Wales v England as it happened

1. FT: Wales 13-0 England
2. Wales record only second victory over England
3. Laurie Harries penalty gives Wales half-time lead
4. Catrin Edwards and Harries add second-half tries
5. Seven England players on Sevens duty

I think we'll leave you on that jubilant note from Non Evans. As a neutral, I enjoyed every minute of that. I hope you did too. Good afternoon.

Full-time

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

BBC

"Absolutely superb. I thought Wales completely controlled the game. Their defence was excellent. I think we saw one, maybe two line breaks from England. There was superb work from players such as Catrin Edwards and Caryl Thomas. Shona Powell-Hughes had an outstanding game. Elinor Snowsill controlled things well from behind. It was a well-deserved victory."

Full-time

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"England may have a lot of players away at the Sevens in Rio, but this is still an experienced squad. English rugby has so many leagues, so much more money, and so many full-time coaches. And there are eight players in this team who pfigured in the World Cup. So despite all those players missing, this is a superb victory for Wales."

History girls

Wales beat England for only the second time in their history and the first since 2009. A supersonic effort from captain Rachel Taylor and her team.

BBC

The Welsh players hug each other. There are tears of disbelief. Then they gather in a huddle for a debrief from coach and captain. World champions England look distraught as they conduct their post-mortem in another area of the pitch.

Full-time

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter at St Helen's

The home crowd are in raptures as the sun sets over Swansea bay. Wales totally deserve their victory. Both tries were classy for different reasons but the scoreline was the most impressive thing about their performance. To nil the world champions shows great character - and a defence that perhaps men's coach Shaun Edwards can only dream of. The Women's Six Nations in 2015 is off to a blinder.

Full-time

Kay Wilson is bundled into touch and that's it. David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Clive Woodward, Jonny Wilkinson - your girls took one hell of a beating.

Wales bring on a few replacements. A chance for the full squad to savour victory over the world champions. The whistle is imminent.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

BBC

"What a superb crossfield kick that was from Elinor Snowsill. Wales kept the ball through the phases from that line-out. Gemma Rowland, who has been excellent this afternoon, hit a big, straight line, and then it was a gorgeous crossfield kick from Snowsill. This is an historic win from Wales."

England are surging forward. Phase after phase deep in Welsh territory. But a knock-on two metres out surrenders possession. And that, ladies and gentlemen, should be that.

Try

Amazing scenes. Snowsill's kick is cleanly caught by Laurie Harries on the left wing and she bursts over the line. Harries can't slot the conversion but England are toast.

The clock is ticking and the ball is in Welsh hands. The Swansea crowd are sensing history.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Gemma Rowland has looked very assured this afternoon for Wales in that number 12 jersey. It's her first cap, and to face the world champions on your international debut is not easy. She's carried ball well, she's broken the gain line, and she's done well in midfield."

Wales are attempting to run down the clock here. It's worth reminding you that no matter how depleted this England side is, this would still be an incredible achievement for the Welsh. They have only beaten England once before - in 2009.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"A crucial time this for Wales. If England score now, it's all to play for. But the Wales defence is holding up well, and they're restricting England to half-chances."

High fives and air punching all-round from the ladies in red as England surrender possession with a knock-on. The sun is setting on the world champions in Swansea.

We're into the last five minutes of normal-time, but there will be plenty of stoppage-time. England remain in the ascendancy but the heroic Welsh defence is still holding strong.

With time running out for England, they have a moment to gather their thoughts as Wales full-back Dyddgu Hywel receives treatment.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

BBC

"Megan Goddard is very young and inexperienced, and perhaps the occasion is getting to her. I was surprised she went for the posts then rather than kicking for the corner. Wales need to manage this lead now and not try to play too much."

Another miss from Goddard's boot. So costly for England. That was a good 40 metres out and you do wonder why England didn't go for the corner.

Ceri Large kicks England back into the Welsh half. The ball is worked from side to side and Wales eventually concede a penalty when Edwards knocks on. Goddard to kick for goal...

BBC

Our thoughts are with Mason as she is wheeled off to sympathetic applause from the crowd and replaced by Bianca Blackburn. Wales win the line-out on their own line and clear to halfway.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Catrin Edwards is one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet, and I'm delighted she got that try to mark her 60th cap."

