Summary

  • England beat Italy 61-33 in Women's Six Nations penultimate round - match report

  • Red Roses stay top of table with fourth win and face France in final round as they seek Grand Slam

  • First half: M Packer (2), Cokayne (2), Rowland and Venner tries for England; Vecchini, penalty try, Ranuccini for Italy

  • Second half: M Packer (2) and Burton tries for England; Sgorbini (2) tries for Italy

  • Smaller balls for women's rugby 'worst decision ever' - Harrison

Have your say on the Women's Six Nations

  1. Goodbye!published at 16:10 BST 9 May

    FT: Italy 33-61 England

    That's all from us.

    Another try-laden performance from England, who extend their unbeaten run to 37 Tests. They'll head to Bordeaux next Sunday with Grand Slam dreams.

    For Italy, a valuable bonus point and a record number of points scored against England.

    You can read Alastair Telfer's report here.

    Speaking of Grand Slam dreams, France's meeting with Scotland in Edinburgh will get under way at 16:15 BST. Join us for that match here.

    Ciao for now!

  2. Postpublished at 16:06 BST 9 May

    FT: Italy 33-61 England

    Italy Rugby

    Italy prop Silvia Torani, speaking to BBC Sport: "At the moment we are feeling tiredness and pride. Today has been amazing.

    "Someone told me it is the most points Italy have scored against England. When you are playing first in the rank and World Cup winners, you have two options, play with fear or play with pride and I think today we did that, we didn't start well but we had the power and ability to change it.

    "The result is a different story but I think at times you have to take performance over results."

  3. How it standspublished at 16:03 BST 9 May

    FT: Italy 33-61 England

    So, England remain on course for an eighth consecutive Women's Six Nations title and a fifth Grand Slam in a row.

    They're top of the table with 20 points. Italy stay third.

    Women's Six Nations table graphic - 1 England 20 points, 2 France 15 points, 3 Italy 7 points, 4 Ireland 5 points, 5 Scotland 4 points, 6 Wales 2 points - with a photo of Marlie Packer, wearing a white England kit, running in the top half of the graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:01 BST 9 May

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Wow, what a performance. Marlie Packer - awesome game

    Julie, Clevedon

  5. Postpublished at 15:59 BST 9 May

    FT: Italy 33-61 England

    England Rugby

    England's player of the match Marlie Packer, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was amazing to come back here two years on from that me winning my 100th [cap] but it's about making memories every time you come to a stadium and wear the shirt and today was one of those occasions.

    "I take my hat off to the pack, they were unreal. All week we have been practising our set pieces and me and Amy [Cokayne] were the lucky ones to dot the ball down but it was all of the girls' hard work."

    On what her secret to success is: "My secret weapon is that I am enjoying it and I have a smile back in my face. I am getting the minutes. For the last couple of years Sadia Kabeya has had the nod over me but fair play and I have my opportunity at the moment and I am enjoying it. I have a smile and there is no pressure."

    On how they are coping with a lot of movement within the squad: "Hard work, we are constantly doing walk-throughs. People are putting the work in behind the scenes to make sure it is functional on the team."

  6. Postpublished at 15:56 BST 9 May

    FT: Italy 33-61 England

    The star of the show... Marlie Packer.

    One try against Scotland. Two against Wales. FOUR against Italy.

    She's England's leading try-scorer in this championship.

    Marlie Packer (bottom left) raises both arms in the air to celebrate a tryImage source, Getty Images
  7. Postpublished at 15:53 BST 9 May

    FT: Italy 33-61 England

    Be honest now, who predicted Italy would score 33 points against the world champions?

    That's nearly triple their points tally for their past five Six Nations meetings with the Red Roses combined (39).

    England have conceded last-minute tries in their past two matches and 57 points in total...

    They're missing so many players due to injury, including nine members of their World Cup-winning forward pack. Is that inexperience being exposed?

  8. Full-timepublished at 15:48 BST 9 May

    Italy 33-61 England

    Michaela Sillari's kick is the last act of a quite ridiculous game of rugby.

    Nine tries for England, including four for veteran back row and player of the match Marlie Packer.

    Five for Italy.

    England secure a fourth bonus-point win and will head to Bordeaux next week chasing a fifth consecutive Grand Slam.

    Italy earn a valuable bonus point.

    Phew.

  9. Postpublished at 15:47 BST 9 May

    Italy 33-61 England

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC Two

    If there was any doubt about selection, Sgorbini has put her hand up and said you should have started me. She has been incredible.

  10. converted try

    Converted try - Italy 33-61 Englandpublished at 80 mins

    Francesca Sgorbini (con Michaela Sillari)

    Italy get their fifth try to finish the match on a high!

    It's a trademark try from a line-out, with Francesca Sgorbini, who's been a handful since coming on in the 44th minute, pounding over for her second.

    Michaela Sillari converts.

  11. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    Italy want a fifth try! They're within 10 metres of the England line, scrambling the ball out wide and collecting penalty advantage after penalty advantage.

    They want to take it quickly but the referee pulls them back.

    Emma Stevanin, who came on for Sara Madia around the hour-mark, decides to kick for the corner. Italian line-out.

  12. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    England's Marlie Packer - the try machine - is the player of the match.

    Seven tries to her name in the tournament so far.

  13. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    Italy's Sara Mannini makes a good run up the middle of the park but there's no one in support. Frustration for the centre as she's stranded on the floor before prop Gaia Dosi eventually comes to her aid.

    The ball is turned over but England knock it on. Italy scrum.

  14. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    4,376 fans have enjoyed a sunny afternoon in Parma.

  15. Postpublished at 73 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    We're into the final 10 minutes in Parma. Italy are enjoying a good spell of possession, moving through the phases to get the ball up to the halfway line before putting in the kick.

    England will have a line-out on the edge of their own 22.

    The contenders for player of the match have just flashed up on screen... it's not really a contest is it?

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:37 BST 9 May

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Zoe Harrison is a great game manager but Holly Aitchison is better at releasing the back line; Zoe seems to take too long to load up her pass, making attacks more predictable. What a “problem” to have!! I love watching Red Roses, my favourite national team.

    JM, Cornwall

  17. Replacementpublished at 70 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    Hooker Vittoria Vecchini is replaced by Chaira Cheli for Italy.

  18. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    Not this time! Italy stand firm to withstand successive drives from England before Haidee Head is pinged for being off her feet.

    Italy breathe a sigh of relief.

  19. Postpublished at 67 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    Replacement scrum-half Flo Robinson is tackled but not held and sneaks another 10-15 metres before two Italians bring her to a halt.

    Italy are later pinged for offside and England kick for the corner. They'll have a line-out on the right flank. Uh oh.

  20. Replacementpublished at 65 mins

    Italy 26-61 England

    Italy prop Silvia Turani hobbles off in tears with what looks like a leg injury. Gaia Dosi comes on for her international debut.