0:00:09 > 0:00:13It has been a huge six months for women's rugby with last year's World
0:00:13 > 0:00:20Cup in Ireland watched by millions around the road. But now it's time
0:00:20 > 0:00:29for a European showdown, the Six Nations championship.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04Welcome to a chilly northern Italy, just outside Bologna, to see the
0:01:04 > 0:01:07current Grand Slam holders England take on a proud Italian side looking
0:01:07 > 0:01:13to improve on last year's whitewash. We look back at the other matches in
0:01:13 > 0:01:16week one, France against Ireland, a must win match for the home side if
0:01:16 > 0:01:21they hope to win the trophy again. New players and new hope summing up
0:01:21 > 0:01:26Wales, taking on Scotland with ten uncapped players, and four on the
0:01:26 > 0:01:31Scottish bench. It is set to be another thrilling Six Nations.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46# Welcome to your life.
0:01:49 > 0:01:58# There's no turning back.
0:01:59 > 0:02:07# Even while we sleep.
0:02:07 > 0:02:14# Acting on your best behaviour, turn your back on Mother Nature.
0:02:14 > 0:02:23# Everybody wants to rule the world.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29It always seems such a long wait for the Six Nations, but at last it is
0:02:29 > 0:02:35here. Italy host the reigning champions England. Your commentators
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Johnny Hammond and Catherine Spencer.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44COMMENTATOR: Marlie Packer right at the front. Walking it forward
0:02:44 > 0:02:51towards the line, England. Nothing Italy can do here. And they get over
0:02:51 > 0:02:58the line, England. It was inevitable in the end. Superb driving maul.
0:02:58 > 0:03:04Bern at the bottom of the pile, the starlet of the World Cup.
0:03:06 > 0:03:16Curled it in beautifully. A lovely kick from Daley-McLean.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21Daley-McLean tried to put some width on it. Turned over and turned over
0:03:21 > 0:03:24again.
0:03:24 > 0:03:32Daley-McLean using the boot this time.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Giordano back for Italy.
0:03:50 > 0:04:04Cleall with a huge pass. A shame about the catch.
0:04:14 > 0:04:24Here come Italy. Roared on by the passionate home support.
0:04:24 > 0:04:30Advantage to Italy.
0:04:30 > 0:04:41REFEREE:Penalty on the 15. Or here. What would you do, former England
0:04:41 > 0:04:51captain?I would go for the line-out again.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16England not rolling away again, and again Italy have the penalty
0:05:16 > 0:05:20advantage.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24Must be over! They are.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Great work from the Italian pack.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38That has given the crowd something to really cheer about. Really
0:05:38 > 0:05:47excited crowd now in the stadium. Ruzza went over for Italy. England
0:05:47 > 0:05:52managed to disrupt the maul quite well initially. But a few strong
0:05:52 > 0:05:55runs from the Italy forwards.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Ruzza got over for the try.
0:06:08 > 0:06:16Fairly easy for Sillari. All is well. -- all is where.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32Dow has got serious wheels!
0:06:32 > 0:06:41Brilliant from Sillari. Great defence. Furlan was there as well.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Superb defence from Italy. As the game has gone on, Italy have grown
0:06:44 > 0:06:50and grown.
0:06:50 > 0:07:01Poppy Cleall, going through the phases.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07We were playing advantage for the penalty. Right in front of the
0:07:07 > 0:07:10sticks.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20Daley-McLean, a very simple three points indeed.
0:07:21 > 0:07:30points indeed. 427 points, England's top points scorer of all time.
0:07:40 > 0:07:47England driving over, and it's as simple as that. The referee can't
0:07:47 > 0:07:51see, but...
0:07:51 > 0:08:04We can see very clearly a try from here.A fairly easy decision.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Daley-McLean has just pulled it across the face of the posts, and
0:08:07 > 0:08:11England beginning to take a bit of command of this game now.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19England would have seen France's result, 24-0 against Ireland, a real
0:08:19 > 0:08:26statement from the Frenchwomen.
0:08:26 > 0:08:32Nobody's going to stop Poppy Cleall from there. Try number three for
0:08:32 > 0:08:40England. Two in quick succession.
0:08:41 > 0:08:51Players out wide. At the Dow. -- Abby Dow. She is hurt in the
0:08:51 > 0:08:58process. A whack to the head. The try is good. And the bonus point is
0:08:58 > 0:09:01good for England.
