Women’s Six Nations: More speed, more kicks, more points – how the tournament has changed

That record high in points being scored has come despite teams keeping the ball in hand less.

Over the past five years, the ball has been kicked more than ever in the Women’s Six Nations, with a steady and consistent rise from an average of 26.1 kicks per game in 2021 to 44.7 in 2025.

The number of kick metres has doubled.

“I certainly was blessed with England when I came in, because I had so many really technically good players, who could kick the ball really well – Emily Scarratt, Katy Daley-Mclean and a number of other players – and that fit perfectly with how we wanted to play,” Middleton told BBC Sport.

“Other teams didn’t have that for a long time.

“The whole staffing group level has risen significantly across all the nations, with an increase in coaching standards and a tactical awareness of playing a territory-based game, rather than a possession-based game.

“Over the last four or five years certainly, a lot of teams have probably shaped their key players to fit that.

“You look at Dannah O’Brien – she’s got a fantastic kicking game and Ireland built all their game around her, kick-chasing from inside their own half.

“Wales with Lleucu George and Keira Bevan – they play a very kick-dominated game.

“During my time with England, France became a team that kicked more than we did.

“Two things have changed – the game understanding and the technical ability of players to be able to play that way.”