Now Sarah Bern, scorer of two tries, speaking to the BBC:
We’ve got a lot of youngsters so we weren’t expecting to be perfect. There are aspects we will reflect on but we got over the line.
As long as I’ve played for England there has been pressure on us. It’s all about our performances and how we train. As a first run out, we will take that for sure.
A reminder that France beat Italy 40-7 earlier today.
Wales v Scotland to come.
Here’s the player of the match, England’s skipper, Meg Jones:
There were always going to be nerves after the back of a World Cup. We found ways, that’s what winning teams do. I’m sure we’ll brush up and I’m proud of the girls.
We have huge growth potential. Players have stepped into leadership roles. They will have more of a voice now and own their roles.
I’ll probably head home and doing some washing to keep me grounded. I’ll reflect. Coming out of the tunnel was amazing and singing the anthem was second to none.
Full-time! England 33-12 Ireland
34 wins in a row! Can’t say they don’t deserve that. By far the better team but Ireland will leave with some credit in the bank. This was closer than I thought it would be but nowhere near a close contest. Credit to England and Jones in particular.
80 min: Ireland are running this from inside their own half. Oh, a wonderful line from Dalton meets the perfect pass and she’s through a gap. Kildunne snaffles it as she runs back and recovers the ball. That’ll be that.
79 min: England win a penalty. They kick it out but from the line-out they knock-on. This game is fizzling out as Meg Jones is announced the deserving recipient of the player of the match award.
78 min: Another scrum penalty for England allows Harrison the opportunity to kick it long and far and for a line-out just inside her own half.
77 min: A little knock-on on England’s 22, from Ireland, means that attack comes to an end. It looked promising after a fingertip secured the line-out, but the line speed from the English put the Irish midfield under pressure.
76 min: Momentum is with Ireland now as they win a penalty on the floor. It’s too little, too late of course, but they can take great heart from this second half performance. It’s the first time since 2013 that they’ve scored two tries against England. O’Brien’s kicking has (mostly) been very good. She lands another raking penalty out just short of the 22. One more try perhaps?
TRY! England 33-12 Ireland (King, 74)
On her captaincy debut, King scores! Ireland won’t be denied for long. Amidst the morass of bodies, King spotted some free grass beyond the try line and hit the line hard and carried it over from close range. Lovely stuff. The conversion from under the poles is good.
73rd min: Held up over England’s line! Ireland were efficient off the top of the line-out from the penalty and they inched their way forward. A series of strong carries brought them close. They had the advantage so worth a dart. They couldn’t dot down but will go again.
72 min: It’s been ding-dong in the scrums. Ireland win a penalty. O’Brien, from her own half, pings a touch finder beyond England’s 22. Good nudge that.
70 min: Ireland will have the scrum as the stadium announcer lets us know that this is a record crowd for the Women’s Six Nations. A crowd of 77, 120 in the house.
TRY! England 33-5 Ireland (Kildunne, 67)
England hit back immedaitely! Kildunne brings out the cowboy celebration as she skins her opposite number down in the left corner. It all started with Jones running over a tackler, kicking ahead and then making a tackle as England pinned Ireland down in their own red zone. O’Brien’s return kick didn’t have enough oomph on it and England could attack from the 22. By the time they found Kildunne joining the line and charging down the left, the writing was on the wall. Rowland fails from the tee for the first time.
Updated
TRY! England 28-5 Ireland (McGann, 65)
Ireland are on the board! Finally, they land a blow. Off the back of the rolling maul, they come close, but not close enough. They need to go again and McGann showed immense strength to hold off a challenge and stay infield as she dotted down in the right corner. Her smile as she comes up from the ground tells a story. The conversion is missed, but at least Ireland won’t leave London empty handed.
63 min: Penalty now for Ireland. O’Brien hoofs it towards the corner and finds touch. C’mon Ireland! Let’s see what you’ve got from here!
62 min: We’re back with a mighty England scrum that monsters the Irish pack. They win another penalty and though they run the ball with an advantage, they’ll come back with Harrison kicking to touch.
60 min: Hunt is back on her feet and will stay out there. She’s getting some cover on her knee but looks OK.
60 min: Muir is munched in contact just as she passes and spills it. We’ll have an Irish scrum inside England’s half. No, in fact we’ll have an English line-out as the ball didn’t go forward, but in fact came off Hogan’s hand. Doesn’t matter in the end as Hunt is crunched and stays down. She might be in a spot of bother here. Not sure what the decision is. The main bit is that Hunt needs some medical attention.
