Scarratt on all-time high as Roses trounce Scots
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning centre Emily Scarratt’s haul of 13 points in England’s 53-0 win over Scotland at Murrayfield saw her surpass teammate Katy Daley-Mclean as England Women’s highest points scorer, on 539.
The Red Roses made it two wins from two in the 2020 Women’s Six Nations as they eased past Scotland in dreadful conditions in Edinburgh. In defence of their Grand Slam of last year, England secured a bonus-point win as they ran in eight tries in a game that was postponed for a day and moved to Edinburgh from Glasgow because of the impact of Storm Ciara.
England were ahead inside three minutes through Sarah Bern crashing over from short range, Scarratt converting, before adding a simple penalty in the rain.
Scarratt, the Leicester Mercury Sportswoman of 2019, turned provider when her looping miss pass allowed Jess Breach to race in for her 21st try in 12 Tests, before a stunning individual score from fellow wing Abby Dow, who hit an excellent line on the halfway line and beat four defenders to score on the right wing.
England led 22-0 at the break and it took three minutes into the second half to go over when Emily Scott danced through the defence to dot down. She had her second shortly after when Zoe Harrison’s crossfield kick caused confusion and she reacted first.
Dow’s second, her 13th in 11 Tests, came from a well worked handling move to the right wing for her to slide over before a powerful fivemetre scrum saw captain Sarah Hunter control it to the line to cross, Scarratt adding the extras.
Claudia McDonald scored late on for an eighth Red Roses try with Scarratt sending over the conversion to see her become England women’s greatest ever points scorer.
Scotland, who had 13 players in their match-day squad playing in Tyrrells Premier 15s, struggled with England’s powerful forward play and have now lost the last 22 meetings in a row with the Red Roses.
BACK-ROW forward Hanro Liebenberg could be back in contention for Leicester Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership clash with Wasps at Welford Road on Saturday.
The South African forward made a good early impression after joining Tigers in the summer but has been out of action since the win over Gloucester at Welford Road on November 2 due to an ankle injury.
Head coach Geordan Murphy says, however, that Liebenberg is continuing his progress back to full fitness as the side look forward to getting back into action for the first time in three weeks.
“Hanro has trained with the first team squad for the last couple of weeks and has been looking good,” Murphy said. “He had a really strong pre-season and is a great asset in and around the side, the guys really enjoy his company.
“He’s a good rugby player and has trained well over the past few weeks and we will see how we get on. If he features at the weekend we know what he will bring. He is an asset at the line-out and a big body around the field.”
Tigers will have Wales international Jordan Holmes available with no Six Nations games this weekend – though they will be without the England contingent of Jonny May, Ben Youngs, Ellis Genge and George Ford.
Back-rower Guy Thompson remains sidelined with a neck injury and will miss the clash against his former club.
Glasgow Warriors prop Charlie Capps has joined Tigers on a shortterm loan deal, Gaston Cortes moving in the opposite direction.
Harrogate-born Scottish-qualified, Capps played for Ripon and Yorkshire Carnegie before moving to Glasgow last summer. The 22-yearold has also played at Stade Niçois in France.
Cortes signed from Bristol Bears ahead of last season but has made just 10 appearances for Tigers.
Meanwhile, three of Tigers brightest young prospects have all committed their immediate future to the club.
Back-rowers Taylor Gough, Henri Lavin and Thom Smith, all products of the Tigers’ academy, have agreed new deals.
The trio were team-mates in the club’s Under-18 League title-winning season in 2017/18 and have gone on to represent the senior team since moving up into the development squad.
“It’s great news for us to have Taylor, Henri and Thom agree new deals with the club,” said Murphy.
“They have made their way up the Leicester ladder together, from junior days to the senior squad, and their journey continues together with these new deals.”