...AND ENGLAND WOMEN GET IN ON THE ACT, TOO

ENGLAND took a massive step towards winning the Women’s Six Nations with an emphatic win over champions France in Doncaster. Jess Breach touched down in the 11th minute after collecting a pinpoint cross-field kick from fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean, whose conversion made her the first English woman to pass 500 international points. Poppy Cleall scored a close-range try and Breach added a second to put England 24-0 up at half-time. A frantic start to the second half saw three tries scored in seven minutes, with Safi N’Diaye and Pauline Bourdon scoring for France before Cleall’s second.

Tries from substitute Hannah Botterman and Cath O’Donnell put the result beyond doubt. Bourdon and Romane Menager added late consolation tries. England head coach Simon Middleton said: ‘We let France in during the second half but that only shows what a world-class side they are. We are not the finished article yet and there is plenty still for us to work on. ‘Tonight we will let ourselves celebrate a great win but there is no place for complacency.’