58 min: That seems to have knocked the stuffing out of Ireland. Once again a promising move comes to nothing as Kabeya pinches it. But they’re back on the ball as Feaunati spills in contact. Wafer runs it back but she’s drilled hard. Dalton now and she is also hammered. They kick ahead after failing to breach the line and Kildunne mops up.
TRY! England 28-0 Ireland (Breach, 54)
Turn of pace! A lightning bolt from the blue! Ireland had it but then the ball was charged down by Jones who then pounced on the bouncing pill before feeding the onrushing Breach. She did brilliantly to ride the challenge Kinlan who almost held the ball up, but Breach managed to roll in the contact and dot down over her head. Brilliant stuff from the flying winger who deserved that. Rowland keeps the score ticking with another conversion.
Updated
54 min: Harrison is on the park and is flinging passes. But England lose the ball in contact so Ireland come back at them. Maloney-MacDonald has it. Woah! In a flash, England are back on the ball….
51 min: England replace their props and their halfbacks in time for this Irish scrum five out from the Irish line.
50 min: An unreal steal from Ireland’s Maloney-MacDonald! My word, that is stunning work. It was needed, too. England came within inches of the try line after Kildunne off-loaded for the other Maloney-MacDonald who burst down the left wing. England came flooding forward with Jones and then Matthews hitting the line at pace. But just as the try seemed an inevitability, the Irish hooker stole in and came away with the ball. The passage ends with Ireland winning the scrum feed close to their own line after repelling another English attack, holding up the ball carrier under the shade of their own sticks.
48 min: Cokayne roars like a Viking as England’s front row secures a scrum penalty. England might not be at their best today, but they are stubbornly refusing Ireland a tow-hold in the contest.
46 min: Kildunne drops the ball in the backfield. She’s not having a great game. O’Brien, with a free-kick following the Irish scrum, hoiked a high kick into the sunshine that caused the England full-back some grief. Still, the reigning player of the year should be snaffling that. Ireland with a chance to launch from a scrum in the middle of the park inside England’s patch.
45 min: Lutui’s first carry is meaty and gives her team go-forward. Kildunne runs a lovely line and makes ground. Good continuity from England. Rowland finds Breach who finds Kabeya in the right tram. But Ireland come away with it as England spill it around the ruck. Sloppy from the world champions. A shame. That move was starting to look slick.
44 min: Talling will be stretchered off. She gets a round of applause as she makes way for teenager Luitui, who will make her debut in the second row.
44 min: Poor from Ireland as Hogan strays offside as O’Brien rakes a lovely kick into space in the far right corner. But Hogan wasn’t paying attention and Ireland give away a soft penalty. There’s a delay as Talling has stayed down. She doesn’t look in good touch. England’s troubles in the second row could get worse.
42 min: Parsons is wrapped up by Kildunne near the left touch – as Ireland would see iot. O’Brien kicks across for Hogan. Ireland are keeping the ball and inching forward. Better from them but still around halfway. O’Brien kicks and it’s a little meek as she coughs away possession. England comfortably mop up on their own 22 before they execute a slick exit.
41 min: Aitchison, such a slick player, rakes a good touch finder to get the half under way after Ireland’s restart. The Irish win the line-out and rumble beyond the 10 metre line.
The players are sprinting out for the second half. They can’t wait to get going again. Ireland with all to prove if you’re asking me. Are they the real deal? Let’s find out.
Half-time: England 21-0 Ireland
That brings the half to an end. England utterly dominant. Ireland were decent, but not consistent. One turnover became a spilled ball. A solid scrum morphed into a penalty given away on the floor. England never left third gear though that was more than good enough for a commanding lead. Back in a bit.
40 min: Has Kildunne scored!? It was a brilliant move off the scrum and a wonder off-load after contact by Jones, but has Kildunne spilled the ball? Yes, she has! Oh wow, that was a brilliant recovery tackle from Kinlan who motored back and put in a hit that dislodged the ball just as Kildunne was about to dot down. Fantastic work from the Irish winger but Kildunne really should have scored there.
39 min: Lovely strike move after a well contested scrum sees England canter 40 metres in no time. The ball is flung left for the onrushing Kildunne who then feeds Maloney-Macdonald on the wing. Kildunne has it back and then they go infield. Aitchison kicks long and straight to Kinlan who makes a mess of things, dropping a goober on her own 22. England will have one final chance to add to their tally before halftime.
37 min: Another chance for Ireland to set up a line-out after winning a penalty on the floor, but it’s bad to worse for the women in green. O’Brien goes for the perfect kick but misses, kicking it beyond the try area and she hands possession away. England opt for the scrum just beyond their own 22.
