Zoe Harrison leads England to dominant Six Nations win over Ireland

England stay unbeaten as Zoe Harrison scores 17 points in emphatic 49-5 victory in Cork.

Zoe Harrison of England is tackled by Fiona Tuite of Ireland during the Guinness Women's Six Nations 2025 match between Ireland and England at Virgin Media Park on April 12, 2025, in Cork, Ireland. Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Zoe Harrison leads England to dominant Six Nations win over Ireland as the Red Roses crushed the hosts 49-5 in Cork to remain unbeaten in this year’s Women’s Six Nations Championship. The England fly-half produced a superb all-round performance, contributing 17 points including a second-half try, as her side powered past Ireland and reclaimed top spot in the table.

England are now back ahead of France—who had earlier thrashed Wales 42-12—and remain on course for their seventh consecutive title. For Harrison and her teammates, the match was a demonstration of control, power, and ruthless execution.

England recover from early scare to dominate

Despite the lopsided final scoreline, Ireland actually struck first. In the 24th minute, Amee-Leigh Costigan latched onto a clever chip from Dannah O'Brien and finished brilliantly to give the home fans early hope. The winger, who competed in sevens at the 2023 Olympics, showed her pace and instincts to score in style.

But that moment of inspiration was short-lived. England responded through Morwenna Talling before halftime to move into a 7-5 lead, and from there, the visitors never looked back. The second half was one-way traffic.

“Half-time helped us to put right what we were doing wrong,” said Harrison after the match. “That one was about being patient. Taking our time to get there and when it was our time, to put our foot on the throat.”

Zoe Harrison’s leadership and composure shine

The 26-year-old fly-half was instrumental in England’s turnaround. Her game management in the second half was precise, and she capped it off with a try of her own—selling a show-and-go to deceive the Irish defense and glide over the line.

Harrison also added several conversions and penalties, calmly accumulating points to stretch England’s lead as the game wore on. In total, she tallied 17 points, underlining her importance not just as a playmaker but as a finisher.

Her confidence and calm under pressure were evident throughout the match. Whether directing traffic in the backline or choosing the right moments to attack, Harrison delivered a performance worthy of a leader aiming for a World Cup title later this year.

Six tries after the break seal the win

England’s second-half blitz was relentless. They scored six tries after the interval, showcasing their depth, power, and cohesion as a unit. Ireland simply had no answer.

The backline flowed with accuracy, the forwards punched holes with every carry, and their ruck speed constantly kept Ireland on the back foot. Every time the home side tried to rebuild possession, they were met with swarming defense and aggressive breakdown work from the Red Roses.

The sharp contrast between the two halves highlighted England’s tactical discipline. They didn’t panic after Ireland’s early score. Instead, they stuck to their structure and dismantled the opposition piece by piece.

France keep pace with win in Brive

Earlier in the day, France made sure the pressure stayed on England with an emphatic 42-12 win over Wales in Brive. Winger Emilie Boulard starred with two tries in 11 minutes, while hooker Manon Bigot, captain Manae Feleu, and flanker Lea Champon all got on the scoresheet.

France were also awarded a penalty try and looked in total control from the start. Despite some late resistance from Wales—who managed tries through Kate Williams and Gwen Crabb—the damage had already been done.

The French team’s physicality and pace have made them England’s closest rivals in this year’s tournament. With both sides undefeated so far, their clash at Twickenham on April 26 is shaping up to be a title decider.

Ireland struggle despite early promise

For Ireland, the afternoon started brightly but ended in disappointment. After that opening try from Costigan, they were unable to maintain any foothold in the match.

Their set-piece faltered under pressure, and they were repeatedly pushed off their own ball. England’s superior fitness, technique, and decision-making became more apparent as the game wore on.

Still, Ireland remain third in the standings with two rounds left to play, and they’ll be hoping to bounce back with strong showings against Scotland and Italy.

Championship could hinge on England vs France finale

With just two rounds remaining, all signs point to the Women’s Six Nations title being decided in the final match of the tournament—when England host France at Twickenham.

Both teams have looked dominant in their opening fixtures, dispatching their opponents with ease and showing championship pedigree. England will carry home advantage and the confidence of being reigning champions.

But France have been steadily building momentum and have the weapons to challenge Harrison’s side. The clash promises to be one of the highlights of the international women’s rugby calendar.

For now, though, England can take satisfaction in another statement win. Harrison’s leadership, the pack’s ferocity, and the backline’s sharpness were all on display in Cork.

As the World Cup approaches later this year, the Red Roses continue to set the standard. And if Zoe Harrison continues performing like this, England will be favorites not just for the Six Nations crown, but for global glory.