Scotland 5 England 57: Red Roses kick off Women’s Six Nations campaign with a bang after running in NINE TRIES
SUPER MUM Marlie Packer dedicated her England hat-trick to son Oliver on Mother’s Day weekend after inspiring the Red Rose to a sensational TikTok Women’s Six Nations start.
Packer crossed three times in England’s 57-5 thrashing of Scotland, as the world’s top-ranked side made it 19 Test match wins in a row – one better than the men’s team have ever managed.
England scored six tries in the first half and nine in total to underline their status as favourites for a fourth straight title.
Bigger tests lie ahead, including a trip to France on Super Saturday, but Packer is just keen to celebrate with her family for now - and especially 18-month-old Oliver.
“I’m super proud and it’s quite fitting for my 80th cap and with it being Mother’s Day tomorrow, I think this one is for Oliver. I just love the game, I enjoy it,” she said.
“The training side I don’t enjoy as much as the playing but I love the people I do it with. They put their bodies on the line for me and I’ll do exactly the same for them.”
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England have not lost a match since July 2019 and started off like a runaway train, with Packer scoring the first try of the tournament from a metre out.
Poppy Cleall soon added a second before Scotland hit back with their only points, as Chloe Rollie crossed in the corner.
Heather Cowell extended England’s lead again before Abby Dow scored a stunner by sidestepping one Scotland defender and then turning on the afterburners to sprint in from 50 metres.
Packer’s second and then a try from scrum-half Leanne Infante completed a brilliant half, and England added three more in the second period through Hollie Aitchison, Connie Powell and Packer’s hat-trick score.
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“I think we’ve got to be honest there and say that was an excellent England side, who are undoubtedly the best team in the world,” said Scotland head coach Bryan Easson.
“I’ll be honest, I was disappointed with that first-half performance, I felt we sat off them far too much, we gave them too much respect, which we’d talked about previously.”
The TikTok Women’s Six Nations is more accessible than ever before. To find out how you can watch the Women’s Championship visit: