Your Scrumhalf Connection

Thanks to ScrumQueens.com we have video highlights of England defeating France for the Six Nations title. It was an incredibly close game but in the end England kept their perfect record and defeated France. For more on the match, read the match report here. While there are a few test matches left out there for the women, the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup is getting closer and closer!

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The road to the World Cup is paved for YOU! Check out travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup here.

from Women’s Rugby Six Nations:

England’s women won the Grand Slam in nailbiting fashion as they edged out France 11-10 thanks to Katy McLean’s second-half penalty.

Amy Turner’s first-half try gave them a 5-3 halftime advantage while the home side had Claire Canal sent off on the half-hour mark.

Despite their numerical advantage, England conceded a second-half try to Céline Allainmat that put France ahead 10-8 before McLean kicked the final points of the game with a 64th minute penalty.

The drama did not end there though and, in injury time, French kicker Aurélie Bailon’s 45-metre penalty fell just short of the posts as England held out to record a record-breaking fifth consecutive Championship title.

While England had been in imperious form heading into the match in Rennes, conceding just five points in four games, they faced their toughest test against a French side roared on by a partisan home crowd.

Running rugby was never going to be the order of the day in appalling conditions and for once England struggled to turn their superiority into points.

McLean missed one drop goal opportunity on eight minutes before they fashioned the game’s opening points with a terrific team try.

The forwards drove their way down the pitch before the ball was fed out to scrum-half Turner who scorched her way over in the right-hand touchline.

McLean missed a difficult conversion but although Bailon reduced the deficit with a well-struck penalty, the home side’s night would take a turn for the worse when flanker Canal was shown a red card for making contact with the head of an English player.

England coach Gary Street’s nerves may have been settled by a 47th minute penalty from McLean but the game was turned on its head by France’s try nine minutes later.

It came from an English error in midfield as the ball was spilt and the French pack immediately picked and drove deep into the visitors’ territory before winger Allainmat supplied the finishing touch.

Yet England showed the mark of champions by refusing to panic under pressure with McLean’s penalty almost immediately restoring their slender lead.

Some desperate defence from both sides limited scoring opportunities until the dying moments when France had the opportunity to break England’s Grand Slam dreams.

But Bailon just couldn’t summon the extra energy to split the posts and England smuggled the ball out of play to begin wild celebrations.

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.

from ScrumQueens.com; By Alison Donnelly

Ireland finshed their 6 Nations with another fine home win in a tight 15-3 contest against Scotland.

The win means that Ireland have chalked up victories at all of their home games this season and Kevin West’s side will be pleased to beat Scotland, Wales and Italy in a World Cup year and finish the 6 Nations in third spot.

Ireland were led out by Jo O’Sullivan who was winning her 50th cap for her country on a wet night in Co Meath.

The rain teemed down on both teams as they ran onto the park but despite the slippy conditions Ireland’s early offloading game was impressive with number 8 Joy Neville (pictured)and fullback Niamh Briggs prominent in the opening exchanges.

The first half was frustrating for the most part with referee Herve Dubes very quick to reach for his whistle.

Scotland dealt with the early Ireland attacks well though and upped the ante when a comfortable scrum set number 8 Susie Brown on a charge and then centre Lucy Millard combined impressively with wing Lynsey Douglas.

The attack end in nothing but was enough to show that Scotland had improved from a big loss to England the week before and were determined to make Ireland battle throughout.

The Scots then had the first chance to put points on the board when Nicola Halfpenny had a shot after a half an hour but her effort sailed wide.

Ireland heeded that warning though and charged into the Scottish 22 for the first time in the match with a nice break from Helen Brosnan helping to set up Niamh Briggs for a first penalty effort which she made no mistake with to give the Irish a 3-0 lead.

Scotland replied just before the break when Sinead Ryan was harshly penalised by Dubes and this time Halfpenny put it over to take the sides level.

Ireland came out firing after the break and when Scotland made a hash of clearing a penalty effort from Briggs, the home team seized the advantage with a neat maul and a quick pass to Nora Stapleton saw the winger touch down to push the home team’s advantage to 8-3.

Errors started to creep into Scotland’s game with Ireland keeping the pressure on and a lovely burst from Jo’O Sullivan helped them gain a good foothold in the Scottish half. The pressure paid off when Ireland got their maul going and Tania Rosser laid a nice pass off to flanker Sinead Ryan who touched down. A super conversion from Briggs gave Ireland a 15-3 advantage.

Scotland battled gamely and there were some nice flashes from Millard and Brown, who had a fine match, but it was too little too late. Gary Parker though will be much happier with the endeavor shown by his side in this game, on the back of a big loss last week, and in the first half especially Scotland were well matched with Ireland.

Ireland ended the game on the attack with an excellent break from Briggs and it was a fitting end to an very good tournament for the fullback and her team.

Ireland: Niamh Briggs, Amy Davis, Jo O’Sullivan, Grace Davitt, Nora Stapleton, Helen Brosnan, Tania Rosser, Fiona Coghlan, Gillian Bourke,Lauren Day, Kate O’Loughlin, Marie-Louise O’Reilly, Orla Brennan, Sinead Ryan, Joy Neville.