Chance for England. A lineout right in the corner as the cameras pick out Swansea Bay just beyond the ground. It's not looking good for England scrum-half La Toya Mason. She's being stretchered off with what appears to be an ankle injury.

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter at St Helen's

The upset is on! As Catrin Edwards powers over for Wales's first try, the world champions England have 30 minutes to save face on their first outing since the World Cup.

An early chance here for England to get on the board. It's a penalty on the right, but Megan Goddard slots her kick wide of the uprights. The visitors can't afford to miss too many of those.

Laurie Harries misses the conversion.

Try

BBC

Finally Wales gain the reward their pressure deserves. Phase after phase of forward play and front row forward Catrin Edwards bundles over in the corner.

Wales opt not to kick for goal. Instead, Snowsill finds touch five metres out on the right flank.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Wales won't want to lose Elinor Snowsill, she's been controlling the game very well, and they've got the momentum. It looks like she's got a bloody nose."

No penalty kick yet, we're just waiting for Wales Elinor Snowsill to recover from a bloody nose.

Constant pressure from Wales. They really are turning the screw here. A penalty now on the 22-metre line. Chance for 6-0...

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

BBC

"The last 20 minutes of that first half was all Wales. It could be a historic day if they could get a win over the world champions. England didn't look very happy going into the changing rooms. Their heads were down. Wales were looking buoyant and confident. There were so many smiling faces there. I had a word with Catrin Edwards, and she said: 'We've got this, we've got this.' This would mean so much to Wales if they could get this."

England kick-off, with their shadows stretching across the pitch as the sun drops over the Gower peninsula. But immediately the ball is fumbled and Wales clear deep into England territory.

Here come the Welsh, making the long walk from the changing rooms to the pitch in the Swansea sunshine. We could have a monumental upset on the cards here. Wales finished fifth in the table last year and have only ever beaten England once - back in 2009.

HALF-TIME

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"It's a tight game this one, and it could come down to small margins. Wales have tended to struggle in the last 20 minutes of games, though I know they've been working very hard on their fitness. If Wales keep this going, we could be on for a shock."

HALF-TIME

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter

Getty Images

Wales are deservedly ahead. This is the best 40 minutes I've seen them play for the last four years. The work at the breakdown by the likes of Rachel Taylor and Sioned Harries is stopping any England flow. Penalties are costing both sides but Wales easily the more comfortable side at the break.

BBC

Penalty

We have a breakthrough. We have a breakthrough! A Wales penalty in front of the posts and Laurie Harries makes no mistake. It's the last kick of the half so the hosts sneak the advantage as the teams trot off for half-time.

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter at St Helen's

England stalwart Rocky Clark goes down after putting in a huge hit. After treatment, the prop - winning her 96th cap today - rejoins her team at the scrum, with Wales so dominant in this opening 40, England to keep their experience on the field.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"It's been the story of the first half for Wales - they're not keeping possession for long enough. They had some great phases but a knock-on brought it to an end. They have shown they can penetrate the England defence, though."

England are being stretched to the limits here. Flanker Sioned Harries breaks a line, then Amy Day makes a burst towards the tryline, but another knock-on ends the move and we remain scoreless.

All Wales at the moment, camped in the England half. But still nothing to penetrate the England defence or really threaten the try line. How long can the teams keep this pace up? Surely the spaces will open as the teams tire after half-time.

There are some big hits going in out there. Laybourn slams Wales centre Adriana Taviner into touch to win a line-out on the Welsh 22.

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter

Break in play in Swansea as Wales tight head prop Catrin Edwards has a new set of contact lenses put in by the physio.

Has a rugby match ever finished nil-nil? We could be breaking new ground here. A forward pass from England fly-half Ceri Large brings another attack to a premature end.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Great defence by Wales on their own line, driving the England forwards backwards - and that's given them the chance to clear."

England on the break. Winger Ruth Laybourn turns on the afterburners. She's tackled five metres out, but still England press...

Try time? No. Another error in the forwards and Wales can clear.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Wales have had a good bit of possession in the last 10 minutes or so. They're holding their own very well at the moment. If Wales can keep possession, they'll gain plenty of confidence."

