Ellie Kildunne steps around Stacey Flood to score England’s fifth try

Credit : Andrew Matthews/PA

England 33 Ireland 12

After the high of last year’s World Cup, England were somewhat rusty in this Women’s Six Nations opener. But a five-try win against Ireland nonetheless suggested they have enough firepower to ease towards another Six Nations title.

Being crowned world champions capped off a generational moment for the women’s game and it is hard to know what there is left for the Red Roses to conquer. John Mitchell’s side are now on a 34-match winning streak and are unbeaten in the Six Nations since 2018. They are already a team of standard setters, record breakers and history makers. Yet there remains a relentless drive to achieve more.

In front of a 77,120-strong crowd inside the Allianz Stadium – a record for a Women’s Six Nations match – they laboured to a bonus-point victory, but it was still another comfortable win.

Mitchell was expecting his Red Roses to be “clunky” in places.…