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December 31, 2022 12:39 pm (GMT)
by James Reid
The TikTok Women’s Six Nations reached new heights in 2022, as more spectators than ever saw historic battles renewed across March and April.
It was England who emerged victorious, as they sealed another Grand Slam thanks to a show-stopping decider away in France on the final weekend of action.
But it was not all just about the Red Roses, with some of the most dramatic finishes elsewhere and nations taking big steps forward to set up a mouth-watering Championship in 2023.
Before that kicks off, take a look back at all the action that unfolded in the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
Round 1
The best action of opening weekend was to be found at Musgrave Park, as Ireland and Wales played out a thriller, which saw the visitors edge home 27-19 winners.
Donna Rose was the hero for Wales, dotting down twice as they produced an impressive second-half comeback after trailing 14-5 at the break.
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Linda Djougang had put hosts Ireland in control but a try from speedster Jasmine Joyce and Rose’s brace saw Wales haul themselves off the canvas before Hannah Jones sealed the win.
Elsewhere, eventual Grand Slam champions England started as they meant to go on with a 57-5 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh. Marlie Packer was the standout for the Red Roses, as the flanker powered over for a hat-trick of tries.
Hot on their heels were France, who opened their campaign with a 39-6 victory over Italy.
They were given a proper test by Italy, who saw plenty of the ball, but it was the hosts who were more clinical, as Madoussou Fall and Emeline Gros going over to give France a 17-6 lead at the break that proved insurmountable.
Round 2
Wales continued their tremendous start to the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations in Round 2, with a 24-19 victory over Scotland making it two wins from two.
It came thanks to another stunning comeback, this time fighting back from 19-7 down, thanks to Ffion Lewis’ 75th-minute try.
Tries from Lana Skeldon and Rhona Lloyd had put Scotland in charge, with a second from Lloyd after half-time seemingly putting the game beyond Wales’ reach.
But Sioned Harries and Kelsey Jones kickstarted the fight back before Lewis went over at the death to keep up Wales’ 100 percent record.
They were not the only side to continue their perfect start to the 2022 Championship, with France and England joining Wales on two wins out of two.
A Laure Sansus-inspired France powered past Ireland 40-5 in Toulouse, with Eve Higgins the sole scorer for the visitors, while Sarah Bern’s solo try was the standout score for England as they beat Italy 74-0 in Parma.
Round 3
Round 3 came just a week later, as a record-breaking attendance of 14,689 fans watched England beat Wales 58-5 at Gloucester’s Kingsholm.
It was an electric atmosphere thanks to both sets of fans, with plenty of Wales fans making the short trip over the border.
The visitors put up a strong defence but were unable to stop England’s imperious rolling maul that saw a double for hooker Lark Davies and tries too for props Bern and Shaunagh Brown.
That win ended Wales’ unbeaten run, meaning only France could challenge England for the Grand Slam crown and Les Bleues responded to the challenge with a 28-8 win away to Scotland a day later.
The visitors did all their scoring before the break with a dominant first-half showing, as Sansus, who went onto be named TikTok Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, shone once more with two tries alongside scores from half-back partner Jessy Trémouliere and captain Gaëlle Hermet.
The third weekend was wrapped up with an impressive victory for Ireland, who beat Italy 29-8 in Cork for their first victory of the Championship.
A cagey opening 40 minutes saw tries from Lucy Mulhall and Neve Jones put Greg McWilliams’ side ahead at the break before three tries in the second half with the wind behind them capped a fine afternoon.
Round 4
Italy had earned plenty of plaudits across their opening three games of the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations but were yet to earn a victory.
They put that right in Round 4 with a 20-13 win over Scotland at a sodden Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Emma Wassell produced the sole try of the first half to put Bryan Easson’s side in charge, before Melissa Bettoni struck back for Le Azzurre just four minutes into the second period.
And Silvia Turani sealed a hard-fought victory with a try ten minutes from time, with the boot of Michela Sillari guiding the hosts home.
It was an important win that pulled Italy off the bottom of the standings, and within one win of Wales who were beaten 33-5 under the Friday night lights by France.
Sansus was once more the key to France’s victory, with two more tries for the scrum-half as the they romped to a 26-0 lead at the break.
It threw down the gauntlet to England to set up a Grand Slam decider on the final weekend, and the Red Roses duly responded with a 69-0 win over Ireland.
England led just 10-0 at the break before producing a ruthless second-half display that saw seven different scorers for Simon Middleton’s side in front of a record 15,836 supporters – besting the mark that had been set just two weeks earlier.
Round 5
The final weekend was all about Le Crunch, as England travelled to Bayonne to take on France and decide both the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations and the Grand Slam.
England went in as favourites but it was France who stole an early march, as Romane Ménager went over inside three minutes to send the vocal home crowd into raptures.
But true champions are never down for long, and England roared back in style, with Bern scoring twice and Abbie Ward also dotting down inside 25 minutes to put the visitors in control and seal yet another Grand Slam.
All eyes may have been on south-west France, but there was incredible drama in the other two matches too to cap a stunning final weekend.
Italy earned their second win of the Championship with a 10-8 win over Wales, with Sillari slotting home an 80th-minute penalty.
Keira Bevan’s 75th-minute try looked to have won it for Wales, but Sillari held her nerve to nudge Italy in front with just seconds to play.
And if fans thought that was dramatic, there was even more to come in Belfast, as Enya Breen kept her cool to kick a conversion with the clock deep in the red having dotted down in the 83rd minute.
A hard-fought contest saw Evie Gallagher put Scotland ahead after just three minutes before Neve Jones responded for the hosts two minutes before half-time.
Helen Nelson’s steady boot put Scotland back in front before Breen’s late show stole it for Ireland with a 15-14 win.
It was a fitting end for a thrilling Championship and set the stage for even more enthralling action in 2023.
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