Women's Six Nations: Laboured England show depth to conquer Ireland

Abbie Ward, England’s World Cup-winning lock from last year, is not part of the squad for this Women’s Six Nations tournament. Nor is Zoe Stratford, the England captain, lock Rosie Galligan or hooker Lark Atkin-Davies as the Red Roses bid to defend their title. That quartet of forwards are all unavailable for the same wonderful reason, with their pregnancies welcomed enthusiastically by both team-mates and coaches.

John Mitchell, the England head coach, described the moments when his players revealed the news as “a really fulfilling conversation” and “a beautiful situation”. He said: “All of those girls will make great mums, and they are also driven to return. But motherhood has its ways, so they must enjoy that, not put themselves under pressure to return.”

Ward, pregnant with her second child, has in many ways been a trailblazer, paving the way for Stratford, Galligan and Atkin-Davies who are all expecting their first.

England’s World Cup triumph last year served up a number of remarkable photographs; fans in cowboy hats, opposing sides dancing together after the final whistle. One shot from before the final of supporters packed onto the stairways of the West and South Stands, overlooking the Rowland Hill Memorial Gates as Stratford’s side arrived for an event that felt more like a celebration of this team and this sport, rather than the most important game of their lives, will live long in the memory.

Personally, however, I think the best snap of the lot was taken by Mike Hewitt of Getty Images, a picture of Ward clutching her daughter Hallie in one arm while holding the Women’s World Cup trophy, looking up at the ­thousands in the stands, taking it all in. Ward shared it to her Instagram feed with the ­following caption. “We did it kid! WORLD CHAMPIONS!” Before Hallie was born in 2023, Ward and her England team-mate, Vickii Cornborough, were more or less in uncharted waters, the only pregnant players in the England squad.

Ward recently admitted in an ­interview with Women’s Health that ignorance was bliss. She trained until three days before giving birth, ­underwent a planned C-section and returned to action 17 weeks later with her club, Bristol Bears, describing the previous maternity ­policy in place as “not fit for purpose”. With the new 26-week, fully paid maternity leave ­policy, Ward saw a shift.

“One thing that I noticed is that so many girls were asking questions, and a lot more of them were speaking openly about wanting to have families,” she told The Rugby Journal. “Until now, I think everyone – even if you did want to [start a family] – would just keep their mouth shut.”

The way Ward returned to the top of her game, playing in her third World Cup for England last year – and finally tasting victory – clearly had an impact.

“Seeing Abbie go through pregnancy and returning was a big moment for me,” Atkin-Davies told RugbyPass last month. “Don’t get me wrong, it looked hard at times. But I think seeing her do it and the moment of seeing her after the World Cup final with Hallie on the pitch with the World Cup trophy, I thought, ‘I’d love to have that.’ And while I still feel capable of doing so, why wouldn’t I give it a go?”

Galligan, who is due to give birth in October, is the partner of England’s Test centurion Marlie Packer. The RFU’s maternity policy will mean that, as Galligan’s partner, Packer is also entitled to the full 26 weeks, a significant shift from when Packer’s son with a previous partner was born in late 2020 and her maternity leave lasted only two weeks.

Such is England’s strength in depth that they could cope with being without three of their locks in Stratford, Galligan and Ward, plus one of their premier hookers in Atkin-Davies, against Ireland for their Six Nations opener and still be dominant in the set-piece.

England had to rely on that core pillar of their game in an otherwise rusty opening win to kick off their Six Nations title defence, with the sense of inaccuracy summed up by a set-piece move before half-time which looked certain to be a try for Ellie Kildunne, created by Meg Jones’ offload, before Kildunne surprisingly dropped the ball over the line.

It took until the 54th minute for Jess Breach, sprinting after a kick by Jones, to bring up England’s try bonus point, which is a long time by their ­impeccably high standards.

The challenge for Mitchell and his players is simple enough: how do you maintain the momentum of last year’s generational high? A crowd of just under 77,000 rolled up to the Allianz Stadium to watch the world champions yesterday, which is phenomenal. That depth in the second row was tested
further with an injury to Morwenna Talling, but her withdrawal meant a debut for 19-year-old Haineala Lutui. That in itself felt significant, the start of potentially a new wave of England stars, with seven uncapped players in the Six Nations squad.

Legacy matters to this England group; inspiring future generations, showing them what can be achieved, that there are no limits. Ward has arguably gone beyond that. She has shown her team-mates what is possible as both a world-class player and a mother. And while winning a World Cup, at last, will have no doubt meant so much to her, seeing those players around her feel empowered and confident to follow in her footsteps may well end up being Ward’s greatest legacy.

By George Simms

Scotland began their new era under head coach Sione Fukofuka by ­edging past a resolute Wales side in a 24-19 thriller at the Principality. The hosts led at half time after tries from front-rowers Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu, but Scotland began the second half stronger and made their dominance pay through tries from Shona Campbell and Lucia Scott, although Welsh captain Kate Williams crossed from close range to ensure a nervy finish.

Wales are now winless in six matches in the Six Nations and have lost 10 of their past 11 Tests under head coach Sean Lynn, although the recent appointment of defence coach Tyrone Holmes appeared to bear fruit early on.

Scotland host England at Murrayfield next Saturday, although may have to do so without Emma Orr after the Bristol Bears centre picked up an injury.

Wales will face a France side who breezed past Italy 40-7 at Grenoble’s Stade des Alpes. Francois Ratier’s side shaded an intense if error-strewn first half 5-0 after winger Anais Grando crossed the line on her international debut, but Les Bleues found their stride in the second 40. Just four minutes after half time, fly-half Carla Arbez finished a sharp team move under the posts, before tries from props Yllana Brosseau and Assia Khalfaoui – named player of the match – secured the French an important bonus point. Winger Lea Murie then added her sixth try in seven caps, followed by 21-year-old fullback Pauline Barrat crossing on her senior debut. Villorba wing Gaia Buso added a consolation try for Italy late on.

France walked out alongside their equivalents from the first official women’s international Test match in 1982. As women’s rugby was not ­formally recognised at the time, French players were not allowed to wear the rooster emblem, but on Saturday they wore adapted versions of the 1982 shirt with the rooster included. It marks the latest attempt by national governing bodies to ­rectify failures in the past to recognise the women’s game, and honour the pioneers who led the way.