0:09:04 > 0:09:12England pick and go. Around the side. Marlie Packer is there to
0:09:12 > 0:09:14secure it. Sarah Hunter!
0:09:17 > 0:09:21It is down. The England captain with a double.
0:09:37 > 0:09:45Burford to Kildunne. Can she roll over? Great defence from Italy, not
0:09:45 > 0:09:50for the first time tonight.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55They just touch it down. The referee gives it.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Can they push the button again?
0:10:03 > 0:10:09She has got her hat-trick!
0:10:09 > 0:10:16An impressive way to finish the game. Kildunne cannot get the
0:10:16 > 0:10:20conversion, but an impressive desire right the way through for the
0:10:20 > 0:10:26reigning Grand Slam champions. Beating Italy 42-7.We didn't get
0:10:26 > 0:10:30the start we wanted but we got the start in the second half, we came
0:10:30 > 0:10:34out in the second half and we did what we wanted to do. We have loads
0:10:34 > 0:10:39to work on, credit to Italy, they ran us around in the first half,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43chasing our tails, but we brought together at the end and a couple
0:10:43 > 0:10:48good tries.A great performance and some points.It is always good to
0:10:48 > 0:10:53get over the whitewash, my first try in an England shirt. A proud moment
0:10:53 > 0:11:00for me.Congratulations, you are the player of the match. A match of two
0:11:00 > 0:11:06halves. I am joined by a former England player and World Cup winner,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10and the England captain Sarah Hunter. Sarah, a bit of a nervy
0:11:10 > 0:11:15first half, but a different story in the second half.Absolutely. You
0:11:15 > 0:11:20always know coming to Italy will be difficult, a partisan home crowd,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24very unpredictable team, they put us under pressure in the first half. We
0:11:24 > 0:11:29try to play a bit too much rugby, we were in the right areas but forcing
0:11:29 > 0:11:35it a bit too much. A lot of unforced errors. The indiscipline cost us and
0:11:35 > 0:11:40we lost territory and possession and Italy came back at us. A lot to work
0:11:40 > 0:11:46on at half-time. Back to basics, getting on the front foot, in the
0:11:46 > 0:11:50right areas, a bit of continuity and phases, and we knew if we could
0:11:50 > 0:11:54break the defence, the tries would come. An improved performance in the
0:11:54 > 0:12:00second half.They came out with renewed purpose.It looked like a
0:12:00 > 0:12:05change of attitude as well. I agree, the first half, not deciding whether
0:12:05 > 0:12:09to pass all run, in the second half they ran and it looked like a
0:12:09 > 0:12:17different team. Really good to see. -- to pass or run.Thank you, there
0:12:17 > 0:12:19were some words spoken, but it showed the calibre of the squad that
0:12:19 > 0:12:24we could park at the first half and go back to our game plan and flicked
0:12:24 > 0:12:28the switch to come out and put in an improved performance. We know we
0:12:28 > 0:12:32will have to go on again and look at the footage from today and make some
0:12:32 > 0:12:36tweaks about what we want to do. We will have to go up a notch to get
0:12:36 > 0:12:41another win in the competition. England has incredible strength in
0:12:41 > 0:12:44depth, but this is a relatively new bunch and you have not had a huge
0:12:44 > 0:12:49amount of time together.The autumn internationals, but the Six Nations
0:12:49 > 0:12:54is definitely a step up. We had a really good week of preparation last
0:12:54 > 0:12:59week, but obviously still bedding in, new combinations, new faces,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02hopefully the more time we spend together, knowing about how someone
0:13:02 > 0:13:09runs, the line, how they pass, those are the bits that make a really good
0:13:09 > 0:13:13team, the more time you spend. Hopefully that will, as we go along,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16but ultimately the Six Nations is about winning games and getting
0:13:16 > 0:13:20bonus points, and that is what we have come and dance so we have to be
0:13:20 > 0:13:27happy with that.Some nice points for you, Sarah. The first match was
0:13:27 > 0:13:31in the seaside town of Colwyn Bay, Wales versus Scotland.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Really nice hands, and the try from Jessica Kavanagh Williams!
0:13:55 > 0:14:00Wales on the scoresheet.The hometown girl, the crowd love her up
0:14:00 > 0:14:02here.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Phillips went for the old school cap and go.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Bluck scoring on her debut! The Cardiff Blues winger punches the air
0:14:22 > 0:14:31with delight. Wales will go in at half-time with another five points.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Smith had a bright first half.
