England’s women’s rugby team scored 12 tries in an 84-7 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on April 18, 2026, securing a bonus-point win that moved them to the top of the Women’s Six Nations table despite fielding a significantly altered lineup due to injuries.
The Red Roses made five changes from their opening win against Ireland, with Ellie Kildunne shifting from full-back to wing to accommodate Emma Sing’s return. Key absentees included Alex Matthews (shoulder injury) and a group of players ruled out for the tournament: Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell and Tatyana Heard. Despite the disruption, England struck early, with Maddie Feaunati breaking through to set up Kildunne for the opening try in the eighth minute, converted by Zoe Harrison for a 7-0 lead.
England’s first-half dominance was built on precision and pace. Kildunne scored again in the 23rd minute after a looping pass from captain Meg Jones, marking her 50th international try. Kelsey Clifford powered over shortly after to secure the bonus point, and Harrison’s flawless kicking extended the lead to 28-0 by halftime. Scotland managed a consolation try through Rhona Lloyd in the 36th minute — the first ever scored by a Scottish woman in a standalone women’s fixture at Murrayfield — but trailed 35-7 at the break.
The second half saw England extend their advantage with seven more tries. Sarah Bern scored twice (54th and 60th minutes), while Amy Cokayne, Marlie Packer, Sadia Kabeya, Mia Venner and Haineala Lutui all crossed the line. Harrison completed a perfect kicking day with 12 conversions, including the final one after Lutui’s 80th-minute try. The final score of 84-7 reflected England’s ruthless efficiency in converting opportunities.
Statistical analysis from The Guardian highlighted the gulf in execution: England made 18 linebreaks to Scotland’s two, beat 52 defenders to Scotland’s 20, gained 715 metres compared to 246, and executed 12 offloads to Scotland’s zero. England also dominated the kicking game, gaining 831 metres from 26 kicks out of hand versus Scotland’s 393 metres from 17 kicks. Scotland’s tackle success rate was just 59%, and they lost four line-outs inside England’s 22 — three spilled and one stolen — undermining any attacking platform.
For more on this story, see Ireland Women’s Six Nations Squad 2026: Full Team List & Updates.
England’s ruck speed was particularly notable, with 80% of their rucks lasting three seconds or less, enabling quick ball and relentless go-forward. This gainline dominance allowed them to bypass Scotland’s defensive structure repeatedly, turning half-chances into scores. The performance underscored England’s depth and tactical discipline, even under personnel strain.
Reactions were mixed. Katy Daley-McClean, commenting on BBC, acknowledged Scotland’s shortcomings — spilling ball, failing to make ground after two phases, and not taking scoring chances — but insisted the scoreline did not reflect their effort. “I don’t think the scoreline represents Scotland,” she said. “They got what they deserved, if you’re asking me. Am I being harsh? Take nothing away from England. They were outstanding.”
The win leaves England firmly in contention for the Six Nations title, with their next home fixture against Wales. For Scotland, the loss exposes persistent issues in execution under pressure, particularly in set-piece retention and defensive organisation, despite moments of individual brilliance like Lloyd’s historic try.
This follows our earlier report, Meg Jones Named England Women Captain for Six Nations Defence.
How did England manage to score 12 tries despite so many injuries?
England’s depth and tactical adaptability allowed them to maintain performance levels. Players like Ellie Kildunne successfully transitioned to new roles, and the team’s structured approach to gainline dominance and quick ruck ball minimized reliance on individual brilliance, enabling collective execution even with key absentees.
What does Scotland’s lone try tell us about their performance?
Rhona Lloyd’s try in the 36th minute was a historic milestone — the first by a Scottish woman in a standalone women’s fixture at Murrayfield — and showed Scotland could breach England’s defence, but their inability to sustain pressure or capitalize on opportunities limited its impact.
Why did Scotland lose so many line-outs inside England’s 22?
Scotland spilled three line-outs and had one stolen in England’s 22, indicating failures in execution under pressure — likely due to disrupted timing, inaccurate throws, or ineffective jumping and lifting — which prevented them from building attacking platforms near the try line.