MacDonald helps Red Roses see off Italy

By Mark Stevens
02/04/23

Exeter Chiefs winger Claudia MacDonald helped herself to another brace of tries as England continued their dominant start to the Women's Six Nations with a 68-5 victory against Italy at Northampton's Franklin's Gardens.

Just as she had done against Scotland last week, MacDonald claimed two of England’s 12 tries on the day with Abby Dow scoring four tries and Jess Breach a hat-trick as the hosts entertained the crowd of 12,947.

Tatyana Heard and Marlie Packer (2) also got in on the scoring act, while Italy claimed their first try against England in five years when Sara Tounesi scored early on.

Post-game, Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton said: “That was a great team performance. It was a full squad performance and I’m super proud.We were trying to get our most dangerous runners into space, and fortunately we have a lot of them. Sarah Bern is one of them. She likes holding the edge and running at space, she is such a destructive player when she has ball in hand, but she’s also a good decision-maker."

Bern, who was named TikTok Women's Six Nations Player of the Match, was the catalyst behind England's aggressive and hard running attack, providing an assist for one of two MacDonald tries, and popped into the backline at will, until she was subbed off on the 65-minute mark.

"I thought Italy were great today, they came out playing with adventure and tried to take the game to us, they were unpredictable in attack and asked questions of our defence," Middleton added. "Next time out against Wales it’ll be different. They are a confident and tough side, they have real good momentum.

"And France will be a different proposition. They really got their campaign rolling yesterday so we have to keep an eye on what is to come, as well as staying in the moment and making sure there is perspective about how we play."

Captain Packer hit a milestone in the win over Italy, in scoring twice she became the Red Roses' top try-scoring forward of all time with 37, overtaking Gill Burns.

"Expansive rugby is what the fans come and pay to see," she said post match. "The more we play like that the more fans we will get in."