Five things we learned from England v Italy

England enter the fallow week of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations unbeaten after adding a dominant win over Italy to their victory against Scotland in Round 1.

The Azzurre are without a win so far but are heading in the right direction under new head coach Giovanni Raineri.

The Red Roses ran in 12 tries as Abby Dow had a day out in Northampton, but there was still plenty to take away for both sides.

Six Nations Rugby, the official organising body responsible for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, broke all fan engagement records in 2022 and highlighted its commitment to giving the women’s game the best possible platform to grow.

The 2023 edition of the Championship stands to build on this progress, with even bigger crowds expected, more international broadcasters covering all the action and unprecedented social and digital promotion for the heroes of the women’s game.

Italy feel the Bern

Tighthead prop Sarah Bern was named Player of the Match as she combined her defensive duties with all-out attack at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Bern turned the back three into a fab four as she occupied a place on the wing, making 138 metres and 14 carries.

The 25-year-old assisted two tries as she relished the opportunity to stretch her legs and hark back to her days as a centre.

“We have all come through the system together and Sarah Bern was not a tighthead prop back in the day, she was actually a centre,” Dow said

“She has got that rugby player mindset of actually being able to use her feet instead of just using the brute strength that she already innately has.

“Even though she could easily run over the person in front, she has got this great mindset to work with us on the width.”

Italy are improving

With the full-time scoreline at 68-5, it may feel like Italy are not closing the gap on England, but there were signs in Northampton of Italy showing progress.

Sara Tounesi’s try in the fourth minute cancelled out Jess Breach’s opener and they were a wayward conversion from Michela Sillari away from levelling the scores.

After going behind in the second minute, Italy did not let their heads drop or just settle in for an afternoon of defence, instead using England’s greatest weapon against them.

Tounesi was at the back of a driving maul from a lineout before dotting the ball down to score the Azzurre’s first try against England since 2018.

England captain Marlie Packer was full of praise for Italy after they gave her side plenty to think about.

She said: “Italy did question us in areas and then it is up to us as players to fix it.

“The breakdown was an area for us, we talked about their pick and go and that being one area for us to defend first.

“We got caught napping a couple of times in that area so that will be a fix-up.”

How many teams would England’s injury list beat?

England’s commanding performance at the weekend did well to hide the sheer number of injuries the side is facing.

The Red Roses could field a world-class team with the 19 players that were not available for selection, either through injury or as long-term absences, for Sunday’s game.

The fallow week should allow some of their injured players to return, but they will still be without some of their biggest names.

Emily Scarratt will be sidelined for the whole of the Championship with neck and ankle issues, while Abbie Ward is currently preparing for the birth of her first child.

Even during the game, Claudia MacDonald, who had scored two tries, limped off in tears, but is hopeful of a quick return.

The injured XV is perhaps only a recognised hooker away from being a Test-level side, and with a plethora of props out, including Hannah Botterman and Vickii Cornborough, one of them could well throw their hand up to wear the No.2 jersey.

England are all about the fun

The newly-retired Sarah Hunter’s absence from England’s team this week made the game at Northampton feel different, but there was something else too.

Ten of England’s tries were scored by their backs, and there was a concerted effort to move away from the rolling maul that had so often been their go-to tactic for scoring.

Maybe it is the heartbreak that it failed to work in the dying moments of the World Cup final that has seen them change.

But Packer insisted that their move to more attacking, exciting rugby was an effort to grow the game and fill stadiums.

And there is no denying that the 12,794 fans that packed into Franklin’s Gardens were treated to some incredible displays.

England will now embark on two away games against Wales and Ireland before ending their campaign at Twickenham, with the RFU confirming a world record number of tickets have already been sold for clash with France.

Italy to go in search of a first win

Italy are one of three teams to have failed to get a win in the Six Nations so far but have a gilt-edged chance against also winless Ireland in Round 3.

Greg McWilliams’ side often looked caught in two minds against France, and they were duly punished by Les Bleues who won 53-3.

Meanwhile, Italy were inventive against England, it did not always come off, but there encouraging signs.

Now, they have two weeks to work on turning those bright sparks into a fully firing performance.

Try-scorer Tounesi said: “That is the difference between us and the Red Roses, they always finish the job.

“We watched England’s previous games, and we saw that we could create some opportunities, and we were trying to take them.

“We just needed to finish the job, and we need to get the points set in concrete.”

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