0:14:55 > 0:15:02Trying to find room on the outside! Rollie is going straight through!
0:15:02 > 0:15:07You know how dangerous she is. Given one opportunity, Chloe Rollie
0:15:07 > 0:15:11punishes Wales in the corner.
0:15:24 > 0:15:31Scottish defence is strong enough. They have nobody out wide. It's
0:15:31 > 0:15:40going to be a try for Kerin Lake.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Wales reasserting their 13 point lead. The work had been done by the
0:15:44 > 0:15:48forwards to suck them in and they were able to go wide and send the
0:15:48 > 0:15:55outside centre over.
0:15:59 > 0:16:05No less powerful. Sensible decision not to give that. That would have
0:16:05 > 0:16:09been, in terms of how her team-mates would have received that. Scottish
0:16:09 > 0:16:19defence right up. Now it's Sarah Bonar.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Now it's Sarah Bonar. Rollie gets round on the outside. Rollie gets in
0:16:23 > 0:16:34for try number two for Scotland. Few of the replacements for Wales
0:16:34 > 0:16:37have perhaps just made them a little ensure of themselves.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42Lit. Moments like that show how dangerous it can be if you don't
0:16:42 > 0:16:46keep your act together. Rollie again, Scotland almost trying to
0:16:46 > 0:16:51play champagne rugby into the corner. Malcolm.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Law. Wants to go back down that short side. Wants to step inside
0:16:55 > 0:17:00those tackles. A metre short. Konkel.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Former number eight will know how to do it and she scores the try for
0:17:04 > 0:17:09Scotland. Scotland get their third, and it is game on.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13In Colwyn Bay.This is relentless attack, waive after waive from
0:17:13 > 0:17:20Scotland. They come in number, patient build up, she knows she can
0:17:20 > 0:17:27get there. It is gore for ankles it is so hard to defend against there.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Now we do have a one point game. It looked by the end of the first half
0:17:34 > 0:17:38it would be anything but but the second half Scotland are found their
0:17:38 > 0:17:43way to the try line three times. Sarah Law. Off to the left this
0:17:43 > 0:17:51time. Wasn't the tidiest of passes. Have
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Wales managed to force the turn over here? They have. It's a crucial turn
0:17:55 > 0:18:02over. It might secure the victory. Carys Phillips checks the time on
0:18:02 > 0:18:06the clock. Boots it into the stand. Wales have secured a memorable
0:18:06 > 0:18:10victory.Obviously it was the same last year, we came back, you know,
0:18:10 > 0:18:18we gave away too much possession, we had to get the win. The girls dug
0:18:18 > 0:18:22deep at the end, it was great.What was the difference between now and
0:18:22 > 0:18:29last year, was it that belief, that refusal to give?
0:18:29 > 0:18:34refusal to give?Yes, we worked hard, Scotland didn't stop, they
0:18:34 > 0:18:38came back at us really hard. It was relief to get that kick over the
0:18:38 > 0:18:41line.My goodness Wales and Scotland love a tight
0:18:41 > 0:18:44line.My goodness Wales and Scotland love a tight score line. Like last
0:18:44 > 0:18:48year, a single point separating the sides but 13-0 at half-time, do you
0:18:48 > 0:18:51think Wales were almost lured into a false sense of security?There is
0:18:51 > 0:18:54one thing about Scotland and it is they never give up. Last minute of
0:18:54 > 0:19:00the game they could be 30 points down, they would still be fighting.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03That is a great quality.We know think is a very different Wales
0:19:03 > 0:19:07side. It is a different Six Nations, because so many teams have lost
0:19:07 > 0:19:13players to the sevens tournaments that are going on. Particularly just
0:19:13 > 0:19:18now. Players like Philips were able to show their quality but supported
0:19:18 > 0:19:24by some of the new debutante player, people like Hannah black.It gives
0:19:24 > 0:19:27themselves an opportunity. While they are off in sevens they have to
0:19:27 > 0:19:30is stand up and take the opportunity.Hannah Black is
0:19:30 > 0:19:35interesting. She has not only played rugby for Wales she has played
0:19:35 > 0:19:38basketball, football as well. These talented people are frustrating for
0:19:38 > 0:19:42people like me.It has been heartening, frustrating I would
0:19:42 > 0:19:47imagine, with that performance for Scotland, where do you think the
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Scotland side are this year? I think they are in a good place. They lost
0:19:51 > 0:19:58by a point but it is just a point. We have seen times where England
0:19:58 > 0:20:01have beaten Scotland 889-0. They have to get that win and for
0:20:01 > 0:20:07confidence boosting.They have some professional players in that side,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Rollie, Konkel, Martin, leading them again?They need to play those girls
0:20:11 > 0:20:17in their position, I mean it's a big ask to put Konkel in a prop. When
0:20:17 > 0:20:20she went back to her right. Position the second half was better to them.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25It was a great opening match.Yes, it was fantastic, everybody wants
0:20:25 > 0:20:33close game, and you couldn't ask for one much closer.To lose o --
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Toulouse was the scene of two previous champions going
0:20:36 > 0:20:40head-to-head. France and Ireland. It has been a torrid time for Ireland.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45They were competing for the title last year, but since the World Cup
0:20:45 > 0:20:55it seems that everything has gone awry.
