Megan Wellens
Digital Sports activities Journalist @MegWellensX
England have gained their sixth Girls’s Six Nations title in a row; Maud Muir, Alex Matthews, Meg Jones, Marlie Packer, and Amy Cokayne scored within the first half with Matthews including a second within the second; Assia Khalfaoui was proven a pink card for a harmful deal with within the forty fifth minute
Final Up to date: 27/04/24 7:14pm
The Pink Roses celebrated their third Grand Slam in a row with a 41-21 victory over France on the street
England secured their sixth Girls’s Six Nations title in succession and accomplished a hat-trick of Grand Slams with a 42-21 victory over 14-player France in Bordeaux.
​​​​​​It was a breathless first 40 minutes of motion because the Pink Roses had the bonus level wrapped up earlier than the break, tries from Maud Muir, Alex Matthews, Meg Jones, Marlie Packer and Amy Cokayne, plus perfection from the boot of Holly Aitchison, giving them 35 factors.
France hit again via transformed efforts from Gabrielle Vernier and Marine Menager however went in 35-14 down at half-time.
The hosts have been pressured to play the vast majority of the second half a participant down after Assia Khalfaoui was given a pink card for a harmful deal with however they didn’t relent, Menager going over for her second strive.
Nonetheless, Matthews’ second rating stunted any progress they made, securing the 42-21 win for England.
The victory clinches a 3rd Grand Slam in succession for the Pink Roses and their sixth Six Nations title in a row, maintaining France looking for their first victory over the {old} foe since 2018.
First-half blitz helps England onto Six Nations success
The Pink Roses have been able to play with depth proper from the phrase go and have been rewarded throughout the first 5 minutes, Muir powering over from quick vary from the road out and Aitchison changing for a 7-0 lead.
Because the hosts threw possibilities away, England’s organisation put them on prime as soon as once more and this time it was Matthews who went over from the rolling maul, the conversion giving them a 14-0 lead throughout the first quarter-hour.
Alex Matthews powered over for England on their solution to an enormous victory
France then lastly discovered a approach via after placing collectively the phases, Vernier working the sweetest of strains and Lina Queyroi changing to carry the rating to 14-7.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus runs with the ball as France tried to seek out some essential factors
Out of nowhere, Jones then hit again for England, poaching possession by way of an interception to dive over within the nook, however solely minutes later Menager went down the opposite finish of the sector, bringing the rating to 21-14 with simply over 10 minutes remaining of the primary 40.
Megan Jones of England scores her staff’s third strive from an interception
Packer was then awarded a controversial strive as she burrowed over, the group not having fun with what they suspected was an effort grounded wanting the road, giving the Pink Roses a 28-14 lead and the bonus level earlier than the break.
France: Tries: Gabrielle Vernier (18), Marine Menager (28, 70); Conversions: Lina Queyroi (19, 29, 71)
England: Tries: Maud Muir (5), Alex Matthews (12, 72), Meg Jones, Marlie Packer (33), Amy Cokayne (40); Conversions: Holly Aitchison (6, 13, 26, 40+1, 73)
It then received worse for France as Cokayne went over from the driving maul for her facet’s fifth strive, Aitchison kicking the conversion as soon as once more for a 35-14 benefit at half-time.
Drama then ensued simply 4 minutes into the second half as Khalfaoui was proven a yellow card for a harmful deal with on Morwenna Talling, the bunker overview upgrading it to a pink card for a excessive diploma of hazard.
A wrestle for momentum then ensued as feelings ran excessive, France making unforced errors as they looked for extra factors, their largest alternative as they put the phases collectively proper on England’s line coming to an abrupt finish with a knock-on.
They lastly made their breakthrough on the seventieth minute as Menager went over for her second, but it surely took solely a pair minutes for the Pink Roses to answer as Matthews went over as soon as once more to carry the rating to 42-21, the celebrations then ensuing as Aitchison kicked the ball into contact and confirmed the Pink Roses’ hat-trick of Grand Slams.
Maddie Feaunati of England celebrates victory with team-mate Emily Scarratt
What they stated: Packer – We are able to flip it up once we need to
Marlie Packer celebrated her second Grand Slam win as Pink Roses captain
England captain Marlie Packer on BBC Sport: “I am tremendous pleased with the ladies. We have been constructing as a bunch and are nicely into the John Mitchell period with the best way we need to play.
“We simply gained a Grand Slam and what an incredible ambiance, it has been fairly hostile however which means we are able to flip it up when we have to.
“I am simply tremendous pleased with the ladies. We have got smiles on our faces however aren’t actually celebrating and that exhibits the toll of this marketing campaign. I am simply pleased with the ladies.
“It means all the pieces however I am not simply lifting the trophy, I am doing it with the ladies, not me alone, it is each participant, it is taken an actual squad effort.
“Loads behind the scenes too with how a lot the physio and everybody else places.
“That is why we are able to carry out on the pitch.”
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