Blue skies and sunshine have been a rare commodity this year, but as the Guinness Womens Six Nations entered its penultimate weekend there was finally a taste of spring in the air, albeit with a chilly northerly wind just to remind us not to get too carried away.

England faced a vastly improved Ireland in front of 48,778 excited fans, and as Sophie-Ellis Bextor sang ‘Murder on the dance floor’ the Irish whilst not contemplating homicide were certainly hoping for a giant killing against the number one team in the world.

Even Michael Flattley’s feet don’t move as fast as Ireland’s Beibhnn Parsons but she was starved of ball the entire game and it was the soft shoe shuffle of England’s Ellie Kildunne that ran Ireland ragged and helped win the day for the Red Roses. The Harlequins full back was imperious in everything she did in a wonderful performance.

It took England just six minutes to opening the scoring with a try from Abby Dow. Six more tries followed for the Red Roses in a one-sided first half.

At half time they led 38-3 and maybe it was the Sophie Ellis-Bexter song ‘Take Me Home’ that was echoing in the Irish players ears in the interval.

The second half was barely three minutes old before ‘The Chichester Express’ Jess Breach outpaced Katie Corrigan in a thirty metre run to touch down in the corner.

Things just got steadily worse for Ireland as England let rip, the Red Roses racked up fifty points in the second period and their fourteen try haul was a cavalcade of joyous movement and sublime handling.

Ireland had the scant consolation of a penalty try for their efforts.

You do wonder if and when there will be a serious Womens Six Nations challenge to the Red Roses, maybe next week in Bordeaux as they attempt yet another Grand Slam the opposition will be stiffer but at the moment they are streets ahead of anyone else in the Northern Hemisphere.