Women's Rugby - Six Nations Fixtures

Hershe has started a thread for the opening game of this year's Women's 6Ns
https://www.606v2.com/t23112-ireland-women-v-wales-women-match-thread-teams-etc#920529

Following are the fixtures. I will try and update as the results come in.

I believe the absence of KO time for the Wales v Italy game at the MS is because it will start after the men's game has finished. This will be the first time the Welsh women will have played at the MS

Women's Six Nations Fixtures
Date KO (GMT)
Fri 3rd Feb 12 19:30 Ireland Women v Wales Women Ashbourne, Co Meath
Sun 5th Feb 12 14:00 France Women v Italy Women Stade Emile Pons, Riom
Sun 5th Feb 12 17:00 Scotland Women v England Women Lasswade, Edinburgh

Sat 11th Feb 12 17:30 France Women v Ireland Women Stade du Hameau, Pau
Sun 12th Feb 12 13:00 Wales Women v Scotland Women Pandy Park, Cross Key's
Sun 12th Feb 12 13:30 Italy Women v England Women Parabiago, (nr Milan)

Fri 24th Feb 12 19:30 Ireland Women v Italy Women Ashbourne, Co Meath
Sat 25th Feb 12 14:00 Scotland Women v France Women Bridgehaugh, Stirling
Sat 25th Feb 12 18:15 England Women v Wales Women Twickenham Stadium

Fri 9th Mar 12 19:30 Ireland Women v Scotland Women Ashbourne, Co Meath
Sat 10th Mar 12 Wales Women v Italy Women Millennium Stadium
Sun 11th Mar 12 12:45 France Women v England Women Stade Charlety, Paris

Sat 17th Mar 12 14:00 England Women v Ireland Women Esher RFC, SW London
Sun 18th Mar 12 13:30 Italy Women v Scotland Women Rovato, (Brescia)
Sun 18th Mar 12 14:00 Wales Women v France Women Pandy Park, Cross Keys

Ireland 10 Wales 3
This was the half-time score but apparently the pitch was frozen and the match abandoned at that time. Ireland were given the points. This was said on Scrum V after the U-20s game. I have searched the web and can find no comment on this game ANYWHERE.

need to edit this as I was aboput to send a blast to the 6Ns website (the U-20s results were up but nothing ...) and then I found this


Ireland v Wales women's clash abandoned due to frozen pitch
3 February 2012, 10:07 pm
By Sportsbeat
Ireland Women led Wales 10-3 at half-time when their RBS 6 Nations opener in Ashbourne was called off due to a frozen pitch.
Alison Miller had given the Irish an early lead with a try, converted by Niamh Briggs. Wales fought back with a penalty of their own but Briggs slotted another to extend Ireland’s lead to seven at the break.

However with the score standing at 10-3 at the break the game was abandoned due to the frozen pitch, with a decision on whether the score will stand still to be taken.

More to follow…

Apropos the Ireland Wales game, I believe it will be replyed on Saturday week.

Other results from the weekend
France 32 Italy 0
(Report from Women's Six Nations site)
France's women fired out a warning to their RBS 6 Nations rivals as they recorded five tries in a 32-0 dismissal of Italy on Sunday.

Last year's runners-up had Aida Ba, Chloe Pelle, Jessy Tremouliere, Caroline Lagagnous and Charlotte Marie Hebel to thank for steering them to an opening weekend success, with Bailon kicking the extras.

France, who have not won the RBS 6 Nations since recording back-to-back triumphs in 2004-05, withstood an improved second-half performance from the visitors in minus seven degrees temperatures in Riom.

Before kick-off, organisers had spent hours sweeping snow off the field, allowing the home side to grab second spot in the table with England in their sights.

Italy will hope to defeat England at home on Sunday to improve on their fifth position, and their coach Domenico Di believes they should be able to do so.

"I think the start of the tournament is always difficult for us, we have to get reacquainted with a way of playing that is always at full production," he said.

"I made ??some changes in the second half and we started to play the ball and went close to two goals."

France will now host Ireland on Saturday, with the Irish seeking their first win after their home clash with Wales was abandoned at half-time due to a frozen pitch.

Scotland 0 England 47

England women picked up where they left off in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations by opening this year's Championship with a crushing nine-try 47-0 defeat of Scotland in Lasswade.

