Week 1 Highlights Women's Six Nations Rugby

It has been a huge six months for

women's rugby with last year's World

Cup in Ireland watched by millions

around the road. But now it's time

for a European showdown, the Six

Nations championship.

Welcome to a chilly northern Italy,

just outside Bologna, to see the

current Grand Slam holders England

take on a proud Italian side looking

to improve on last year's whitewash.

We look back at the other matches in

week one, France against Ireland, a

must win match for the home side if

they hope to win the trophy again.

New players and new hope summing up

Wales, taking on Scotland with ten

uncapped players, and four on the

Scottish bench. It is set to be

another thrilling Six Nations.

# Welcome to your life.

# There's no turning back.

# Even while we sleep.

# Acting on your best behaviour,

turn your back on Mother Nature.

# Everybody wants to rule the world.

It always seems such a long wait for

the Six Nations, but at last it is

here. Italy host the reigning

champions England. Your commentators

Johnny Hammond and Catherine

Spencer.

COMMENTATOR: Marlie Packer right at

the front. Walking it forward

towards the line, England. Nothing

Italy can do here. And they get over

the line, England. It was inevitable

in the end. Superb driving maul.

Bern at the bottom of the pile, the

starlet of the World Cup.

Curled it in beautifully. A lovely

kick from Daley-McLean.

Daley-McLean tried to put some width

on it. Turned over and turned over

again.

Daley-McLean using the boot this

time.

Giordano back for Italy.

Cleall with a huge pass. A shame

about the catch.

Here come Italy. Roared on by the

passionate home support.

Advantage to Italy.

REFEREE:

Penalty on the 15. Or here.

What would you do, former England

captain?

I would go for the line-out

again.

England not rolling away again, and

again Italy have the penalty

advantage.

Must be over! They are.

Great work from the Italian pack.

That has given the crowd something

to really cheer about. Really

excited crowd now in the stadium.

Ruzza went over for Italy. England

managed to disrupt the maul quite

well initially. But a few strong

runs from the Italy forwards.

Ruzza got over for the try.

Fairly easy for Sillari. All is

well. -- all is where.

Dow has got serious wheels!

Brilliant from Sillari. Great

defence. Furlan was there as well.

Superb defence from Italy. As the

game has gone on, Italy have grown

and grown.

Poppy Cleall, going through the

phases.

We were playing advantage for the

penalty. Right in front of the

sticks.

Daley-McLean, a very simple three

points indeed.

points indeed. 427 points, England's

top points scorer of all time.

England driving over, and it's as

simple as that. The referee can't

see, but...

We can see very clearly a try from

here.

A fairly easy decision.

Daley-McLean has just pulled it

across the face of the posts, and

England beginning to take a bit of

command of this game now.

England would have seen France's

result, 24-0 against Ireland, a real

statement from the Frenchwomen.

Nobody's going to stop Poppy Cleall

from there. Try number three for

England. Two in quick succession.

Players out wide. At the Dow. --

Abby Dow. She is hurt in the

process. A whack to the head. The

try is good. And the bonus point is

good for England.

England pick and go. Around the

side. Marlie Packer is there to

secure it. Sarah Hunter!

It is down. The England captain with

a double.

Burford to Kildunne. Can she roll

over? Great defence from Italy, not

for the first time tonight.

They just touch it down. The referee

gives it.

Can they push the button again?

She has got her hat-trick!

An impressive way to finish the

game. Kildunne cannot get the

conversion, but an impressive desire

right the way through for the

reigning Grand Slam champions.

Beating Italy 42-7.

We didn't get

the start we wanted but we got the

start in the second half, we came

out in the second half and we did

what we wanted to do. We have loads

to work on, credit to Italy, they

ran us around in the first half,

chasing our tails, but we brought

together at the end and a couple

good tries.

A great performance and

some points.

It is always good to

get over the whitewash, my first try

in an England shirt. A proud moment

for me.

Congratulations, you are the

player of the match. A match of two

halves. I am joined by a former

England player and World Cup winner,

and the England captain Sarah

Hunter. Sarah, a bit of a nervy

first half, but a different story in

the second half.

Absolutely. You

always know coming to Italy will be

difficult, a partisan home crowd,

very unpredictable team, they put us

under pressure in the first half. We

try to play a bit too much rugby, we

were in the right areas but forcing

it a bit too much. A lot of unforced

errors. The indiscipline cost us and

we lost territory and possession and

Italy came back at us. A lot to work

on at half-time. Back to basics,

getting on the front foot, in the

right areas, a bit of continuity and

phases, and we knew if we could

break the defence, the tries would

come. An improved performance in the

second half.

They came out with

renewed purpose.

It looked like a

change of attitude as well. I agree,

the first half, not deciding whether

to pass all run, in the second half

they ran and it looked like a

different team. Really good to see.

-- to pass or run.

Thank you, there

were some words spoken, but it

showed the calibre of the squad that

we could park at the first half and

go back to our game plan and flicked

the switch to come out and put in an

improved performance. We know we

will have to go on again and look at

the footage from today and make some

tweaks about what we want to do. We

will have to go up a notch to get

another win in the competition.

