Four-try Packer ‘doesn’t go away’ as England set up Grand Slam decider

In a sport that often worships at the altar of youth, Marlie Packer is writing a defiant, thunderous rebuttal. The 36-year-old flanker delivered a vintage, four-try masterclass as England ruthlessly dismantled Italy 68-5 in Parma, setting up a mouthwatering Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France next weekend. It was a performance that screamed one thing: experience, grit, and an unquenchable hunger still burn brightly at the heart of the Red Roses pack.

For those who had quietly written off Packer’s international obituary, Saturday’s display in the Italian sunshine was a stark reminder that class is permanent. Having missed out on selection for last year’s Grand Slam decider against France, and subsequently losing the captaincy to Zoe Stratford at the start of 2024, the narrative suggested a twilight phase. Yet, as England head coach John Mitchell now knows, you cannot keep a true competitor down. Packer didn’t just score; she dominated, leading a forward charge that left Italy battered and breathless.

The resurrection of a Red Roses legend

To fully appreciate the magnitude of Packer’s performance, we must rewind just twelve months. At the start of last year, the veteran flanker was a captain stripped of her armband. Zoe Stratford, younger, dynamic, and in the form of her life, took over the leadership role. For many international athletes at the age of 35, that is the beginning of the end. The whispers grew louder: Packer’s best days were behind her. She had slipped down the pecking order, fighting not just for a starting jersey, but for a spot in a home World Cup squad.

It was a battle she won, but only just. Packer made the World Cup squad, yet found herself on the fringes. She did not feature in any of the knockout games as England marched to global glory. The image of her watching from the stands or the bench, a decorated warrior reduced to a spectator, seemed to many like a symbolic passing of the torch. But Packer, as she has done throughout a career spanning nearly two decades, refused to accept the finality of that narrative. She went away, worked in silence, rebuilt her explosiveness, and returned with a vengeance.

“She doesn’t go away,” Mitchell said after the match, a statement loaded with respect. “Marlie has an incredible ability to absorb setbacks and turn them into fuel. To see her score four tries today, leading from the front, shows the depth of character in this squad. She is a testament to what happens when you refuse to let the door close.”

How Packer dismantled Italy: A tactical masterclass

Italy, to their credit, started brightly. They held England scoreless for the opening 15 minutes, defending with ferocity and disrupting the Red Roses’ rhythm. But once Packer found her groove, the game became a one-woman highlight reel. Her four tries were not merely opportunistic finishes; they were a masterclass in support play, power, and relentless work rate.

• Try one (20th minute): A classic poacher’s score. Following a powerful maul that sucked in the Italian defence, Packer read the offload from a driving forward, stepped inside the covering defender, and crashed over from five metres out. Simple, direct, devastating.
• Try two (34th minute): This was pure athleticism. A sweeping backline move saw the ball spread wide, but when the pass went to ground, Packer was the first to react. She scooped the ball, fended off a desperate tackle, and galloped 20 metres to score under the posts. The speed of thought was remarkable.
• Try three (52nd minute): A set-piece strike. From a lineout drive, England’s maul rumbled forward. Packer was the ball-carrier at the back, but as the maul stalled, she detached, took a short pass from scrum-half Natasha Hunt, and powered through three tacklers to dot down. It was pure, unadulterated power.
• Try four (68th minute): The cherry on top. A turnover forced by Packer herself deep in Italy’s 22 led to quick ball. She then looped around the playmaker, took the pass at pace, and stepped the fullback to complete her haul. The crowd, even the Italian supporters, rose in appreciation.

Beyond the tries, Packer’s defensive numbers were staggering: 14 tackles, 3 turnovers won, and countless breakdown penalties forced. She was the heartbeat of a forward pack that dominated the gain line and the set piece. Italy simply had no answer to her intelligent running lines and her ability to be in the right place at the right time—a skill honed over 100-plus test caps.

Setting the stage for a Grand Slam showdown

This victory was more than just a bonus-point win; it was a statement of intent. With France also securing a comfortable win over Ireland, the stage is perfectly set for a winner-takes-all Grand Slam decider in Bordeaux next Saturday. The Red Roses have not lost a Six Nations match since 2019, a run of 24 consecutive victories. But France, playing at home in front of a passionate crowd, will be their stiffest test yet.

Packer’s resurgence could not have come at a better time. The French pack, led by the formidable Manae Feleu and the explosive Romane Ménager, will present a physical challenge unlike any Italy could muster. England will need every ounce of Packer’s experience, her breakdown nous, and her ability to lead under pressure. The battle of the back rows—Packer and Stratford against the French trio—will likely decide the outcome.

“We know what’s coming,” Packer said after the match, her voice calm but her eyes fierce. “France at home, Grand Slam on the line. That’s why we play this game. I’ve been on the outside looking in, and I never want to feel that again. I’m ready for next week. We all are.”

Mitchell has a selection headache, but a welcome one. Does he stick with the in-form Packer, or does he restore Stratford to the starting lineup? The answer may be both. Packer’s performance in Parma suggests she is undroppable, and a back row of Stratford, Packer, and the explosive Sarah Bern could be the most balanced unit in world rugby. The decision will be a defining moment of Mitchell’s tenure.

Prediction and final thoughts

France will be wounded after a narrow loss to England last year, and the home crowd in Bordeaux will be a cauldron of noise. England’s set piece and kicking game will need to be flawless. But if Packer can replicate even half of her Parma performance, the Red Roses have the firepower to prevail.

Prediction: France will start fast, but England’s bench depth and Packer’s experience will tell in the final quarter. A 12-point win for England, securing the Grand Slam.

Marlie Packer’s story is not one of a fading star. It is a story of resilience, of refusing to accept the narrative that age defines your worth. She has gone from being a captain stripped of her role, to a fringe World Cup squad member, to the player who single-handedly dismantled Italy and set up a Grand Slam decider. She doesn’t go away. She fights. And next Saturday, in Bordeaux, she has the chance to cement her legacy as one of the greatest forwards the women’s game has ever seen. The Red Roses are roaring, and at the heart of the pack, Marlie Packer is leading the charge.

Source: Based on news from BBC Sport.