England Women secure Grand Slam decider against France following dominant victory over Italy
The 61-33 win in Parma sets up a crucial finale in Bordeaux, where England face France in the newly formatted Grand Slam decider.
England Women have defeated Italy 61-33 in Parma to secure a Grand Slam decider against France in Bordeaux. The victory extends England's winning run to 38 consecutive Six Nations matches, maintaining their status as the dominant force in the tournament since 2018.
Veteran flanker Marlie Packer was the catalyst for the win, scoring four tries to earn player-of-the-match honours. Her performance included a kick-through try and three conversions through the defensive line, proving her fitness and determination ahead of her contract expiry in June. Despite being the oldest player in the squad, Packer has publicly stated she is not retiring soon, a sentiment echoed by her continued selection despite being leapfrogged by Sadia Kabeya following the World Cup.
The match saw significant rotation due to squad availability issues, with nine of the 13 forwards from the World Cup final unavailable due to injury or pregnancy. This forced England captain John Mitchell to rely on debutants Haidee Head and Christiana Balogun, while Packer stepped up to fill the gaps in the starting pack. Mitchell noted that Packer's determination and leadership have shaped the team's standards, particularly after she lost the England captaincy to Zoe Stratford at the start of last year.
England missed 15 tackles during the match, raising concerns about defensive solidity ahead of the final round. While the forwards dominated, the defensive line faced pressure from the Azzurre, who managed to score bonus-point tries in their last two encounters against the world champions. The upcoming fixture in Bordeaux presents a stark contrast to the conditions in Parma, as France is the last team to have beaten England in the Six Nations.
The Six Nations format was changed in 2022 to ensure the top two teams, England and France, meet in the finale, creating a Grand Slam decider. England have won all four meetings under this format, though they only prevailed in last year's Grand Slam decider at Allianz Stadium by a single point. France defeated Scotland 42-0 in Edinburgh on Saturday and are the last team to have beaten England in the tournament.
England captain Megan Jones praised Packer's never-say-die attitude, noting that she goes 100% even when the team is struggling. Jones highlighted that Packer registered 12 tackles against Italy and made 92 metres from 14 carries, demonstrating her continued value to the side. As the teams prepare for the decider at the 42,115-capacity Stade Atlantique, the focus remains on whether the young players in the England squad can thrive under the pressure of playing in France.
