The Six Nations championship is in full swing and teams have just completed the first two rounds of matches. Wales and France have taken the lead of the tournament having made impressive wins so far. England also came out victorious with a 68-5 victory over Italy.
Wales demonstrated their strength, experience and teamwork with a 31-5 win over Ireland and 34-22 against Scotland to maintain their top spot in the table. Getting the better of the two Six Nations powerhouses showed the potential Wales have to win the Six Nations crown. They will face their biggest test yet when they take on England at Cardiff Arms Park for the third round of matches.
France, who are hoping to challenge England for the title, took a strong 53-3 win away from Ireland despite having Annaelle Deshayes sent off during the first half. They will face England in the final round of the tournament at Twickenham, and tickets sales for the event have already surpassed the world record for a women’s game.
England’s number 10, Holly Aitchison, was at the heart of many of their successful plays in their match against Italy. Despite struggling to convert, her kicking was nearly spot on. Goal kicking is an area England need to improve upon for the remainder of the competition.
The positions of Ireland and Italy are further down in the table with each of them having lost both of their first matches. Ireland’s poor performance at home to France saw them sit last in the table, although former Scotland international Heather Lockhart expects improvement during the latter stages of the competition. For Italy, who put up a good fight against France on the opening day, it is out of the two Six Nations powerhouses and they can now look to use this to grow as a team and build towards future tournaments.
The Women’s Six Nations is a platform for the best female players in the sport to showcase their talent. Scotland international Kerin Lake showed her potential with a strong performance and tenacity in the Scotland versus Wales battle. In the same match, Holly Aitchison and the likes demonstrated their superior skills. With three matches still to be played, the 2023 tournament promises some thrilling action as teams aim to improve their standings.
The England Women’s Rugby Team is a professional team owned and managed by the Rugby Football Union. They won the 2021 Women’s Six Nations Championship, their fourth in a row, and are currently taking part in the 2023 tournament. The team is led by former England player Emily Scarratt who has been the Head Coach since 2019. With home games being held at Twickenham, England Women’s Rugby Team have one of the largest teams in the tournament.
Holly Aitchison is an English rugby union player currently signed to the England Women’s Rugby Team. She made her debut for the team in 2017 and was part of the squad which won the 2021 Six Nations Championship. During the 2023 Six Nation Tournament, she has been at the helm of some of England’s most successful plays. Her extraordinary kicking from hands in the match against Italy set up many of England’s best chances from open play. With both the England Women’s Rugby Team and Holly Aitchison’s individual performances being watched around the world, they are set to make a huge impact in the Women’s Six Nations Championship 2023.
