try line. Laugher happy to go forwards.

They are almost there. Ireland's defence being tested -- Sarah Law

happy to go forwards. Sarah Law wants another effort from her pack.

Are they going to score the first try of this game? Almost at the

line, just shot again. Any gaps in the Irish defence will be beaten. --

just shot again. Jade Konkel back on her feet. Concours for the line! It

is a trite for Scotland at! Jade Konkel, back in the team after

injury, her 24th cap, she opens the scoreline. Jade Konkel, the try

scorer, so good at that. Not an inch given. Scotland looking to carry.

Taken by Malcolm. Turner on the outside. Miller trying to find the

corner to go forward. Almost at the line. Is she down? Ireland seem to

think so. We can't quite see from that angle. But she seems to think

she has got the try. Yes,, a try is given, she capitalises on the

Scotland mistake. The try better, Scotland having to hold them out.

Just shot. Thought about having a role. Hughes goes left, it has to be

violent, coin to Miller, into the corner. Ailsa Mallusk was for

Ireland. They go in front for the first time in this match. Laugher

looking for runners. The big prop forward. -- Sarah Law looking for

honours. She is just shot as well. Options on both sides. They get in

again at! This for a 4-point gap between the sides. It should be

fairly straightforward. Conversion, went to the right and wide by Sarah

Law. 12-10, Scotland league. Options again on the right-hand side. Sarah

Law might fancy a break herself. Akira Griffin tackled her. -- Keira

Bevan. Peters got her own way. The referee

says you did not make an effort. And that's why shoe is penalised. You

must roll away after making the tackle. Straight in front of the

sticks. Struck it much better than the last kick. Looks pretty good

from here. Scotland lead by 15-10. Let's see what they can do with this

one. She was tackled in the air, that's dangerous, it should be a

yellow card. Tackled in the air. Let's might just see. Or maybe it

was the fact she landed on her side, I don't know. It is a yellow card.

And it's Lindsey Smith who is going to go off. 33 caps today, she should

know better than that. That's as blatant as you can get, really.

Rilee, no problems there. In the arms of Claire Molloy, trying to get

it to the back -- Reilly. Twists and turns, off Wehrlein, is it a try?

Are they down? We're going to go up to the television match official. It

looked good from here. But we need confirmation. Here it is. Did she

get that down? Yes, she did. Try given, Lindsay Peat squares things

up here. Going to the front, Park did well to take that. Long pass

from Sarah Law. Nelson to Jade Konkel, on a hat-trick for Scotland,

two prize already for her in the first half. Taken up this time by

Wassell. -- two tries. Sarah Law into contact, taken up by Macmillan.

Better for Scotland. Penalty. You can see the angle there. The flags

stay down. Shaved the outside of the post. And that is a let off for

Ireland. Maxwell, passes to the left. Nelson, Nelson almost there!

What a tackle! Maxwell again. She really has livened things up at

scrum-half. Through they go. Thomson. She made that break

initially. Going back for the penalty. And it's against Ailsa

Hughes, offside. And a chance for Scotland now to go three points

ahead. It's a massive kick. She drools one, it looks left. And

they've missed it again. Three takes that they really should have taken,

Scotland. They would become bubbly ahead if they had done. -- be

comfortably ahead. The Scottish defence needs to hold alt. Carrie up

the middle, Jo Konta is short. Stapleton, crashed up the middle.

Jenny Murphy has won it for Ireland at! Back in the team, back in the

starting 15, and Ireland are going to lead, Broadwood Stadium with the

victory. Murphy off the middle. I crawl blow for Scotland. -- a cruel

blow. Ireland with a bonus point. So close for Scotland, not this time.

We heard Lord also turns in commentary in England versus France.

-- your dulcet tones. That is a tough one for the Scots to take. It

is heartbreaking for them coming you can see it in their faces. They

really thought they had done it. They put in the performance of their

life, just to see it snatched away in the last play was really cruel.

We mustn't take anything away from Ireland's performance, they came

over and did exactly what they aim to do. Experience told in the end.