It is all Wales at the moment. Great pace from Rowland and offload to Harries, who bursts into the 22. The forwards lose the ball in contact and England clear, then a Welsh handling error means the initiative is surrendered.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Laurie Harries had plenty of distance, and it just went wide of the post. It was a cleaner strike than England managed, so at least we know now that Wales have got a kicker."

Penalty to Wales. Laurie Harries gives it a good punt. It has the distance ... but slides narrowly wide of the posts. After 20 minutes we're still waiting for a breakthrough in Swansea.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Great to see such a big crowd at St Helen's. The game's gone from strength to strength with the exposure it's getting. More and more girls and women are taking up the game."

Rowe is not going to be able to continue here. She's taken off with a shoulder injury and replaced by Jenny Hawkins.

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter at St Helen's

The crowd is about 60-40 in favour of the Welsh. It's not quite the Millennium Stadium 'cathedral' effect, but they are still pretty noisy.

It's Wales's turn to take the game to England now, working the ball through the phases. They have the put-in at the scrum inside England's half but we're just waiting for Wales lock Rebecca Rowe to receive some treatment.

Megan Goddard takes the kick for England, but it falls just short of the posts...

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter at St Helen's

Sara Orchard

England dominate the opening passages of play. Already England debutant Sydney Gregson has shown her promise with a 20-metre run down the right wing. Wales coach Rhys Edwards is five seats down from me whispering into his headset....

England are enjoying the majority of possession but the Welsh defence is so far holding strong. Here's a chance though. England penalty, 30 yards out.

Did you know?

Getty Images

St Helen's has also been used as a cricket ground. In fact it was the venue where Garfield Sobers became the first player in cricket history to score six sixes in an over for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in 1968. It was also where Clive Lloyd scored the fastest double-century on record when batting for the West Indians against Glamorgan in 1976.

Up the jumper stuff early on from England, then a burst from England fly-half Elinor Snowsill gets the visitors into a dangerous area on the fringes of the Welsh 22.

Proud parents

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter at St Helen's

Sara Orchard

The parents of Welsh flanker Sioned Harries are fully behind their daughter - and her team - in Swansea...

Kick-off

We are underway in bright sunshine in Swansea and the Welsh win an early scrum.

Former Wales full-back Non Evans

BBC Scrum V at St Helen's

"Perfect conditions for a game of rugby, isn't it? I wish I was out there."

The story so far

Today's showdown in Swansea completes the opening round of matches in this year's Six Nations.

Ireland scored five tried in a 30-5 mauling of Italy on Friday.

And Julie Billes scored a hat-trick of tries as France made a strong start to the defence of their title with a 42-0 victory over Scotland.

Roll of honour

England have not won the Six Nations since 2012, Wales are looking to break their duck.

Here's the full roll of honour:

England: 13

France: 4

Ireland: 1

Scotland: 1

National anthems time now. A very tuneful effort from England's women, but the Welsh win it for sheer volume and passion of delivery.

BBC coverage

Bored of reading my twaddle already? Click on the Player icon at the top of this page for a live TV stream of the game as the Welsh enter the field to rapturous applause.

Getty Images

In contrast to England, Wales look a settled side. They have retained most of their senior players from the World Cup and appear to have unearthed a gem in 17-year-old scrum-half Kiera Bevan. With three home games in 2015, could this finally be their year?

Sara Orchard

BBC Sport's women's rugby reporter

Sara Orchard

The ground is starting to fill up in the blazing sunshine in Swansea, with the WRU expecting more than 1,000 through the gate for Wales women's Six Nations opener. I've just spoken to England's interim back coach and former captain Jo Yapp, who tells me the team are "buzzing".

Despite the introduction of professional contracts following the World Cup, England find themselves in something of a state of turmoil as they go into the Six Nations seeking a first title since 2012.

- Six members of the World Cup winning team have retired

- Seven players, including captain Katy McLean, are currently competing in the Women's Sevens World Series in Brazil

- Coach Gary Street left his role by mutual consent less than two weeks before the start of the tournament

You can read more on all this in a comprehensive piece by Sara Orchard, who will be providing updates from today's game in Swansea.

That was then...

Getty Images

It is only six months since England ended a run of three successive final defeats to land the Women's Rugby World Cup in Paris and were feted as heroes on the front and back pages of newspapers.

Surely a golden chance to build a new era of prosperity and domination for the women's game?

Well yes. And no....