The second weekend of WXV action saw wins for five TikTok Women’s Six Nations sides as England and France and kicked off WXV 1 in style.
Les Bleues ended New Zealand’s 16-game winning streak after a nerve-racking 18-17 victory over the world champions in Wellington.
In a rematch of the 2021 Rugby World Cup semi-final, France opened the scoring with a clinical interception from Marine Ménager which allowed Emilie Boulard to blaze over the line.
The Black Ferns struck back through Liana Mikaele-Tu’u but were then undone by a brilliant Cyrielle Banet try before Morgane Bourgeois added a penalty.
Bourgeois slotted three more points after the break with Renee Holmes responding in kind but even a final Kiwi try and conversion couldn’t stop a record-ending French win.
Madoussou Fall said: “This week we worked really hard on our defence to prepare for the game and it worked really well.”
Meanwhile, England returned to New Zealand soil with a bang in their 42-7 victory over Australia as skipper Marlie Packer crossed twice.
The bonus point was secured before halftime as scores arrived in the form of Hannah Botterman, Packer, Jess Breach, and Ella Wyrwas.
After second-row Annabelle Codey was sent to the sin bin for an upright tackle, the Red Roses crossed twice more through Packer and Meg Jones to secure a flying start to WXV 1.
“It was a great victory,” Packer said. “We talk about courage and being courageous and that’s what we did. We’re going to grow into this tournament and this game was the start of that.
“We’re a new-look England side and we’re enjoying the way we are playing.”
Elsewhere in WXV 1, a spirited Wales were beaten 42-22 by a Sophie de Goede-inspired Canada in their opener.
Ioan Cunningham’s side looked to end their 17-year Canadian hoodoo as Carys Phillips and Georgia Evans kept them in the running against three Maple Leafs scores.
Despite a valiant try from Wales’ Alex Callender, Canada pulled away after the break as they crossed three more times and de Goede brought her conversion count to six.
“It is very pleasing to see how far we have come,” captain Hannah Jones said.
“We stuck it out until the end and we will look back now, re-group and look forward to the next game.
“Belief has been a big focus of the week and I definitely think it’s there.”
In WXV 2, Italy moved to two wins from two thanks to a 36-18 victory against South Africa.
Opening the scoring early through Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, the team were helped to victory by South Africa’s ill-discipline, which included a red card for Aseza Hele.
Further scores came from Aura Muzzo and Alissa Ranuccini before the break as South Africa fought back through Harlequin Babalwa Latsha’s try.
The bonus point win was secured shortly after Hele’s dismissal through Vittoria Vecchini and an intercept score from Alyssa D’Inca.
Le Azzurre move into next Saturday’s encounter with the USA at the top of the standings.
Scotland furthered the Six Nation winning with a second successive victory as they got the better of the USA 24-14 in Athlone.
Wingers Fran McGhie and Rhona Lloyd showed their pace out wide with tries either side of Emma Wassell’s close-range score.
The Eagles responded on the stroke of half-time, but Chloe Rollie added a fourth Scottish try on the hour-mark, and while the USA struck back with a Paige Stathopoulos score, it was all too late.
Player of the Match, Evie Gallagher said: “It was very physical. We wanted to take it to them and I think the team really stepped up.”
Over in Dubai, Ireland continued to set WXV 3 alight as they eased past Colombia 64-3.
Scott Bemand’s side ran in 10 tries during the one-sided encounter as Neve Jones, Natasja Behan, Grace Moore, Meabh Deely, Brittany Hogan and Edel McMahon put their names on the scoresheet before half-time.
Beibhinn Parsons touched down twice after the break and while Columbia scored a penalty, Leah Tarpey joined the try scoring to keep Ireland firmly at the top of the table.
All six sides will be in action next week as England take on Canada next Friday in WXV 1 followed by Wales taking on New Zealand and France facing Australia on the Saturday.
In WXV 2 Scotland face Japan and Italy face the USA while Ireland have a showdown with Spain in WXV 3.