Michaela Staniford and Katherine Merchant both touched down twice while Rowena Burnfield, Marlie Packer, Isabelle Noel-Smith, Natasha Hunt and Emily Scarratt also crossed as Gary Street's side made an emphatic statement of intent.

While it did not quite match the heights of last year's 89-0 victory at Scotland, it was another match in which England completely shut out their opponents and they have now conceded just eight points in their last six matches in the Six Nations.

It did not take for the visitors to get the ball rolling as a quick piece of thinking from a tap penalty put flanker Packer over the whitewash. Skipper Katy Mclean was off target with the conversion in tricky kicking conditions.

Straight from the restart and Scotland were further behind when Scarratt's perfectly weighted chip was latched onto by Staniford who won a footrace against the Scottish defence.

Scarratt was also the architected of Staniford's second and England's third try on the half-hour mark as she made the initial break before the Wasps flier applied the finishing touch.

England were not done there as Staniford turned creator with a brilliant pass for Burnfield to cross before a scorching Scarratt run let to Merchant rounding off the half with her first try to make the halftime score 27-0.

It was a virtually identical tale in the second half as Merchant got her second score on 49 minutes and scrum-half Hunt followed her over the line three minutes later.

Scarratt, after laying on so many tries for other, finally got in on the act herself after good work from Harriet Millar-Mills and Burford.

In virtually the last play of the game, Noel-Smith ended Scotland's misery with her first international try as Street's side showed once again why they are the team to beat.

Table after first round of matches


Pos Team P W D L F A PD Pts
1 England 1 1 0 0 47 0 47 2
2 France 1 1 0 0 32 0 32 2
3 Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Italy 1 0 0 1 0 32 -32 0
6 Scotland 1 0 0 1 0 47 -47 0

Good to see the Ladies continuing their imperious 6N form

France 8 Ireland 7

France Women hold on against late Irish fightback
11 February 2012, 8:22 pm ::
Match Report By Sportsbeat
Sandrine Agricole's first-half penalty proved decisive as France Women held off a spirited late fight-back from Ireland to clinch an 8-7 RBS 6 Nations victory.
Wing Caroline Ladagnous crossed as Les Bleues dominated the opening period and Agricole's penalty earned last year's Six Nations runners-up an 8-0 advantage at the interval.

But the pendulum swung back after half-time at the Stade du Hameau and Ireland piled on the pressure, but Claire Molloy's last-gasp converted try was no more than a consolation.

The match in Pau was brought forward to an afternoon kick-off in order to avoid freezing temperatures, and the physical nature of the French side made it difficult for Ireland early on.

Les Bleues controlled the opening period and turned their possession into points when Ladagnous surged through to score after 20 minutes, but Agricole was off target with the conversion.

Agricole did hold her nerve to post a penalty before the break, extending their advantage to two scores, a lead which Ireland would not be able to overcome despite their resurgence.

The girls in green almost made the dream start to the second half when wing Niamh Kavanagh split the home defence to cross but play was brought back for a French penalty.

The visitors were banging on the door as the clock ticked down but the solid-steel French rearguard was holding firm until prop Cristelle Chobet saw yellow on 68 minutes.

Ireland made the player advantage count when Molloy found space to cross and Niamh Briggs added the conversion to set up a grandstand finish.

But despite last-gasp Irish pressure, France dug deep to stave off the onslaught and hang on to the lead much to the delighted of the 9,000-strong home crowd.

Day double hands Wales comfortable victory

Wales 20 Scotland 0
12 February 2012, 3:27 pm ::
Match Report By Sportsbeat
Amy Day's double led Wales to a confident win over Scotland who, while still without a point in this year's RBS 6 Nations, will be buoyed by another improved performance at Pandy Park.
With Wales' first game called off while their opponents Ireland were 10-3 up the Welsh were looking for an improvement on last week's outing.

Scotland were taken apart 47-0 by reigning champions England but were happy with what coach Karen Findlay described as an improved performance.

Scotland held their own for the opening exchanges on a heavy pitch but Wales dominated possession and missed the chance to go in front on 15 minutes after failing to convert a penalty.

However, minutes later they took the lead as Jamie Kift scored the first try of the game following some intense pressure which finally broke down the determined Scottish defence.

Scotland were hit with a double blow just moments later as captain Rachel Taylor drove over to extend Wales' lead to ten.
Scotland responded through a great line break from Sarah Dixon but she was held up just shy of the Welsh line.

But with the last play of the half Wales scored again when Day broke through desperate Scottish defending to put her team 15-0 up at the break.

