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England dominate Italy to set up Six Nations Grand Slam decider
Having missed out on selection for last year's Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France, Marlie Packer's remarkable international career may have seemed to some to be winding down.
The 36-year-old, who lost the England captaincy to Zoe Stratford at the start of last year, had slipped down the pecking order and was fighting to make a home World Cup squad.
Packer went on to play at the tournament but remained on the fringes and did not feature in any of the knockout games as England claimed glory.
Less than a week on from becoming a two-time World Cup winner, she announced she was "not hanging up her boots any time soon".
Despite being leapfrogged by Sadia Kabeya, player of the match in the World Cup final, the Saracens forward said she was contracted until June 2026 and felt fitter than ever.
It was a good decision to continue. The Red Roses have lined up another Grand Slam decider against France next week thanks to Saturday's 61-33 victory over Italy, a win spearheaded by Packer's four tries.
The performance earned her the player-of-the-match award, as did her two-try display against Wales, with the veteran forward taking advantage of injuries and pregnancies disrupting John Mitchell's starting pack.
"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."
In Parma, Packer showed impressive acceleration to latch on to a kick through for her opening try, before bulldozing her way to the tryline three more times - smashing through a number of Italy defenders for her fourth score.
Despite being the oldest player in the squad, Packer is now firmly in line to feature in the decider against France next Sunday at the 42,115-capacity Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux.
"Marlie doesn't go away, does she?" Mitchell said to BBC Sport when asked about the 115-cap flanker, who led her country to back-to-back Grand Slams in 2024.
"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 was also full of praise for her former skipper, who registered 12 tackles against Italy and made 92 metres from 14 carries.
"She has a never-say-die attitude and is next level. She goes 100% even when we are walking," Jones added.
Packer scores four as England close in on Grand Slam
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'It's about making memories' - Packer on four-try performance against Italy
England's win in Parma sealed a 38th consecutive Six Nations victory.
Given the world champions have not lost in the tournament since 2018, are chasing an eighth straight title, and a fifth Grand Slam in a row, being anything other than undefeated heading into the final round - while never a given - would have been a seismic shock.
The tournament has not come without difficulties, though. In the past two games, Wales and Italy have both scored bonus-point tries against Mitchell's side, registering 24 and 31 points respectively - their highest totals against the world champions.
Defence will be an area of concern for Mitchell, with 15 tackles missed against the Azzurre.
Replacement forwards Haidee Head and Christiana Balogun made their debuts in Italy, with nine of the 13 forwards that featured in the World Cup final 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 format was rejigged in 2022 so that the top two sides - England and France - meet in the finale, that game has become a Grand Slam decider.
The Red Roses have won all four meetings, but only prevailed in last year's Grand Slam decider at Allianz Stadium by a point, the closest their record 37-game winning run has come to ending.
France, who on Saturday thrashed Scotland in Edinburgh and are the last team to beat England in the Six Nations, scored 42 points in that 2025 decider.
"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."
Without some of the Red Roses' key personnel, and with Packer's contract up in June, could it be a fitting farewell?
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Four-try haul for Packer in England romp against Italy
