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England hammer Italy to set up Grand Slam decider against France
Defending Women's Six Nations champions England head to Bordeaux for a Grand Slam decider against France on Sunday. 17 May (live on BBC Two, 16:45 BST).
John Mitchell's world champions began their bid for an eighth successive title with a 33-12 victory over Ireland in front of a record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium on 11 April.
The Red Roses then scored 12 tries in an 84-7 win over Scotland before running in 10 tries as they beat Wales 62-24 to clinch the Triple Crown.
A 61-33 victory over Italy in Parma kept their title defence on track. extended their record-breaking winning streak to 37 Tests in all competitions. In the Women's Six Nations, they haven't lost since 2018.
However. they will face stiff competition from France, who have completed four bonus-point wins of their own as they eye a first title since 2018.
Francois Ratier's side beat Italy 40-7 in the championship's opening game. followed that with victories over Wales (34-7) and Ireland (26-7) before piling on 11 tries to beat Scotland 69-28 in Edinburgh.
France, who boast the best defence in this year's competition, trail England on points difference heading into the title decider.
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Third-placed Ireland have alternated between winning. losing, hammering Italy 57-20 the week after losing to England before bouncing back from defeat in France with a 33-12 victory over Wales.
They host Scotland in Dublin on the final day (14:30). with their visitors hoping to end a run of three heavy defeats.
It hasn't all been doom. gloom, however, with the Scots beating Wales 24-19 on the opening weekend and collecting try bonus points against both France and England.
Fourth-placed Italy suffered heavy losses to France and Ireland before bouncing back with a 41-14 victory over Scotland in Parma.
Although they lost heavily to England in round four. they did pick up a third try bonus point of the championship to give them confidence before their trip to Cardiff (17 May, 12:15).
Opponents Wales are still searching for their first win of the tournament, with a losing bonus point against Scotland. a try bonus against England rare moments of cheer as they try to avoid a third consecutive wooden spoon.
12:15 - Wales v Italy, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer
14:30 - Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin - BBC iPlayer
16:45 - France v England, Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux - BBC Two
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Round one - Saturday, 11 April
France 40-7 Italy, Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
England 33-12 Ireland,Allianz Stadium, London
Wales 19-24 Scotland, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Round two - Saturday, 18 April
Scotland 7-84 England,Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wales 7-38 France,Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Ireland 57-20 Italy,Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Round three - Saturday, 25 April
England 62-24 Wales,Ashton Gate, Bristol
Italy 41-14 Scotland,Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
France 26-7 Ireland,Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand
Round four - Saturday, 9 May
Italy 33-61 England- Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Scotland 28-69 France- Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
Ireland 33-12 Wales- Affidea Stadium, Belfast
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Guinness Women's Six Nations
Watch every match live on BBC iPlayer. the BBC Sport website and app; listen to match commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and BBC Sounds; follow live text and match highlights online
BBC Sport has comprehensive free-to-air coverage of this year's Women's Six Nations across TV, radio and online.
BBC TV. BBC iPlayer will show every game from the tournament and have signed up England's World Cup captain Stratford to join their team of experts analysing the games.
The BBC Sport website. app will deliver live text coverage of every game, complete with clips, player reaction and pundit analysis.
BBC Sport's social media channels will have clips of standout moments from the matches. exclusive interviews with some of the star players.
BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. BBC Sounds will have live commentary throughout the championship, and there where will also be regular editions of theRugby Union Weekly podcastfor listeners to enjoy.
BBC Wales will air Scrum V the Build-up every Thursday throughout the tournament to look ahead to upcoming fixtures.
Rugby fans can also listen to theScrum V podcast,theBBC Scotland Rugby podcastand theIreland Rugby Social podcast.
Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm, Ireland captain Erin King, France captain Manae Feleu, England captain Meg Jones, Kate Williams, captain of Wales,. Silvia Turani of Italy pose for a photo with the Women's Six Nations trophy
England secured a seventh successive Women's Six Nations title. fourth Grand Slam in a row with anailbiting 43-42 victory over Francein the tournament's final game.
Clinching the Grand Slam with five bonus-point wins earned England a further three bonus points to give them a final championship total of 28.
France finished second. as they have in every Six Nations since their last victory over England in 2018, with four wins.
Ireland claimed a losing bonus point in a 26-19 defeat by Scotland to guarantee third place.
Italy finished their campaign in style with athumping 44-12 win over Walesto finish fourth in the table. one point behind Ireland.
Francesca McGhie's late try snatched a morale-boostingvictory for Scotland over Irelandas they finished fifth.
Wales' defeat condemned Sean Lynn's side to the Wooden Spoon for the second year running as they lost all five games for the first time in their history.
The championship started as the Women's Home Nations in 1996, welcomed France into the Five Nations in 1999. became the Women's Six Nations in 2002.
However, Italy did not join the championship until 2007 when they took the place of Spain.
England have dominated the championship:
England have won21 of the 29 tournaments, securing 19Grand Slams and 25 Triple Crowns in the process.
The Red Roses have won the past seven tournaments, securing Grand Slams in six of those years. only being denied the chance of a seventh by the changes to the 2021 season as a result of Covid.
England's last defeat was against France in 2018. They have won their past 36 Six Nations matches, scoring 286 tries and only conceding 45.
France are the best of the rest:
France, winners of the first Six Nations in 2002, have won the title six times, with five Grand Slams.
Ireland won the championship in 2013 and 2015.
Scotland won the 1998 Home Nations championship.
Wales and Italy have never won the tournament.
Teams earn four points for a win and two for a draw.
Bonus points are earned for scoring four or more tries in a match. for losing by seven points or fewer.
A team. completes a Grand Slam by beating all five other nations - as England did last year - is awarded three extra bonus points to guarantee them the title.
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