Tounesi calls for better execution after England Women defeat

Sara Tounesi felt Italy’s lack of execution was the difference as her side fell to a 68-5 defeat against Simon Middleton’s superb England.

The Azzurre showed real signs of progress at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with Tounesi going over early in the first half for Italy’s first try against the Red Roses since 2018.

However, the Red Roses were simply too good to stop, with Abby Dow scoring four, Jess Breach securing a hat-trick, Claudia MacDonald touching down twice, and captain Marlie Packer crossing for a brace.

Tatyana Heard went over under the posts in the second half too, but Italy did look threatening when they had the ball.

“That is the difference between us and the Red Roses, they always finish the job,” said the lock.

“We watched England’s previous games, and we saw that we could create some opportunities, and we were trying to take them.

“We just needed to finish the job, and we need to get the points set in concrete.

“The Red Roses are strong, and I respect all those girls because they are really, really strong all over the pitch.

“But they are also human like us, so we just need to try and not have any fear, they are players just like us.

“We need to be more confident when we play them.”

The result leaves England top of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations table having recorded two bonus-point wins from two games.

In contrast, Italy end Round 2 in fifth despite a pair of encouraging performances against two of the best sides in the Championship.

Italy will host Ireland at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Round 3, an excellent opportunity to get their first points on the board.

England face a trip to Cardiff Arms Park to face Ioan Cunningham’s high-flying Wales, who are second after two bonus-point wins of their own.

Italy will take a great deal of confidence from their opening two rounds, and Tounesi was delighted to see the Azzurre score from a driving maul, an area where she felt the Red Roses were particularly strong.

She added: “We just believed in our potential, England are really strong at the driving maul, so we asked ourselves, why can’t we do it?

“We gave it a go and scored the try.

“I think it showed that we can be strong there too.”