Report: Breach and Dow do the damage as England canter to 68-5 win
A hattrick from Jess Breach and four from Abby Dow saw England run away in the second half to demolish Italy by 68-5 at Franklin’s Gardens.
England, short of no fewer than 19 players unavailable for selection, were facing an Italy side who had pushed France all the way in the sopping conditions of round one. An unchanged front row was supported by a new-look partnership in the second row as Catherine O’Donnell and debutant Delaney Burns came into the side. In the backline, the injury to Amber Reed saw Tatyana Heard wear the 12 shirt.
There was change in the forwards for Italy too, Gaia Maris joining Vittoria Vecchini and Lucia Gai in the front row while Sara Tounesi slotted into the second row. The crucial partnership of Michela Sillari and Beatrice Rigoni promised plenty for Italy from midfield to build on last week.
That being said, Italy faced a mammoth task at the Gardens. When these sides met in round two last Six Nations it ended 74-0 to England, the home side having won all of their 16 previous meetings in this competition.
Almost instantaneously from kick off it seemed like it might be a long afternoon for Italy, an early knock-on from Veronica Madia after a speculative Italian offload proving England with a scrum on their 22.
A minute later and England had their first. Red Rose forwards battered the Italian defensive line to prevent them from getting around the corner, ultimately making room for Jess Breach to saunter into the corner.
A response from Italy three minutes later through a well-executed driving lineout was somewhat unexpected given the strength of the England forwards and the fact they had been limited to no points in three of their last four meetings. Tounesi celebrated ahead of what would be an impressive first-half performance, but ultimately the points would go the way of the hosts.
They reasserted their dominance in the next few minutes showing all the tricks of the trade. A lineout from Amy Cokayne thrown over the back was followed by a deft crossfield from Holly Aitchison, try-scorer Breach receiving it wide to pop back inside to Dow to cross in the ninth minute. Seven minutes later and this time it was the scrum doing the damage, winning the ball against the head. The ball made it into the hands of Claudia MacDonald who brushed off Sillari with a handoff to tear away from 40 meters out.
There were some faint flashes of Italy making something of their chances. The visitors scraped through some porous English tackles in the 20th minute followed by a neat chip ahead from Vittoria Minuzzi, but the threat of a score was all there was to it.
Meanwhile, England powered on.
Three more tries in the first half cemented a strong lead for the Red Roses at the break, two fine finishes from Breach and one from MacDonald. The wingers got the credit but the critical work was done by the likes of Sarah Bern, her running lines and offloading skill setting up two of those three scores.
The second half came, and things began to turn into a formality as Italy fell away.
Heard’s try on 46 minutes, bursting through a fragile Italian defence under the sticks, set the tone for the following forty minutes.
Five more tries flowed through for England as a canter turned into a gallop. The wingers were once again at the heart of things, Breach’s 53rd-minute break down the right-hand side creating space on the left for England to swing it wide and for Dow to switch on the afterburners for her second.
Her third, bursting past Rigoni before stepping inside to evade Aura Muzzo to secure her hattrick, was the pick of the bunch. A fourth followed in the 71st minute, sandwiched between two driving maul tries finished by captain Marlie Packer.
England head into fallow week knowing they have time to rest and recharge ahead of Wales, who themselves have won two from their first two. A potentially serious injury to Claudia MacDonald is the only real negative for England from the Gardens, with Simon Middleton saying she’ll be sent for a scan.
Italy, meanwhile, will be focused on their hosting of Ireland on April 15th with the glint of a first victory in their eyes.
England
Starting XV: 15. Abby Dow 14. Jess Breach 13. Lagi Tuima 12. Tatyana Heard 11. Claudia MacDonald 10. Holly Aitchison 9. Lucy Packer 1. Mackenzie Carson 2. Amy Cokayne 3. Sarah Bern 4. Catherine O’Donnell 5. Delaney Burns 6. Sadia Kabeya 7. Marlie Packer 8. Zoe Aldcroft
Repl: 16. Lark Davies 17. Liz Crake 18. Kelsey Clifford 19. Sarah Beckett 20. Emily Robinson 21. Ella Wyrwas 22. Sarah McKenna 23. Emma Sing
Italy
Starting XV: 15. Vittoria Minuzzi 14. Aura Muzzo 13. Michela Sillari 12. Beatrice Rigoni 11. Sofia Stefan 10. Veronica Madia 9. Sara Barattin 1. Gaia Maris 2. Vittoria Vecchini 3. Lucia Gai 4. Sara Tounesi 5. Giordana Duca 6. Francesca Sgorbini 7. Giada Franco 8. Elisa Giordano
Repl: 16. Emanuela Stecca 17. Alice Cassaghi 18. Sara Seye 19. Valeria Fedrighi 20. Isabella Locatelli 21. Emma Stevanin 22. Jessica Busato 23. Beatrice Capomaggi
Attendance: 12,947