Scotland came out scrapping second half but were unable to create consistent chances to trouble the Welsh defence.

And scrum-half Day grabbed her second early in the half to rub salt into the wounds of the Scots.

Problems were compounded for Scotland as Dixon received a yellow card, but some feverish defending including a fantastic try-saving tackle from Katy Green prevented Wales extending their lead.

Scotland huffed and puffed but were unable to make their pressure count as Wales held out for a clean sheet.

Scarratt guides England to comfortable victory

Italy 3 England 43
12 February 2012, 4:23 pm ::
Match Report By Sportsbeat
A late pitch re-location across half of Italy didn't hamper England's Women as they defeated the Azzurri 43-3 on an artificial surface in Recco.
Emily Scarratt steered England to victory with a try and four conversions at the Stadio Carlo Androne, Genoa - 112 miles south-west from where the match should have been played in Parabiago, Milan.

England are chasing a seventh consecutive RBS 6 Nations title but head coach Gary Street left resident captain and fly-half Katy McLean on the bench.

Ceri Large took the No. 10 shirt with Lichfield No. 8's Sarah Hunter deputising as skipper.

Large justified her selection with a first-half try and helped England amass seven overall. The others coming from full-back Scarratt, wing Georgina Roberts, prop Rochelle Clark, Michaela Staniford and centre Rachel Burford as well one penalty try.

At half-time the score was 26-3 to the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions - Scarratt having converted three of the four first-half tries.

Italy got to grips with England in the second half and limited them to a penalty try and two late scores from Staniford and Burford.

England are now two from two after defeating Scotland 47-0 in Edinburgh last weekend. They return home to Twickenham for their next match against Wales in two weeks' time.

Table after 2nd round of matches

2011-2012 - Women's Six Nations

Pos Team P W D L F A PD Pts
1 England 2 2 0 0 90 3 87 4
2 France 2 2 0 0 40 7 33 4
3 Wales 1 1 0 0 20 0 20 2
4 Ireland 1 0 0 1 7 8 -1 0
5 Scotland 2 0 0 1 0 67 -67 0
6 Italy 2 0 0 2 3 75 -72 0

I love these posts about Women's rugby Kia.

My intention is to watch any of them when they are televised.

To be honest the standards aren't great, but they are competitive.

so england are the best at this as well

yes, thanks for the posts. While the quality isn't as good, I still enjoy watching England play and unlock defences and take chances.

it can be pretty brutal at times too.

Does anyone know when the Ireland/Wales game will be re-arranged to?

Kavanagh leads Ireland women to six-try thrashing

Ireland 40 Italy 10
Winger Niamh Kavanagh led the way with two tries as Ireland women got their RBS 6 Nations campaign up and running with a resounding 40-10 defeat of Italy.
After being edged out 8-7 by France last time out and seeing their game against Wales abandoned, Ireland came out firing in front of a healthy crowd at Ashbourne.

It did not take long for the home supporters to start celebrating as lock Marie Louise Reilly barged her way through for the first try on five minutes. Niamh Briggs converted and she would add two further penalties in the half.

Just nine minutes later and Ireland were threatening to really cut loose as former captain Joy Neville put through local girl Kavanagh on the right.

Neville got in on the act herself just before the half-hour mark with Italy paying the price for not getting the ball away quickly enough.

The Italians though showed commendable spirit as they came back into the game as Ireland had two players sent to the sin-bin with tthe visitors responding through a converted Cristina Molic try to leave them trailing by 14 points.

That deficit was further reduced through a Michela Tondinelli drop goal in the visitors' best spell of the half.

But Ireland's superior fitness told as the game entered the final quarter as Alison Miller's good work laid the platform for scrum-half Amy Davis to get the fourth try that would kill off the game as a contest.

Against tiring Italian legs, Kavanagh got her second and replacement Jennifer Murphy rounded off the scoring with her side's sixth try to give the scoreline a flattering gloss

Also today

England 33 Wales 0
This was televised by the BBC, but didn't make Penfro's guide to televised rugby for the weekend. Unfortunately it is not available on iplayer either.