England has incredible strength in

depth, but this is a relatively new

bunch and you have not had a huge

amount of time together.

The autumn

internationals, but the Six Nations

is definitely a step up. We had a

really good week of preparation last

week, but obviously still bedding

in, new combinations, new faces,

hopefully the more time we spend

together, knowing about how someone

runs, the line, how they pass, those

are the bits that make a really good

team, the more time you spend.

Hopefully that will, as we go along,

but ultimately the Six Nations is

about winning games and getting

bonus points, and that is what we

have come and dance so we have to be

happy with that.

Some nice points

for you, Sarah. The first match was

in the seaside town of Colwyn Bay,

Wales versus Scotland.

Really nice hands, and the try from

Jessica Kavanagh Williams!

Wales on the scoresheet.

The

hometown girl, the crowd love her up

here.

Phillips went for the old school cap

and go.

Bluck scoring on her debut! The

Cardiff Blues winger punches the air

with delight. Wales will go in at

half-time with another five points.

Smith had a bright first half.

Trying to find room on the outside!

Rollie is going straight through!

You know how dangerous she is. Given

one opportunity, Chloe Rollie

punishes Wales in the corner.

Scottish defence is strong enough.

They have nobody out wide. It's

going to be a try for Kerin Lake.

Wales reasserting their 13 point

lead. The work had been done by the

forwards to suck them in and they

were able to go wide and send the

outside centre over.

No less powerful. Sensible decision

not to give that. That would have

been, in terms of how her team-mates

would have received that. Scottish

defence right up.

Now it's Sarah Bonar.

Now it's Sarah Bonar. Rollie gets

round on the outside. Rollie gets in

for try number two for Scotland.

Few of the replacements for Wales

have perhaps just made them a little

ensure of themselves.

Lit. Moments like that show how

dangerous it can be if you don't

keep your act together. Rollie

again, Scotland almost trying to

play champagne rugby into the

corner. Malcolm.

Law. Wants to go back down that

short side. Wants to step inside

those tackles.

A metre short. Konkel.

Former number eight will know how to

do it and she scores the try for

Scotland. Scotland get their third,

and it is game on.

In Colwyn Bay.

This is relentless

attack, waive after waive from

Scotland. They come in number,

patient build up, she knows she can

get there. It is gore for ankles it

is so hard to defend against there.

Now we do have a one point game. It

looked by the end of the first half

it would be anything but but the

second half Scotland are found their

way to the try line three times.

Sarah Law. Off to the left this

time.

Wasn't the tidiest of passes. Have

Wales managed to force the turn over

here? They have. It's a crucial turn

over. It might secure the victory.

Carys Phillips checks the time on

the clock. Boots it into the stand.

Wales have secured a memorable

victory.

Obviously it was the same

last year, we came back, you know,

we gave away too much possession, we

had to get the win. The girls dug

deep at the end, it was great.

What

was the difference between now and

last year, was it that belief, that

refusal to give?

refusal to give?

Yes, we worked

hard, Scotland didn't stop, they

came back at us really hard. It was

relief to get that kick over the

line.

My goodness Wales and Scotland

love a tight

line.

My goodness Wales and Scotland

love a tight score line. Like last

year, a single point separating the

sides but 13-0 at half-time, do you

think Wales were almost lured into a

false sense of security?

There is

one thing about Scotland and it is

they never give up. Last minute of

the game they could be 30 points

down, they would still be fighting.

That is a great quality.

We know

think is a very different Wales

side. It is a different Six Nations,

because so many teams have lost

players to the sevens tournaments

that are going on. Particularly just

now. Players like Philips were able

to show their quality but supported

by some of the new debutante player,

people like Hannah black.

It gives

themselves an opportunity. While

they are off in sevens they have to

is stand up and take the

opportunity.

Hannah Black is

interesting. She has not only played

rugby for Wales she has played

basketball, football as well. These

talented people are frustrating for

people like me.

It has been

heartening, frustrating I would

imagine, with that performance for

Scotland, where do you think the

Scotland side are this year? I think

they are in a good place. They lost

by a point but it is just a point.

We have seen times where England

have beaten Scotland 889-0. They

have to get that win and for

confidence boosting.

They have some

professional players in that side,

Rollie, Konkel, Martin, leading them

again?

They need to play those girls

in their position, I mean it's a big

ask to put Konkel in a prop. When

she went back to her right. Position

the second half was better to them.

It was a great opening match.

Yes,

it was fantastic, everybody wants

close game, and you couldn't ask for

one much closer.

To lose o --

Toulouse was the scene of two

previous champions going

head-to-head. France and Ireland. It

has been a torrid time for Ireland.

They were competing for the title

last year, but since the World Cup

it seems that everything has gone

awry.

Sochat again. It is taken by the

blindside flanker. Boujard, pace

once more from the winger, and a

good angle. It is set up for the

French backs, they are given the

opportunity. Will they get there?

Yes they will.

For the first try of the evening, it

was terrific play from the French

back-line.

Go towards the ten. That is better.

