Women's Six Nations 2022: Rust, records and renaissance among talking points

A sun-drenched round one of the Women's Six Nations is over with England, France and Wales all coming away with bonus-point wins.

Records fell, underdogs put up a challenge and the favourites shook off some rust.

Here are four talking points from the opening round.

England head coach Simon Middleton said he was left frustrated by his side's performance against Scotland despite the defending champions claiming a 57-5 win in Edinburgh.

Middleton described England as «rusty» as they made several handling errors in the game, looking much less slick than they did when they claimed back-to-back record wins against New Zealand in the autumn.

France also beat the Black Ferns twice last year but had to work hard for an opening Six Nations win against Italy as their attack only reached full fluidity late in the game.

With the title expected to be decided when Les Bleues host England on the final weekend, the side that best manages to shake off the rust by the end of April may be the one taking home the trophy.

The Women's Six Nations is being played in a separate window from the men's tournament for the second year in a row and the move appears to be paying off.

Saturday's opening game between Scotland and England attracted 3,988 fans to Edinburgh's DAM Health Stadium — a new record for a Scotland Women home game.

Later that afternoon, Irish women's rugby reached new heights too as 6,113 were there to see Wales win and set an attendance record for a standalone Women's Six Nations game in Ireland.

Wales are playing their first tournament since 12 of their squad were offered full-time contracts by the Welsh Rugby Union for the first time.

Many thought it would be too soon to see the effects of partial professionalism, but the increase in