0:20:58 > 0:21:04Sochat again. It is taken by the blindside flanker. Boujard, pace
0:21:04 > 0:21:12once more from the winger, and a good angle. It is set up for the
0:21:12 > 0:21:14French backs, they are given the opportunity. Will they get there?
0:21:14 > 0:21:26Yes they will. For the first try of the evening, it
0:21:26 > 0:21:35was terrific play from the French back-line.
0:21:35 > 0:21:45Go towards the ten. That is better. It is the in the arms. It is there
0:21:45 > 0:21:50for Rivoalen now. The cross field kick. Williams sucked in. The ball
0:21:50 > 0:22:01goes out wide. It is Boujard. It bounces up. It is Le Pesq. Le Pesq.
0:22:01 > 0:22:07What a try.Try number two. Brilliant visiting, they could see
0:22:07 > 0:22:12that Ireland were flat up on the wingers, they had an acre of space
0:22:12 > 0:22:19to cover. Inch perfect kick by Bourdon. Look at the support from Le
0:22:19 > 0:22:24Pesq on the inside. Working, working, working, great offload and
0:22:24 > 0:22:32it is an easy run in for Le Pesq. France have skipped out to a 12
0:22:32 > 0:22:38point to 0 lead. Looks to turn defence into attack.
0:22:38 > 0:22:44Boujard again. Almost away. Williams made the tackle. Had to make the
0:22:44 > 0:22:48tackle. Molloy follows that up. France back to the half way line
0:22:48 > 0:22:58again. Rivoalen. Bourdon. That is good from
0:22:58 > 0:23:04France. Ireland, defensively, are being dragged one way and the other.
0:23:04 > 0:23:10Rivoalen with Flood on her shoulder. Flood makes a desperate tackle and
0:23:10 > 0:23:19does just enough, France pile in. Ireland, they surely can't hold out.
0:23:19 > 0:23:26And they can't. The full-back, Tremouliere. And France are in
0:23:26 > 0:23:33again.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Well it looked like it was going to fine touch and bounce back and away
0:23:39 > 0:23:45goes Bourdon. She has everything. Bourdon, all the skill set. It's a
0:23:45 > 0:23:51foot race which is won by Flood. The French have not done what they
0:23:51 > 0:23:57threatened to do, which was really break loose in this game. That is
0:23:57 > 0:24:03much down to the credit of Ireland's continued commitment to the cause.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11Tremouliere. Still with ball in hand. Into the 22. Ireland again
0:24:11 > 0:24:18stretched defensively. It is there. It is taken on by the
0:24:18 > 0:24:24substitute and she offloads to Le Pesq. And the outside centre comes
0:24:24 > 0:24:28scrum-half scampers over in the corner.Bonus point try for France.
0:24:28 > 0:24:41It is. Is.Out the back door and Le Pesq an easy run in.
0:24:41 > 0:24:48Up go the flags. Tremouliere has another two, and
0:24:48 > 0:24:55France are up to 24.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58France are up to 24. France, fired into touch, and the flags are waved
0:24:58 > 0:25:03and the crowd are on their feet. And France celebrate and they have won
0:25:03 > 0:25:10it, and they have won it well. Look, we are disappointed with the
0:25:10 > 0:25:16result, but, as you see it is a new squad, it is a new phase we are
0:25:16 > 0:25:21building, new faces and combination, it was a very physical French side.
