Lightning quintet help England to Grand Slam
ENGLAND skipper Emily Scarratt beams as she shows off the Women’s Six Nations trophy after the Red Roses secured backto-back Grand Slams with a 54-0 victory over Italy in Parma.
Having already been confirmed as champions the previous weekend, England – featuring five players from Loughborough Lightning in the starting XV – ran in eight tries for a bonus-point in Italy and secured a record 15th Grand Slam to go with their 16th championship win.
The result means England’s men and women teams both secured the 2020 titles, the first time they have completed that double since 2017.
At the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in northern Italy, it took England just four minutes to get on the board through Wasps’ Ellie Kildunne. England’s second came from Poppy Cleall, of Saracens, before Scarratt, of Loughborough, ran a superb line in the midfield and sprinted in from 25 metres out – her 47th Test try on her 90th cap.
Abbie Ward, of Harlequins, secured the bonus-point before half-time, with Scarratt’s four successful conversions giving England a 28-0 lead.
Italy’s defence improved after the break, but on the hour Bristol’s Sarah Bern powered over from close range.
Jess Breach, of Harlequins, then dived over in the corner before clubmate Leanne Riley intercepted an Italian pass for England’s seventh.
The fourth try of the second half and the final score of the evening was completed when Marlie Packer, of Saracens, was able to fall down off the back of another controlled driving maul.
Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton: “We’re absolutely over the moon because there are players there who haven’t played international rugby for a year, or others who haven’t for two or three years.
“I think the girls have been magnificent and what a great squad effort – the finishers who came on were fantastic and gave the game a real feel-good factor for us.
“The whole game reflected where we’ve come as a group – we started with loads of energy, then it got a little bit scratchy but then we really started to gel and finished really strong with energy and accuracy.”