(Action Images via Reuters)
Follow live updates as defending champions England kick off their Women’s Six Nations against Scotland in Newcastle.
The Red Roses have not lost a game in the competition since 2018 en route to four consecutive titles, but are dealing with a number of significant absentees, with long-standing captain Sarah Hunter set to bow out after a hometown swansong on Saturday.
Hunter, England’s most capped player, will make her 141st and final appearance amid a period of significant change for the Red Roses, with head coach Simon Middleton departing after this tournament and a number of senior figures missing from his squad.
Scotland will hope to deny Hunter a perfect farewell; Bryan Easson’s side suffered a series of tight defeats in 2022, but it is hoped that the introduction of professional contracts and a planned evolution of their style will pay dividiends in this campaign.
Follow live updates from England vs Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations, below.
HALF TIME! England 31-0 Scotland
Here’s Tatyana Heard’s first England score, which secured England their bonus point.
HALF TIME! England 31-0 Scotland
A dominant start from the defending champions.
England 31-0 Scotland
41 mins: England go searching for a fifth try as the clock goes into the red... Holly Aitchison looks for the crossfield kick, but it’s just over Breach’s head.
England 31-0 Scotland
38 mins: A break from Francesca McGhie! But Jess Breach recovers well with the tackle in the corner. So close from Scotland, but that’s not the first time they’ve said that this half.
England 31-0 Scotland
36 mins: Lucy Packer is inches away from a sensational 50-22 into the corner, but it rolls the wrong way of the corner flag. Scotland take the chance to come downfield... which is a relief for Bryan Easson’s side after the onslaught of the past 20 minutes.
TRY! England 31-0 Scotland (Cokayne 31’)
Jeez... this is getting brutal from England, who have stepped it up in some style in the past 10 minutes. They keep the pressure on Scotland and go for the corner after winning a penalty yards out. It sets up the lineout maul, England’s first of the Six Nations, and it proves just as effective as it was during the World Cup.
England march Scotland back and Amy Cokayne scores her second try of the match. Tatyana Heard adds the conversion.
TRY! England 24 -0 Scotland (Heard 28’)
And England go again... straight from kick off the Red Roses march downfield as Sarah Bern makes a break through contact. With Scotland on their try-line, it comes back to Tatyana Heard, who dances back inside and dives for the line for her first England try!
Heard adds her first conversion after a couple of earlier misses.
TRY! England 17-0 Scotland (MacDonald 24')
Woooow! Claudia MacDonald!
What a try this is from the England wing. She sizes up Chloe Rollie at the halfway line and turns the Scotland full-back with the drop of a shoulder. From there, MacDonald takes off and bursts clear with a stunning show of speed.
This has felt like a much closer game, but England are well clear.
TRY! England 12-0 Scotland (Cokayne 18’)
Wonderful try from England! They stretched Scotland from right, to left, to right again - Breach had Amy Cokayne in space outside her and there’s a simple pass to the hooker to touch down in the corner for England’s second try!
England 7-0 Scotland
17 mins: Scotland concede the penalty from the scrum down and now England have the chance to launch an attack...