Replacements: Lousie Austin (for Lauren Day 40), Shannon Houston (for Grace Davitt 60), Louise Beamish (for Helen Brosnan 70), Eliza Downey,(for Nora Stapleton 75)

Scotland: Nicola Halfpenny, Celia Hawthorn, Lucy Millard, Veronica Fitzpatrick, Lynsey Douglas, Tanya Griffith, Louise Daglaish, Heather Lockhart, Sarah-Louise Walker, Gillian McCord, Loiuse Moffat, Lindsay Wheeler, Lynne Reid, Donna Kennedy, Susie Brown

Replacements: Sarah Gill (for Louise Dalgliesh 57), Natayla Macholla(for Louise Moffatt 57), Caroline Mahon (for Kate O’Loughlin 64) , Erin Kerr (for Tanya Griffith 74)

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.

from Women’s Rugby Six Nations:

Image Credit: Zoe Back

Second row Flavia Severin bagged a double as Italy Women came from behind to hand Wales the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon with a shock 19-15 win in Bridgend.

Naomi Thomas’ intercepted score and Non Evans close range try looked to have sent Wales well on the way to victory just before half-time at Brewery Field.

However Italy had other ideas in the second half with Severin touching down twice and Maria Diletta Veronese also getting on the score sheet to cap a remarkable turnaround.

Wales started the brighter and looked comfortable after Thomas’ quick wittedness saw her intercept a stray Italian pass and run half the field to score.

That was further underlined when Evans danced her way over from close to the try line however Wales proceeded to hit the self-destruct button after the restart.

Severin started the fight back after 44 minutes and despite Wales regrouping stunned them again 12 minutes later powering over for her second.

Things went from bad to worse for Wales when full-back Mared Evans allowed Italian scrum-half Valentina Schiavon’s high kick to bounce and wing Veronese raced home.

Wales were too sloppy in the second half but rallied through prop Catrin Edwards however her efforts were in vain as Italy shut up shop.

Awen Thomas slotted a penalty to take the match to within four points 13 minutes from time but Italy remained resolute to pick up their first win as Wales finished bottom.

Scorers:

Wales: Tries – Naomi Thomas, Non Evans; Con – Evans; Pen – Awen Thomas

Italy: Tries: Severin (2), Veronese; Cons – Tondinell (2)

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.

from RBS Nations:

England’s women remain firmly on track to land the Grand Slam and a fifth consecutive RBS Six Nations title after a crushing 51-0 win over Scotland.

Gary Street’s side ran in an impressive nine tries in a superb display of flowing rugby and he will be hoping for a repeat performance in the decisive clash in France.

Two tries each from Amber Penrith, Fiona Pocock and Emily Scarratt in addition to scores from Jo McGilchrist, Rebecca Essex and standout performer Heather Fisher, were more than enough to see off the hosts in Edinburgh.

Just as impressive was their defensive shutout of Scotland – their third ‘nil’ of the tournament – with Kate O’Loughlin’s try for Ireland the only points they have conceded throughout the tournament.

After defeating Ireland 22-5, Street made eight changes to his starting XV with Penrith getting a shot on the wing while Pocock made her first start full-back giving him plenty of food of thought for Friday’s showdown.

The rout began early on when the England backs took advantage of a poor Scottish kick to spin it through the hands and allow Worcester wing Penrith to touch down.

Fisher showed some nimble footwork for a flanker she twisted and turned through the Scottish defence and under the posts. Skipper Katy McLean, having missed the first conversion, added the extras.

The lead was extended after 14 minutes when 19-year-old Scarratt took advantage of a blistering break from Pocock to run in via a Penrith offload.

Lock McGilchrist’s try made it 22-0 at the half with England’s fourth try and things did not improve for the hosts after the break.

Pocock maintained her own impressive performance when a perfect running line gave her a clear run to the posts and McLean again made no mistake with the conversion.

Penrith grabbed her second in the 55th minute after a powerful scrum allowed the back line to spread it wide to the left winger who touched down in the corner.

Soon after, lock Essex burrowed over after some sustained pressure in the tight as Scotland continued to spend the game on the backfoot.

Pocock and Scarratt added salt to the Scottish wounds as they ran in two tries in the final three minutes as the England express train showed no sign of slowing.

France now await with Steet’s side having the perfect opportunity to lay down a crushing statement of intent in World Cup year.

Video from Scrumqueens:

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.

from RBS Nations:

Ireland women ended their Welsh hoodoo as they turned on the gas in the second half in a 18-3 victory at Ashbourne RFC.
Both sides seemed evenly match in the first half with the first forty minutes finishing 5-3 to the hosts before Kevin West’s team scored 13 unanswered points after the break.

Ireland had not won since their opening round 22-5 defeat of Italy after tough away trips to France and England but their campaign got back on track after a four-year losing streak to the Welsh in the Championship.

But another defeat could have been on the cards as Wales made a bright started capped by Non Evans’ fifth minute penalty.

Yet the home side grew into the game and a well-worked move culminated in winger Niamh Briggs bustling her way over in the 15th minute.

Both teams struggled to breakdown each other’s well-organised defences as the game remained on a knife edge until the match entered its final quarter.

This time Ireland were able to create an overlap by sucking in Welsh defenders before spreading the ball wide for Tania Rosser to touch down.

Briggs’ 72nd penalty took the home side a score clear and in Wales’ desperation to get back into the game Ireland were able to exploit the extra space through captain Joy Neville’s try moments from the final whistle.

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.