35 min: Ireland win a penalty inside England’s half and O’Brien finds touch just outside the 22. Can they do anything with this? No! Ives Campion rises high and steals the ball. Once again, Ireland fluff their lines. Aitchison clears and finds touch 10 metres down field.
TRY! England 21-0 Ireland (Bern, 31)
Bern at the double! It’s not from a maul but off lovely support line that will please any prop in the game. The initial maul was held up with Wafer doing superbly, but England kept their heads and Packer went back down the blindside. Breach came close but was hit. Not before she found Bern on the inside and the big prop burst over. Rowland brought her shooting boots and nails a tough conversion from the left.
Updated
30 min: When England hit the switch they are able to eat up ground at will. From the scrum they go right where Breach receives a wonder short pass and she’s up the right tram. T hey recycle and go through the hands with with some stiff carries. They lose the ball in contact on the left but have the advantage and go to the corner again. Will the maul?
28 min: The answer is no. England’s line speed on defence is immense and they are giving Ireland’s first and second receivers no time to breathe. They force the knock-on and will get a scrum from about where the initial Irish line-out took place.
25 min:. Weird tempo to this game. England on the ball but they spill it. Now Ireland have a scrum. Now Ireland have a penalty! Bern penalised. Better from Ireland’s pack who are at least holding their own in the set piece. But can they do anything with this ball now that it’s been hoofed over halfway?
23 min: Ireland do well to resist England off the line-out and then swoop over Kildunne to steal the ball off the deck. They come away with the penalty. But they can’t do anythign with it and in the blink of an eye, England are back attacking inside Ireland’s half. Ireland are doing so much well, but they just can’t find any continuity.
22 min: Ireland can’t keep hold of the ball. England’s pace at the breakdown is proving too much. The Roses pinch a turnover on halfway before Packer gets the ball, looks up and lands a wonderful 50-22 with a raking box kick. That is world class from the England scrummie. Now another chance to set up an attack inside Ireland’s red zone.
TRY! England 14-0 Ireland (Bern, 20)
And another! England’s forwards are just too powerful. The maul made ground but not enough so they had to go through the hands. Packer kept it ticking and when Bern picked up under the shade of the poles, she had one thing on her mind. No stopping her from so close. Rowland nudges the extras over.
Updated
18 min: Breach almost breaches the defence after the initial rolling maul falters. The winger came inches away from unfurling a try-assisting off-load. No matter, they had the advantage so they’ll line-out and maul again in the left corner.
16 min: England win the scrum penalty and in a flash they’re down town. Kildunne running rampant. Kabeya – everywhere – stitching things together. They win another penalty for an Irish player straying offside and they want to go quick, but Aitchison calms things down and hoofs it out within touching distance. Just about. Seven out perhaps.
14 min: Aitchison runs back and keeps a great kick to the corner in play. She then scoops the ball up abnd returns a kick of her own., Great skill. She doesn’t find much ground, but moves the line-out 20 metres down field. Lane then knocks on at the back of the ruck. Four spills by the Irish.
12 min: Frustration for Ireland. The line-out was a little scrappy but they kept the ball. Then Higgins was on it and charging, but she lost it in contact. One step forward, one step back. That is their third knock-on after just 12 minutes. Have to be more clinical against England.
10 min: Kildunne launches a counter and eats up ground down the right wing. She finds Breach who continues the move. Ireland swarm and pinch the ball with Wafer fighting back. Clifford goes for the steal but loses her feet so Ireland get the chance to find touch with a penalty. They do, and will have the line-out throw in England’s patch.
TRY! England 7-0 Ireland (Cokayne, 8)
Water is wet, England score off the rolling maul! Just too powerful, to clinical, too good. There is no stopping the England hooker from five out. To the middle of the line, they get into formation and rumble over. Rowland slots the extras from out wide. Good kick.
Updated
7 min: Ireland are off their feet again, this time about seven metres out from theor own line. Feaunati, who has carried well, makes ground near the corner. The pen is kicked out, they set up a maul…
6 min: Good from Jones down the touchline. Solid in contact. Nice from Kildunne to find her with a quick pass and the centre went to the toe to continue the move. Ireland lost their feet so it’s a penalyty for England. They turn down the gettable points and find touch to set up an attack inside Ireland’s 22.
4 min: Lovely move by Ireland off the top of the line-out. Hogan made good ground as she beat away a tackler. But the continuity was missing and the ball was spilled soon after. Still, positive from the Irish off the set piece.
