Women’s Six Nations: England’s Stern Test Against Resurgent Scotland
Jess Breach, the seasoned England wing, emphasizes that the upcoming Women’s Six Nations match against a rapidly improving Scotland presents uncharted territory for the Red Roses. Despite England’s dominant record in this fixture, having not lost since a narrow 8-5 defeat in 1998, the challenge at the sold-out Hive Stadium in Edinburgh is set to be their sternest test yet.
Scotland, buoyed by their victory over Wales in the opening round and a narrow loss against France a week later, have shown remarkable progress. The 28 professional contracts awarded at the end of 2022 have undoubtedly raised the standard of the game, as evidenced by their triumph in the WXV 2 tournament in October.
“It is going to be a really competitive game. And we’ve probably never been in this scenario with Scotland before,” said Breach, having won all 35 of her caps for the Red Roses.
While England remain the favorites, Breach acknowledges the element of uncertainty surrounding this encounter. The England wing expressed excitement about the growing competitiveness in the Six Nations, noting that “every nation is getting better after being contracted.” She pointed to Italy’s strong first-half performance against England as an example of how investment in the game can elevate the level of play.
The contrast between the setting of Scotland’s historic victory in 1998, which was staged at an independent school, and the packed Hive Stadium in 2024 underscores the remarkable growth of women’s rugby. Breach acknowledged this progress, stating, “It feels like we’re growing and heading in the right direction. Every nation wants big crowds.”
As the 2025 World Cup looms, Breach is eager to be part of the continued momentum, saying, “That’s happening at the moment and heading into the 2025 World Cup we should be able to sell most stadiums out. It’s exciting and who doesn’t want to be part of women’s rugby?”
The BBC Rugby Union report captures the anticipation and uncertainty surrounding this pivotal Women’s Six Nations clash, where England’s dominance will be tested by a resurgent and determined Scotland side.
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