0:25:21 > 0:25:26It is us who need to be accountable. Hoe we fix what needs to be fixed.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Difficult for you as the captain to try and pick them up for next week
0:25:29 > 0:25:36or do you feel they can do that and turn it round in seven days.It not
0:25:36 > 0:25:40a difficult task. We are accountable for what we do. It is about bouncing
0:25:40 > 0:25:43back, focussing on what question fix, there was positives out there,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47we have to focus on those, we can't peel over the cracks either e it is
0:25:47 > 0:25:52time to, who on those and keep building, it is a positive week
0:25:52 > 0:25:52ahead.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54building, it is a positive week ahead.What an incredible
0:25:54 > 0:25:57performance by France, what has happened to Ireland? We will answer
0:25:57 > 0:26:00that in a second. That will take quite a bit of explaining. Positives
0:26:00 > 0:26:04though, France were very good. France just play a different
0:26:04 > 0:26:06intensity to everyone else at the minute. Their line speed is so ago
0:26:06 > 0:26:10sieve, they are up in the face of any opposition they are playing and
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Le Pesq, her two tries were outstanding, among many other
0:26:14 > 0:26:17players but great performance by France.They have been waiting to be
0:26:17 > 0:26:20able to show this again. We saw a lot of that in the World Cup but to
0:26:20 > 0:26:23be able to do that so comprehensively on this first
0:26:23 > 0:26:27weekend gives them a lot of hope. They were on fire for the World Cup.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31It was only the one game in the semifinal against England they
0:26:31 > 0:26:34didn't fire, thankfully for England. They are back on track and looking
0:26:34 > 0:26:40good.What has happened to Ireland? I think possibly just a lack of
0:26:40 > 0:26:44confidence, I mean, for a home nation to hold the World Cup and to
0:26:44 > 0:26:48bomb out like they did, I think it is really damaged them and they are
0:26:48 > 0:26:51carrying that into this tournament. I hoped it would inspire them to
0:26:51 > 0:26:55lift their performance but they are spiralling.This time last year they
0:26:55 > 0:27:00were a team other teams would fear? Normally it is always Franz and
0:27:00 > 0:27:05Ireland you fear the most, and yes, Ireland ranter giving too much to
0:27:05 > 0:27:09worry about.There will be teams in this competition now that will be
0:27:09 > 0:27:13sort of revelling at the thought of taking on Ireland. That wouldn't
0:27:13 > 0:27:18have happened previously.Wales and Scotland will be looking to take you
0:27:18 > 0:27:22know their chance to take them. Plenty still to come. Let us look at
0:27:22 > 0:27:26how the table stands. England and France are at the top. They scored
0:27:26 > 0:27:30four try, Wales won at home but Scotland get that losing bonus
0:27:30 > 0:27:34point, Ireland and Italy are at the bottom so far. But it is very early
0:27:34 > 0:27:39days and it is worth reiterating, I hate doing a stable at this stage
0:27:39 > 0:27:43because there is so much more to come. We have fascinating matches.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Let us talk about Scotland and France, that will be tough for
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Scotland.That is is a big ask for Scotland because France are on good
0:27:49 > 0:27:53form at the minute, and although Scotland are getting better, you
0:27:53 > 0:27:57know, every year, I think it is possibly a bit too much for them.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00England and Wales could be a fascinating match. England dominated
0:28:00 > 0:28:03that second half, but Wales were really impressive this weekend.Yes,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07Wales were impressive. I think if they have watched the England game I
0:28:07 > 0:28:11think they will look to target the first half and catch them off guard
0:28:11 > 0:28:15possibly, so it will be a good interesting match up.What about
0:28:15 > 0:28:20Ireland Italy, that is intrigue, for maybe different reasons.I think
0:28:20 > 0:28:28because, Italy tonight, the first 40 really put in a hard shift. To have.
0:28:28 > 0:28:34Ireland not on form at all. They are not firing, so maybe Italy will be,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38have a bit of a shock win there.A lot to prove in that match. There is
0:28:38 > 0:28:43a lot of sport coming up on the BBC. We have highlighted of the Super
0:28:43 > 0:28:54Bowl LII. That is on Monday and two FA Cup Fourth Round replays.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59On Wednesday it is Tottenham versus Newport County from Wembley.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03Is It has been a wonderful opening weekend of women's Six Nations,
0:29:03 > 0:29:07thank you for your company. Thanks to you at home, we will see you next
0:29:07 > 0:29:12weekend.