I'm afraid I do not have the result for the Scotland france match. It was played in Bridgehaugh, Stirling. I presume they have no means of communicating with the rest of the world as there is no result on the Official 6Ns site nor on the Scotland Women's Rugby site (how remote is Bridgehaugh? )

Table after 3 rounds (but minus one result). Also there is no news yet of the to-be-rescheduled Ireland v Wales


Pos Team P W D L F A PD Pts
1 England 3 3 0 0 123 3 120 6
2 France 2 2 0 0 40 7 33 4
3 Ireland 2 1 0 1 47 18 29 2
4 Wales 2 1 0 1 20 33 -13 2
5 Scotland 2 0 0 2 0 67 -67 0
6 Italy 3 0 0 3 13 115 -102 0

KiaRose wrote:Also today

England 33 Wales 0
This was televised by the BBC, but didn't make Penfro's guide to televised rugby for the weekend. Unfortunately it is not available on iplayer either.

I'm afraid I do not have the result for the Scotland france match. It was played in Bridgehaugh, Stirling. I presume they have no means of communicating with the rest of the world as there is no result on the Official 6Ns site nor on the Scotland Women's Rugby site (how remote is Bridgehaugh? )

We watched bits of the game, it went a fraction of the way to soothe my household's bruised English ego after the men's match

I missed it - had to chat to family, feed puppy, cook supper ... And I didn't know it was on until too late.

Hope you enjoyed it.

I watched the game and although the Welsh were nilled, I thought that they played with a degree of pride, commitment and a fair bit of skill.

The commentators/pundits kept on banging on about the jugganaut that is English rugby in its size, player base, finances etc. But that is a matter for the other unions.

Maybe Celtic rugby is sold too cheaply in the UK?

The french lady ref seemed very competent.

I watched the gam yesterday Wales v England, And i thought that England did look a lot better than Wales, but Wales did put up a good show.

Looks like England Ladies could be on track for their 7th 6ns win and a possible Grand Slam.

I just wish that the Ladies rugby would get the same reconition and support as the mens, and maybe go professional.

KiaRose wrote:

I'm afraid I do not have the result for the Scotland france match. It was played in Bridgehaugh, Stirling. I presume they have no means of communicating with the rest of the world as there is no result on the Official 6Ns site nor on the Scotland Women's Rugby site (how remote is Bridgehaugh? )

France won 23-0. Match report at http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/2885/2/

Was it not said yesterday that England have played 3 won 3

And France have played 3 won 3 as well?

France women too strong for Scots

Scotland 0 France 23

France Women made it three wins from three in the RBS 6 Nations as they comfortably saw off Scotland 23-0 in Bridgehaugh.
Four tries from forwards Aida Ba, Cyrielle Bouisset, Marine de Nadai and Gaëlle Mignot as well as a penalty from Aurélie Bailon were enough to set up a potential Grand Slam decider against England in a fortnight.

In contrast the Scots are still searching for their first point of the tournament, after again being kept scoreless by a powerful French outfit.

It took Les Bleues most of the first quarter to open the scoring but they eventually broke through on 19 minutes when good work from the forwards saw No.8 Ba crash over.

Bailon added a penalty towards the end of the first half and the French stretched their lead just before the break as the Scottish pack was again put under pressure with second row Bouisset going over.

The visitors continued to dominate up front after the break and that pressure told when hooker Mignot went over for their third try of the game.

Things went from bad to worse for Scotland when prop Tracy Balmer was sent to the bin for persistent scrummaging infringements, and despite valiantly trying to hold out, second row de Nadai went over against the 14 women to stretch the lead further.

Back up to their full complement the Scots battled bravely but could not find a way through, and will now travel to Ireland in search of a first win in a fortnight.

And the table after 3 rounds:




Pos Team P W D L F A PD Pts
1 England 3 3 0 0 123 3 120 6
2 France 3 3 0 0 63 7 56 6
3 Ireland 2 1 0 1 47 18 29 2
4 Wales 2 1 0 1 20 33 -13 2
5 Scotland 3 0 0 3 0 90 -90 0
6 Italy 3 0 0 3 13 115 -102 0

Portnoy wrote:

The commentators/pundits kept on banging on about the jugganaut that is English rugby in its size, player base, finances etc. But that is a matter for the other unions.

Maybe Celtic rugby is sold too cheaply in the UK?

Two points, Portnoy. Not sure if your comment re size refers to the physical size of the English women, but 18 months ago when tyhey played the NZ women in Twickenham after an England ABs match, Graham Henry commented on the physical size of the England team ...

Don't know much about the situation in Scotland and Wales, but there is a bit of a row going on about the wilful neglect by the IRFU of the Ireland Women's team. There has been comment in the Irish Times and I think some of the women involved, both preesnt and past players are mightily fed up with the whole situation as witness the debacle of the team getting to the French match.

