The 2017 Women’s Six Nations featured a Grand Slam decider, a long-awaited Scottish victory and 90 tries in all.
In the end it was England Women who claimed the spoils with victory over Ireland in Donnybrook to secure their first title since 2012.
Here we look back at how they got there: ROUND ONE The Championship began in Scotland at Broadwood Stadium and in a sign of what was to come, the Scots pushed Ireland all the way.
Having not won a Women’s Six Nations game since 2010, Scotland were level going into the final play of the game, only for Jenny Murphy to pop up and score for a 22-15 Ireland victory.
The following day Wales Women continued their good start to life under Rowland Phillips with a 20-8 win away in Italy before the final game of the day at Twickenham.
Straight after the men’s game England Women produced a fine comeback as they recovered from 13-0 down to win 26-13, with Emily Scarratt pulling the strings from midfield. ROUND TWO The second round of fixtures saw two big wins for England and France, over Wales and Scotland respectively.
The English ran in 11 tries in their 63-0 win at the BT Cardiff Arms Park including a hat-trick for Lydia Thompson and two apiece for Danielle Waterman and Amy Wilson-Hardy.
France ran in nine tries in their 55-0 win over Scotland in La Rochelle with scrum-half Jade Le Pesq helping herself to a try double.
Ireland then finished strongly for the second week running with Hannah Tyrrell’s late try earning them a bonus point in a 27-3 win. ROUND THREE The third round of games saw Scotland’s long wait for a win finally come to an end after seven years.
Sarah Law was the hero of the hour, kicking a late penalty in their 15-14 victory as they came back from 14-0 down in the first half.
That sparked wild celebrations and was key to their fourth-place finish in the Championship overall.
On the Saturday England made it three from three against Italy, although they didn’t have it all their own way at the Stoop, eventually winning 29-15.
Hooker Vicky Fleetwood was the star of the show as she grabbed a hat-trick, the first-ever by an English forward in the Championship.
Then on Sunday Ireland kept their own Grand Slam hopes alive with a battling 13-10 win over France. Leah Lyons scored their only try, with eight points from the boot of Nora Stapleton seeing them home. ROUND FOUR Ireland ensured they would have a shot at the Grand Slam with victory in Wales in Round Four, running out 12-7 winners in Cardiff.
Hannah Tyrrell and Lindsay Peat both crossed for the Irish before England joined them in making it four from four with a crushing 64-0 win over Scotland.
Kay Wilson produced one of the more remarkable individual performances as she ran in seven tries in total. France then earned a bonus point win in Italy, Caroline Ladagnous scoring twice in a 28-5 success in Parma. ROUND FIVE Scotland picked up a second win of the campaign against the Azzurre, edging home 14-12 thanks to a Chloe Rollie double.
Melissa Bettoni’s two tries proved in vain for Italy, with all the points scored in the first half.
Attention then turned to the Grand Slam decider at Donnybrook and after a tight opening 40 minutes England were able to pull away.
Having gone fully professional this year, Simon Middleton’s side eased to a 34-7 win for their first title and Grand Slam since 2012.
The action concluded on the Saturday as France finished on a high in a free-flowing encounter in Brive, beating Wales 39-19.
Click here to see the final Women’s Six Nations table
