Veteran Packer Scores Four Tries as England Crush Italy 61-33 in Six Nations

Marlie Packer scored four tries to lead England to a 61-33 victory over Italy on Saturday, positioning the Red Roses for another Grand Slam decider against France in the Women's Six Nations.

The 36-year-old Saracens forward, who missed selection for last year's Grand Slam decider against France, earned player of the match for the second straight game. She also scored two tries against Wales. Packer had lost the England captaincy to Zoe Stratford at the start of last year and slipped down the selection order while fighting for a spot in the home World Cup squad.

She played at the tournament as England won the title but stayed on the fringes and did not appear in the knockout games. Less than a week after becoming a two-time World Cup winner, Packer announced she was "not hanging up her boots any time soon." Despite Sadia Kabeya leapfrogging her—Kabeya was player of the match in the World Cup final—Packer said she was contracted until June 2026 and felt fitter than ever.

In Parma, Packer showed sharp acceleration to chase a kick for her first try, then powered over the line three more times, smashing through several Italian defenders for her fourth. Injuries and pregnancies have disrupted John Mitchell's starting pack, giving the veteran her chance.

"My secret weapon is that I am enjoying it and I have a smile back on my face," Packer told BBC Sport. "I am getting the minutes. For the last couple of years, Sadia Kabeya has had the nod over me but fair play, I have my opportunity at the moment and I am enjoying it. I have a smile and there is no pressure."

Despite being the oldest player in the squad, Packer now looks set to feature in the decider next Sunday at the 42,115-capacity Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux. She has 115 caps and led England to back-to-back Grand Slams in 2024.

"Marlie doesn't go away, does she?" Mitchell said to BBC Sport. "After the World Cup she was like, 'Where do I sit?' and I said, 'Marlie, you are one of the best sevens in the country and if you are happy with that, I am happy with that.' She is so determined and she has achieved so much. All the standards that we have now have very much been shaped by the way she leads."

England captain Megan Jones praised her former skipper, who made 12 tackles and 92 meters from 14 carries against Italy. "She has a never-say-die attitude and is next level. She goes 100% even when we are walking," Jones added.

The win sealed England's 38th consecutive Six Nations victory. The world champions have not lost in the tournament since 2018 and chase an eighth straight title and fifth Grand Slam in a row. Wales and Italy both scored bonus-point tries in the past two games, posting 24 and 31 points respectively—their highest totals against England.

Defense remains a concern, with 15 tackles missed against Italy. Replacement forwards Haidee Head and Christiana Balogun made their debuts, as nine of the 13 forwards from the World Cup final were unavailable.

"The things I would do to play England with 12 [players] out," New Zealand's Ruby Tui told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly. "Secondly, teams are getting better, and that is such a good sign for the game. And the other thing is England have got this new management staff."

Since the top two teams—England and France—have met in the finale following the 2022 format change, the game has decided the Grand Slam each time. England won all four, but took last year's decider at Allianz Stadium by just one point. France thrashed Scotland on Saturday and remains the last team to beat England in the Six Nations, scoring 42 points in that 2025 game.

"England have shown they have the capability of stepping up to that Red Roses shirt, but France is a different place to play," former England captain Katy Daley-Mclean added. "It is a big thing to be able to go to France. It will go one of two ways: the young kids will either thrive or go into their shell."