Wales 13 England 0 (Half-time 3-0)

After the honour and plaudits that England's women Rugby players rightly attracted last season, as they became world champions, they were brought back down to earth at the weekend with a resounding defeat to their Welsh counterparts. As such, it also represented a modicum of revenge for the Welsh nation, after the men had lost to the English on Friday evening.

England were much-changed from their successful world cup campaign, with seven new caps being introduced for the Six Nations opener, as they had to manage without 14 players in total from that victorious tournament's complement. Two of those retired prior to the tournament, while another 12 were instead playing in the prestigious World Rugby Women's Sevens Series. That took nothing away from the Welsh women's performance, as their skipper Rachel Taylor led them to just their second win over their British rivals, with a dominant 13-0 victory at St Helens, Swansea.

Taylor was well aware of the potential shift in power for the game: "We knew they were there for the taking because of the changes since they won the World Cup." She was clearly proud of her team though, for the way that they capitalised on the opportunity that presented itself to them. Looking to the future and the remaining matches in the Six Nations, she urged her team mates to not make themselves a "one-hit wonder" and to build on the timely boost.

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There was little between the sides after forty minutes, as a lone Laurie Harries penalty gave the Welsh a narrow lead at the break.

They put clear daylight between themselves and their visitors after the interval, when prop Catrin Edwards smashed her way through the English defence for a try. Despite England looking likely to come back into the game as they were awarded a series of penalties, Megan Goddard missed all three opportunities to close the gap.

Her misses were capitalised upon when Elinor Snowsill saw the chance to set Harries free down the wing with a kick, and the Welsh flyer skirted over for another try, sealing the win for the elated Welsh contingent.

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