Jenny Murphy's try, time was up. They dominated the ball, they kept

hold of it, they did it in phases, when they moved it it was under the

post and all over. Missed opportunities crucial for Scotland's

los? Looking at the missed kicks, we saw in the England game how

important kicking can be. The kick-out will be kicking herself, so

to speak! I said at the beginning of this, seven years of bad luck, I'm

not sure if you can have seven years of bad luck, but Scottish Rugby

Union have put things in place to try and improve the standard of the

women's game. Shade Munro is now coaching. He says this is the best

performance he has seen in women's rugby for a long time. Would you

echo that? Probably the best for ten years or so. I haven't seen all of

their games. I think Shade Munro V has done a fantastic job. He is

getting around and really changing the mindset of the Scots that they

are coming to turn up and get beaten, they want to win. I think

the games against Italy and Wales, they were really competitive. It

will be interesting to see what they do next. Now that England have

ticked off France, Ireland is the one they really need to concentrate

on beating. Definitely, but they can't look too far ahead. They have

to take the opposition seriously, but that will be the next big game

for deciding the title, possibly. Next up is Wales. Wales travel to

Italy. They put in some impressive matches in their Six Nations warm up

under their new coach Rowland Phillips. When they went to Italy

they were facing a side that has beaten them in their last freeing

counters. -- three in counters. COMMENTATOR: Looking to use the

weight advantage to put a threat, should get a penalty. Excellent work

of the scrum. Well drilled by Paul Young. A study in concentration.

Steps up, left footed. And puts it away for the opening score, Wales

open their campaign in the 2017 Six Nations with a well struck penalty

goal. In goes Mel Clay, the Welsh number

five, alt, lovely work here. To the try line. If that all has been

touched down, then it is a try. Inches short, not yet. Thomas, that

is the first try! Well drilled outfit. This eight have got some

power behind them when they do get going.

She seemed to be up in the air for a considerable amount of time, but she

has secured possession. Rigoni looks for the runners. Italy trying for a

try, it is there, shortly. That's the school Italy were looking for. A

well taken try by Manuel Furlan, and Italy are right back in it with five

minutes to go before the break. Captured on the Italian try line,

the Welsh players on the openside. Clay lock forward, takes it to

ground. This time shortly. Wilkins out to Howell. A well taken try from

the Wales fullback. That is a very important school for Wales at the

top of the second half. -- score for Wales. 8-15, as Rachel Taylor climbs

high once again. The forwards are there in numbers. Again, putting

people forward. Look at that expression on her face, all of the

effort. Carys Phillips, the captain, gets the try! And that is a crucial

score for Wales. Expertly done. Many congratulations. Wins do not

come easy away from home for Wales. This is a really tough place to

come, to dig out that performance at the end was fantastic for us. It

must have been a great feeling to score the winning try, away from

Italy? To be fair, the whole pack pushed over and got it down the end.

For the forwards, they put in a fantastic shift in the set piece

today, scoring a try is a good feeling, but a good team performance

is definitely what we needed. Amazing scenes out of Italy. The

Welsh girls really enjoying that win. That completes Round 1. A bonus

point away from Ireland could then top England and Wales with four

points each, Scotland get a bonus point and they are in fourth place.

It is alone's turned to travel to Italy, France host Scotland, and a

big one in Cardiff as they welcome the neighbours, England. Before we

take a look at that, let's talk about Wales- Italy. Gary, we use a

prize that Wales managed to turn the tables on by Italians? Not really,

Rowland Phillips has done a great job. They have got some forward

carriers, they are becoming a really useful outfit. We could see at the

end what a great teams break they have. That's important. Absolutely,

you have to believe in yourself, you have to be confident, teams buried

is a huge part of that. What will Wales have seen this England- France

match that they can exploit? May be the set piece was a bit creaky, but

we sorted it in the second half. They have lots of experience and

will be relishing the chance to play Wales. We are all talking about

England being a professional side. Wales we know not a professional

side. What will they have been working on to close the gap a

little? They have always had physicality throughout the years.

Their point of difference is their fitness. They have been working

really hard on it behind-the-scenes, hopefully we will see a really fit

side and have a really good 80 minutes. Thank you, cat and Gary for

your insights. We have had so much rugby coming up for you on the BBC.

There is more reaction from Round 1 in Monday night in the Women's Six

Nations review show, that is an Radio five Live from six 30p. Two

matches on Saturday. Coverage of the huge men's Six Nations from Cardiff.

We will be back with the Women's Six Nations highlights next Sunday on

BBC Two at the slightly later time. That's it for the opening weekend,

and the ground staff at Twickenham are still working hard and proving

it is never too late, or too cold, to cut the grass. What an opening

weekend it has been at the 2017 Women's Six Nations, which is very

much underway. # I love you, baby

# Dog bring me down that way # -- don't bring me down that way.

# I love you baby # Me when I say

# Oh pretty baby # Don't bring me down that way

# Oh pretty baby # Now that I love you, stay

# And let me Love you, baby # Let me Love you, baby

# Let me Love you #.

(Whatever happens, stay close to me.)