Marlie Packer’s Red Card Sours England’s 97-7 World Cup Warmup Rout Of Spain

England’s training campy went well, then. The Red Roses were fluent and businesslike successful scoring 15 tries arsenic they steamrollered Spain successful their first warmup lucifer for nan Women’s Rugby World Cup. They besides displayed composure and bully decision-making successful their biggest ever triumph against these opponents, qualities that will beryllium paramount for this vastly talented squad erstwhile nan tourney begins.

On nan downside nan starting captain, Marlie Packer, was shown a reddish paper for a reckless second-half tackle – an unhappy extremity to an outstanding individual capacity by nan openside – and nan visiting full-back Claudia Peña sewage Spain connected nan scoreboard pinch a sniping second-half finish.

Aside from that it was a workout successful dogged defending for nan visitors, and an day for England to fine-tune attacking combinations. Helena Rowland, starting connected nan helping for England for nan first time, scored a hat-trick while nan prop Sarah Bern crossed doubly successful a ascendant display.

After 9 weeks successful training camp, including warm-weather believe successful Treviso, it was perchance nan worst clip for Spain to look John Mitchell’s supremely powerful side, who looked better-conditioned than ever. England will beryllium tested much importantly adjacent weekend, erstwhile they recreation to look France, nan 2nd and last warmup earlier facing nan USA astatine nan Stadium of Light connected 22 August.

It was neat that nan Lionesses defeated Spain to triumph Women’s Euro 2025 nether a week ago, nan baton now passing to nan Red Roses. At nan conclusion of nan pre-match warmup, England’s squad vanished down nan passageway to a cacophony of support: it was not fans but a group of chap England players, including Ellie Kildunne and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, doing nan cheering. Whatever obstacles that whitethorn look complete nan the adjacent 2 months – and they will people expect to title nan last connected 27 September – squad tone will not beryllium a problem.

England’s starting skipper Marlie Packer (centre) was sent disconnected for a reckless tackle. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/Reuters

Injuries surely will be, and connected Thursday nan caput coach was forced into 2 changes soon aft naming his XV, pinch Rosie Galligan and Hollie Aitchison sidelined by enarthrosis and ankle niggles respectively. Mitchell brought successful Abbie Ward to nan 2nd row, pinch Tatyana Heard connected nan bench.

England had tried to move nan shot wide a mates of times early on, earlier consecutive down nan mediate proved much effective. Lucy Packer and Lilli Ives Campion some sewage hands connected nan shot earlier Maddie Feaunati applied nan decorativeness for nan first effort aft 5 minutes. England’s 4th try, scored by Jess Breach who skipped distant from nan screen connected nan near helping aft a sweeping move, was nan prime of nan 7 tries they scored earlier nan break, erstwhile nan people stood astatine 43-0.

It was, predictably, one-way postulation isolated from erstwhile Spain managed to rumble a maul complete England’s try-line, that was held up by immoderate smart protect work. England, playing successful black, kept nan beingness unit connected and nan passes continued to fizz against a tiring Spain.

Rowland sealed her hat-trick after44 minutes and Mitchell emptied his bench, pinch Hannah Botterman among nan replacements to transverse nan try-line. Packer’s reddish paper came conscionable aft nan hr mark, for an inexplicable lunge connected Pẽna, but 8 well-worked tries successful nan 2nd half were immoderate consolation, Megan Jones rounding disconnected nan scoring connected nan changeable of afloat time. A promising afternoon’s activity earlier nan situation that lies ahead.