Women’s Six Nations 2024: Italy 0-48 England – Bonus-point win for Red Roses despite Sarah Beckett red card

A 14-player England side recorded a bonus-point win over Italy after Sarah Beckett was sent off in their Women’s Six Nations opener in Parma.

The number eight became the first woman to have her yellow card upgraded to red by the TMO ‘bunker’ system for a dangerous first-half ruck clear-out.

Despite being a player down, tries from Hannah Botterman and Abbie Ward gave England a 10-point lead at half-time.

The Red Roses scored six second-half tries to run out comfortable winners.

Those scores came through a double from Ellie Kildunne, Lark Atkin-Davies, Helena Rowland, Mackenzie Carson and Connie Powell to rectify a below-par opening half.

England are seeking a third successive Grand Slam and a sixth successive Six Nations title.

John Mitchell’s side next face Wales at Ashton Gate on Saturday, while Italy, who finished fifth in last year’s championship, travel to Ireland on Sunday with hopes of replicating their only victory last campaign.

The trip to Italy was Mitchell’s first Women’s Six Nations game in charge of the Red Roses and he called for his side to play with a higher tempo in attack.

In attempting to do so, England delivered an error-riddled first half lacking any accuracy with ball in hand.

The loss of Beckett added to the frustrations. The 25-year-old grabbed the waist of Michela Sillari before attempting to roll the Italy centre off the ball.

The result was Sillari twisted her knee and was forced off injured.

World Rugby has announced it is looking to clamp down on dangerous ruck clean-outs to prevent knee injuries.

Mitchell’s side were then forced to result back to their direct forward-ordinated style which saw them finally get over the tryline after a rare 30 minutes without a score.

Both Botterman and Ward, who was playing her first game for England since giving birth, powered their way over.

In the second half, discipline remained a problem as Rowland was also sent to the sin-bin for a high clean-out, but it remained a yellow due to a mitigation.

Before the 2023 Six Nations, Italy announced 22 professional contracts had been given out to their players.

That decision will take time to reap it’s benefits – as seen with England’s decision to turn professional in 2019.

Despite remaining well in the game due to England’s mistakes, the Italians struggled for any territory.

Once Mitchell’s side cut out their first-half errors their professionalism shone through, especially with the impact of their replacements.

The pick of the tries came from Kildunne, who sprinted up the wing before rounding the full-back to show exactly why Mitchell wants to speed up his side’s play.

Rowland also showed her class in attack with a weaving run to put the Red Roses beyond Italy’s reach.

But an area of improvement would be England’s goal kicking. Only four tries were converted, with Zoe Harrison missing a straightforward attempt in the first half.

Mitchell recalled Harrison for her first game since the 2022 World Cup final defeat after a nasty knee injury and the fly-half struggled from the tee.

The Red Roses had put 50 points or more on Italy in their past five meetings, which offered some consolation to an improving Italian side.

Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, D’Inca; Madia, Stefan (capt); Maris, Turani, Seye, Fedrighi, Tounesi, Locatelli, Sgorbini, Cavina.

Replacements: Gurioli, Stecca, Gai, Pilani, Duca, Frangipani, Stevanin, Granzotto.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Scarratt, Breach; Harrison, Packer; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Aldcroft, Ward, Kabeya, Packer (capt), Beckett.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Feaunati, Matthews, Hunt, Aitchison, Jones.

Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau

Sent off: Sarah Beckett (11)

Sin-bins: Rowland (69), Emma Stevanin (82)