Meg Jones was the standout performer as a relentless England side swept Wales aside 62-24 to secure the Triple Crown in the Women's Six Nations. The Red Roses ran in 10 tries at a sold-out Ashton Gate, with Jones crossing the whitewash twice.
Jones: A Key Figure for England
There is an alternate universe where Meg Jones played this match in a red shirt rather than a white one. Born in Cardiff and fluent in Welsh, the Red Roses captain qualified for England through her mother. That decision has proven pivotal, with Jones now an integral and irreplaceable cog in the England machine. Named captain due to Zoe Stratford's pregnancy, Jones has more than stepped up, scoring in two of the first three tournament matches. The 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee bagged a brace here.
Beyond her scoring, Jones is the linchpin of most attacking moves. Off the pitch, she inspires the next generation, speaking openly about the grief of losing both parents in 2024. She views each game as a tribute to them, saying she can 'represent them and think of them in that space.'
Match Overview
England inflicted their 11th consecutive win over Wales, despite losing Sadia Kabeya to injury after 22 minutes. Wales, however, showed improvement under Sean Lynn, securing a bonus point with four tries. Their 24 points were the most they have ever scored against England. Scrum-half Keira Bevan was at the heart of the performance, scoring a try and maintaining an energetic tempo.
Wales were also boosted by the return of experienced back-row Alisha Joyce, who came off the bench in the 54th minute for her first international since giving birth to her son, Ralphie, 158 days ago.
While Wales narrowed the gap, their defence and errors need correction to take the next step. Lynn believes his side can catch England but did not put a timeline on it. 'I am very proud of the character the girls showed for 80 minutes,' he said. 'We are still disappointed we leaked 62, but the character to get that bonus point is good. The areas we are looking at, we are moving closer.'
Player of the Match: Marlie Packer
Player of the match Marlie Packer, who completed the full 80 minutes for the first time since the World Cup pool game against Samoa last year, was electric. Maddie Feaunati scored first, followed by debutant Millie David, whose first cap was cut short by a head injury assessment. Tries were exchanged, including a quality team move, putting England 29-12 ahead at half-time.
The Red Roses pulled away in the second half, sparked by tries from Amy Cokayne and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald. A beautiful pass from Holly Aitchison put replacement wing Jess Breach over, and Packer added her second. England head coach John Mitchell praised Packer: 'She is so valuable. She is a leader. She does a lot of unseen stuff. She might not have the title, but she is still very much a senior person within the group. She is phenomenal with younger players.'
Replacement prop Maud Muir rounded off the scoring, extending England's winning streak to 36 matches in all competitions.
What's Next
Wales have a fallow week before facing Ireland on 9 May. England continue their title defence against Italy, having secured the Triple Crown. Two games stand between the Red Roses and an eighth consecutive Six Nations trophy.
