Women’s Six Nations: France and Ireland began campaigns with win

France Women got their Six Nations title defence off to a flying start with a resounding 42-0 win over Scotland Women on Saturday.

Julie Billes grabbed a hat-trick at Stade Henri Desgrange as Julie Duval, Jessy Tremouliere, Celine Heguy and Elodie Poublan also crossed over in the rout at Stade Henri Desgrange.

Scotland had no answer to the power of the French pack who set up a powerful drive allowing Duval to barge over and Tremouliere converted.

The French pack continued to dominate, allowing their backs the time and the space to attack, with Billes scoring the first of her three tries off one of these moves which Tremouliere converted.

France began to throw the ball around and some wonderful handling saw Billes over for her second try, and she rounded off her hat-trick early in the second half.

Centres Heguy and Poublan then rubbed salt into Scotland’s wounds with two tries in the last 10 minutes – Tremouliere could not convert but it did not matter as France secured a convincing win.

Ireland up and running

On Friday, Ireland Women also got their campaign off to a winning start as they beat Italy 30-5 at the Stadio Mario Lodigiani in Florence.

Ireland piled on the pressure from the whistle but it took them until the 20th minute before skipper Niamh Briggs scored.

Paula Fitzpatrick then grabbed a brace in the second half, followed by Jenny Murphy and Heather O'Brien also scoring.

Italy did have the final say of the game but it made no difference to the result as Maria Magatti scored a late try.