3 min: Kildunne is smoked in midfield, what a hit! But not before she fires away a cross-field kick. But that’s too long, straight out over halfway so Ireland get the line-out. King wins it and they’re moving down the line.
2 min: England fling the ball down the line but they spill it and Ireland hack ahead. England come back with Cokayne on the ball. Kildunne joins the line and makes ground, up to Irelandf’s 22. Rowland straightens and pops a short pass for a forward. Aitchison hoofs a cross-kick but it’s too deep and easily marked in the backfield.
Updated
1 min: Ireland knock on straioght from the kick-off so England will get a scrum feed inside the 22 towards the right touch.
And we’re off!
Twickenham is bathed in glorious sunshine. This should be good!
Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald leads out the players on her own as she makes her 50th appearance for Ireland.
The rest of the cast follows shortly after before the anthems get underway.
England coach, John Mitchell, speaks to the BBC:
New team, new start and new learning. The freshness of the new girls has brought an enormous amount of energy.
I think our preparation has served us well. I think we are unfinished, we want to play a style of rugby that will bring us to the top again.
[On Emily Scarratt in her new role as a coach] She has been fantastic. The way she created an unstructured element to a structured element is amazing. She has insane knowledge of the game.
Ireland’s last win over England came in 2015.
It was a stunning victory in a classic game.
The past really is a foreign country.
Updated
Oval Insights have crunched the numbers and they have England winning by 42 points.
According to the supercomputer, Ireland have a 3% chance of victory.
I reckon that’s generous.
Ireland’s Aoife Dalton tells the BBC that her team is not here to merely make up the numbers:
It was amazing arriving here today. We are deffo here to not play for the occasion, we are here to play for ourselves. We won’t let any outside factors come in and affect our game today.
This is such a brilliant story.
While you, and the more than 76,000 fans inside the stadium, wait, why not tuck into some excellent writing from Sarah Rendell who will be our lead across the tournament:
Ireland team
It’s a return of the King, Erin King, to be exact, as the Irish skipper rejoins the group after missing out on last year’s World Cup with a knee injury.
Along with Aoife Wafer and Brittany Hogan, Ireland have a back row that can compete. It’s just a question if they can get enough front-foot ball.
If they can, and if they can get the ball moving down the line, Vicky Elmes Kinlan’s pace out wide could be a handful. On the other wing, the experienced Béibhinn Parsons offers solidity.
There’s also a lovely match-up as Cliodhna Maloney-Macdonald at hooker meets her club teammate and wife, Claudia, who starts on the wing for England.
When they leave the bench, Eilís Cahill and Katie Whelan will make their Test debuts.
Ireland: Flood; Parson, Dalton, Higgins, Elmes Kinland; O’Brien, Lane; Perry, Maloney-Macdonald, Djougang, Wall, Tuite, Hogan, King, Wafer.
Replacements: Jones, O’Dowd, Cahill, Campbell, Moore, Whelan, McGillivray, McGann.
England team
There are nine – nine! – World Cup winners absent this afternoon.
Prop Hannah Botterman’s ankle means she a host of teammates, including skipper Zoe Stratford, Lark Atkin-Davies and Rosie Galligan who are all pregnant and focussing on more important matters than the fate of a rugby ball.
Still, it’s a team stacked with talent. Ellie Kildunne starts at fullback with Megan Jones assuming captaincy duties from 13. Holly Aitchsion wins the battle for the 10 jersey while Sadia Kabeya forms the focal point of a world class back row.
England: Kildunne; Breach, Jones, Rowland, Maloney-Macdonald; Aitchison, Packer; Clifford, Cockayne, Bern, Talling, Ives Campion, Feaunati, Kabeya, Matthews.
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Lutui, Burton, Hunt, Harrison, Sing.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the start of our coverage of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations.
England are revved up and ready to stretch their record unbeaten run of 33 matches and I wouldn’t bet against them making it 38 by the time the tournament ends.
They are, for my money, the most dominant sports team on the planet. Surely they are among the most dominant sports teams of all time. A professional league, investors who put their money where they mouths are, and a public who fully get behind them. It’s no wonder they are lightyears ahead of the competition.
Ireland will be eager to play their part. They came within a score of beating France in the World Cup quarterfinals last year. They have one of the best players on the planet, Aoife Wafer, rampaging in the loose, and of course there will be no shortage of motivation.
But they’re up against the world champions on their own patch. Anything other than a romping victory for the Red Roses would constitute a major upset.
Kick-off at Twickenham at 2:25 pm.
Teams and other updates to come.