KiaRose wrote:

Portnoy wrote:

The commentators/pundits kept on banging on about the jugganaut that is English rugby in its size, player base, finances etc. But that is a matter for the other unions.

Maybe Celtic rugby is sold too cheaply in the UK?

Two points, Portnoy. Not sure if your comment re size refers to the physical size of the English women, but 18 months ago when tyhey played the NZ women in Twickenham after an England ABs match, Graham Henry commented on the physical size of the England team ...

Don't know much about the situation in Scotland and Wales, but there is a bit of a row going on about the wilful neglect by the IRFU of the Ireland Women's team. There has been comment in the Irish Times and I think some of the women involved, both preesnt and past players are mightily fed up with the whole situation as witness the debacle of the team getting to the French match.

Union size, Kia. But the physical size difference was noticable and added to the Welsh performance. I'd suggest a good fifteen points below par.

Replayed game (Report from RTÉ site)

Ireland 36 Wales 0

The Ireland Women tore Wales apart with a stylish six-try blitz at Ashbourne RFC, comfortably making it back-to-back wins in the Women's RBS 6 Nations.

Tries from Joy Neville, Sophie Spence, Niamh Kavanagh, Alison Miller, Gillian Bourke and Ashleigh Baxter did the damage for the girls in green, who are now two points behind leaders England with two rounds remaining.

Third-placed Ireland host Scotland in Ashbourne next Friday before making the trip to London for a St. Patrick's Day finale against England.

This was a hugely encouraging performance from Philip Doyle's side, with the defence watertight and their impressive finishing skills on full show again.

Wales had to make do without their captain Rachel Taylor, who failed in her bid to have a citing charge overturned from last weekend's defeat to England.

Lisa Newton took over in the visitors' back row, while a late injury for Paula Fitzpatrick saw Ulster's Stacey-Lea Kennedy added to the Ireland bench.

In sunny but cold conditions, Ireland got off to a promising start with talented number eight Neville touching down in the ninth minute, getting on the end of a terrific maul.

Niamh Briggs failed to convert and in a lively start, Wales' Laura Prosser also slid a penalty attempt wide of the target.

Playing with the wind, Wales enjoyed a period of dominance around the midpoint of the half and a yellow card for centre Grace Davitt left Ireland shorthanded.

It took a series of strong tackles to keep their try-line intact, but their quality in attack soon shone through as Spence and the elusive Kavanagh helped themselves to tries.

Second-row Spence, in only her third appearance at this level, caught the Wales defence off guard to run in a rousing try which Briggs converted from in front of the posts.

Even better followed for the enthusiastic home crowd as flanker Claire Molloy made a superb break to tee up Kavanagh's third try in two games.

The UL Bohemians clubwoman is in the form of her life and although Briggs' conversion attempt fell short, Ireland's tails were most definitely up at 17-0.

Into the second half, the now wind-backed Irish made further inroads. A loose pass spoilt a Wales attack and the razor sharp Miller gobbled up the ball to dart over for Ireland's fourth try of the afternoon.

It was a deserved score for the Laois flyer, who has been a constant threat in this year's Championship with ball in hand. She also dotted down in the abandoned game against Wales last month.

With 55 minutes on the clock, hooker Bourke crashed over with Wales unable to halt another well-orchestrated Irish maul. Briggs' conversion attempt came back off the woodwork.

Larissa Muldoon and Jennifer Murphy enjoyed run-outs as replacements with the hosts maintaining a firm grasp on proceedings.

Wales simply had no answers to Ireland's strength and speed in possession. Full-back Baxter, who had a try ruled out against Italy, got over for a well-merited score in the corner with Briggs adding the extras from out wide.

Replacement Heather O'Brien received a yellow card shortly after her introduction, but there was no consolation score for the well-beaten Wales.

Ireland were left to celebrate their biggest ever victory over Wales at this level, eclipsing the previous record which had stood since March 1996 (22-6).

And the table after 3 completed rounds

Pos Team P W D L F A PD Pts
1 England 3 3 0 0 123 3 120 6
2 France 3 3 0 0 63 7 56 6
3 Ireland 3 2 0 1 83 18 65 4
4 Wales 3 1 0 2 20 69 -49 2
5 Scotland 3 0 0 3 0 90 -90 0
6 Italy 3 0 0 3 13 115 -102 0