It is the in the arms. It is there

for Rivoalen now. The cross field

kick. Williams sucked in. The ball

goes out wide. It is Boujard. It

bounces up. It is Le Pesq. Le Pesq.

What a try.

Try number two.

Brilliant visiting, they could see

that Ireland were flat up on the

wingers, they had an acre of space

to cover. Inch perfect kick by

Bourdon. Look at the support from Le

Pesq on the inside. Working,

working, working, great offload and

it is an easy run in for Le Pesq.

France have skipped out to a 12

point to 0 lead.

Looks to turn defence into attack.

Boujard again. Almost away. Williams

made the tackle. Had to make the

tackle. Molloy follows that up.

France back to the half way line

again.

Rivoalen. Bourdon. That is good from

France. Ireland, defensively, are

being dragged one way and the other.

Rivoalen with Flood on her shoulder.

Flood makes a desperate tackle and

does just enough, France pile in.

Ireland, they surely can't hold out.

And they can't. The full-back,

Tremouliere. And France are in

again.

Well it looked like it was going to

fine touch and bounce back and away

goes Bourdon. She has everything.

Bourdon, all the skill set. It's a

foot race which is won by Flood.

The French have not done what they

threatened to do, which was really

break loose in this game. That is

much down to the credit of Ireland's

continued commitment to the cause.

Tremouliere. Still with ball in

hand. Into the 22. Ireland again

stretched defensively.

It is there. It is taken on by the

substitute and she offloads to Le

Pesq. And the outside centre comes

scrum-half scampers over in the

corner.

Bonus point try for France.

It is. Is.

Out the back door and Le

Pesq an easy run in.

Up go the flags.

Tremouliere has another two, and

France are up to 24.

France are up to 24. France, fired

into touch, and the flags are waved

and the crowd are on their feet. And

France celebrate and they have won

it, and they have won it well.

Look, we are disappointed with the

result, but, as you see it is a new

squad, it is a new phase we are

building, new faces and combination,

it was a very physical French side.

It is us who need to be accountable.

Hoe we fix what needs to be fixed.

Difficult for you as the captain to

try and pick them up for next week

or do you feel they can do that and

turn it round in seven days.

It not

a difficult task. We are accountable

for what we do. It is about bouncing

back, focussing on what question

fix, there was positives out there,

we have to focus on those, we can't

peel over the cracks either e it is

time to, who on those and keep

building, it is a positive week

ahead.

building, it is a positive week

ahead.

What an incredible

performance by France, what has

happened to Ireland? We will answer

that in a second. That will take

quite a bit of explaining. Positives

though, France were very good.

France just play a different

intensity to everyone else at the

minute. Their line speed is so ago

sieve, they are up in the face of

any opposition they are playing and

Le Pesq, her two tries were

outstanding, among many other

players but great performance by

France.

They have been waiting to be

able to show this again. We saw a

lot of that in the World Cup but to

be able to do that so

comprehensively on this first

weekend gives them a lot of hope.

They were on fire for the World Cup.

It was only the one game in the

semifinal against England they

didn't fire, thankfully for England.

They are back on track and looking

good.

What has happened to Ireland?

I think possibly just a lack of

confidence, I mean, for a home

nation to hold the World Cup and to

bomb out like they did, I think it

is really damaged them and they are

carrying that into this tournament.

I hoped it would inspire them to

lift their performance but they are

spiralling.

This time last year they

were a team other teams would fear?

Normally it is always Franz and

Ireland you fear the most, and yes,

Ireland ranter giving too much to

worry about.

There will be teams in

this competition now that will be

sort of revelling at the thought of

taking on Ireland. That wouldn't

have happened previously.

Wales and

Scotland will be looking to take you

know their chance to take them.

Plenty still to come. Let us look at

how the table stands. England and

France are at the top. They scored

four try, Wales won at home but

Scotland get that losing bonus

point, Ireland and Italy are at the

bottom so far. But it is very early

days and it is worth reiterating, I

hate doing a stable at this stage

because there is so much more to

come. We have fascinating matches.

Let us talk about Scotland and

France, that will be tough for

Scotland.

That is is a big ask for

Scotland because France are on good

form at the minute, and although

Scotland are getting better, you

know, every year, I think it is

possibly a bit too much for them.

England and Wales could be a

fascinating match. England dominated

that second half, but Wales were

really impressive this weekend.

Yes,

Wales were impressive. I think if

they have watched the England game I

think they will look to target the

first half and catch them off guard

possibly, so it will be a good

interesting match up.

What about

Ireland Italy, that is intrigue, for

maybe different reasons.

I think

because, Italy tonight, the first 40

really put in a hard shift. To have.

Ireland not on form at all. They are

not firing, so maybe Italy will be,

have a bit of a shock win there.

A

lot to prove in that match. There is

a lot of sport coming up on the BBC.

We have highlighted of the Super

Bowl LII. That is on Monday and two

FA Cup Fourth Round replays.

On Wednesday it is Tottenham versus

Newport County from Wembley.

Is It has been a wonderful opening

weekend of women's Six Nations,

thank you for your company. Thanks

to you at home, we will see you next

weekend.