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Women’s Six Nations: 4 things we learned in round two
England lead the way from France as only two unbeaten teams remain at the end of the second round of the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
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Les Bleues got an enthralling weekend underway in style at a sold-out Stade Marcel Deflandre, running in three tries in seven second-half minutes to secure a bonus point 38-15 victory against Scotland.
England then conceded the opening try in front a record crowd at the Principality Stadium but recovered superbly to beat Wales 67-12.
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Round two drew to a close in the sunshine in Parma on Sunday, where Ireland won for the first time in the Six Nations, beating Italy 54-12.
As we head into the fallow week, here are four things we learned from this weekend’s action.
Bourgeois puts France on front foot
In her first RugbyPass column, Morgane Bourgeois outlined the importance of her pre-match kicking routine.
“I get my bearings, pick out my visual targets in the stadium, feel out the wind, strike the ball again and again to lock in the rhythm,” she wrote about her usual captain’s run routine. “Reps and more reps, until the motion feels like second nature.”
Kicking certainly looks second nature for Bourgeois at the moment and having provided 12 match-defining points to France’s opening round victory in Ireland, she was at it again in La Rochelle on Saturday.
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Les Bleues enjoyed two-thirds of the territory during the first half of their second-round match against Scotland at Stade Marcel Deflandre but had only one try to show for it at the break.
That Scotland pegged them back at the end of the first half, through Emma Orr, before starting the second strongly could have knocked their hosts off their stride. But that is where Bourgeois, and Pauline Bourdon Sansus, came in.
Bourgeois’ two first-half penalties ensured France turned around 13-7 in front and after some quick thinking from Bourdon Sansus – naturally, involving her feet – had got Les Bleues out of a defensive hole, the full-back’s booming boot was able to stretch that lead.
Then came the moment that visibly seemed to break Scottish resolve as Bourdon Sansus connected sweetly with a long-range drop goal attempt, to land the first one in the Women’s Six Nations for 11 years. The visitors’ shoulders sank.
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Although each side had crossed for a try, crucially the hosts had been able to keep the scoreboard ticking over with the boot and led by 12 points.
It meant that when their second try did arrive, finished superbly by Teani Feleu, the gap on the scoreboard felt like a chasm and it was no surprise to see France cross twice more in quick success.
France’s fourth in the La Rochelle sunshine was scored by the woman of the moment, Bourgeois. The full-back did not start a single match in last year’s Six Nations and missed out on WXV altogether but has started the 2025 championship like a train.
Her 20 points on France’s west coast take her tally in two matches to 32, more than double the next most prolific player in this year’s Six Nations. Chapeau!
Harrison edges ahead in England’s fly-half battle
There were no shortage of standout performers for England as they ran rings around Wales at the Principality Stadium.
Ellie Kildunne deservedly marked her 50th appearance with a hat-trick, while Megan Jones dazzled on what was an emotion-filled return to Cardiff and Maddie Feaunati again looked rock solid at No.8.
But tying that all together was a composed performance from the woman wearing the white No.10 jersey, Zoe Harrison.
It is not a given that Harrison will be England’s first choice fly-half when the World Cup gets underway in Sunderland in August – this was only her third start under John Mitchell – but she could not have done any more to stake her claim.
The Saracens playmaker was unceremoniously brushed aside by Georgia Evans in the build-up to Wales’ opening try but recovered to steer England around the Principality Stadium magnificently.
Harrison finished the match with four try assists, two of which will live long in the memory. The first of those arrived early in the second half as she slung a wide missed-pass on the run that took out three Welsh defenders and gave Kildunne a simple finish.
Around 20 minutes later, Harrison let her right foot do the talking as she measured a quite magnificent kick-pass that found Abby Dow scampering down the right wing.
Harrison played the full 80 in Cardiff, finishing the match with 12 points from the boot, and was able to link with Holly Aitchison and Helena Rowland – her two rivals for the 10 shirt – late in the match. That’s a terrifying prospect for any tiring defence.
Defence remains work-on for Wales
The first two matches of the championship were always going to be tough for Sean Lynn and his new Wales team given the short turnaround from the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) final.
Yet, he might not have expected his players to struggle so badly defensively in the opening two rounds.
Wales have missed a combined 63 tackles in their defeats to Scotland and England, the 35 that went unmade in round one falling slightly to 28 at the Principality Stadium.
The team has displayed a significant amount of resilience in both matches and their effort cannot be questioned but Lynn admitted after Saturday’s England loss that “the defence system is something that we really need to be thinking about”.
“Dan [Murphy, defence coach] has come in and he’s brought a system in, it’s just the girls getting that in place and also that trust as well,” Lynn added.
There were positives to take from their 11-try defeat to England, not least the 21,186 fans in attendance, a record crowd for any women’s sporting event in Wales.
Lynn insisted too that “some of our attack was outstanding” while refusing to get too downbeat about losing to the tournament favourites and six-time defending champions. “You’ve got to realise that you are playing the world’s best,” he said.
Lynn and Murphy will have more time to work with the squad on the training pitch as we head into the fallow week, but things won’t get any easier for Wales in round three as they head to Brive to take on France.
Dalton at centre of Ireland’s win in Parma
A quick glance at the post-match stats from Parma would suggest the final match of round two was a close one.
Hosts Italy shaded both territory and possession while the teams made roughly the same amount of carries (134-130) for a similar number of metres (778-768). Ireland, moreover, were require to make more tackles (140-179).
But, the eye test – perhaps one highlighted by the fact Italy conceded 19 turnovers to their visitors’ 11 – would have told you that Ireland always looked a class above, able to make the most of the opportunities that came their way en route to a first Six Nations win at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
That was certainly the case in the second minute when Aoife Dalton tidied up a scrappy piece of possession and set course for the line to score the first of her side’s eight tries.
Dalton found herself at the centre of the action at the other end of the pitch at the end of the half to deny Italy, and was at the heart of much of what Ireland did well in Parma. The centre was a willing runner with ball in hand and made 16 tackles defensively.
The 21-year-old’s midfield partnership with Eve Higgins grows stronger by the week but Ireland appear to be building some impressive depth as the World Cup comes into view.
For the second week running, Enya Breen came on for Higgins in midfield and the sight of Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan and Cliodhna Moloney warming up on the sidelines is enough to give any coach palpitations.
England await in round three, though, giving Ireland and coach Scott Bemand an opportunity to see how far they have come since their 88-10 defeat at Allianz Stadium a year ago.
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I’m not sure we learned anything we didn’t already know. England dominate, France nearest and maybe only competitors, Ireland continue to challenge, Scotland similar, Italy spirited and have quality in key positions but not enough throughout, Wales won’t demonstrate the impact of a new coaching team in this 6N. So, all in all, it’s as you were.
It seems to me that the only conclusion we can draw from Round 2 is that Wales still have a long way to go and are likely to contest wooden spoon with Italy. England remain the dominant force in 6N, and probably in the world, with France being their nearest 6N rivals but although there is a suspicion that they are getting their act together after a difficult WXV we will only really find out after the match at Twickenham. Scotland and Ireland look as if they will contest 3rd place with their match being too close to call. Many may now feel that Ireland will clinch it after playing so well against Italy but home advantage for Scotland might be a decisive factor. Ireland’s match in Cork against England will be a test of how much they have really progressed. The Red Roses I’m sure will field a strong side to make sure there are no slip ups in that match, Ireland will be full of belief and will give it everything.