| Tries: Nakoci, Donu, Cavuru; Cons: Cavuru 2 |
| England: (24) 84 |
| Tries: MacDonald 4, Cokayne 2, Ward, Rowland, Aldcroft, Thompson 2, Dow, Infante, Powell; Cons: Scarratt 5, Harrison 2 |
Favourites England opened their World Cup with a dominant second-half displaying to say a record 14-try win towards debutants Fiji.
Fiji performed a high-tempo sport and solely trailed by 10 factors at half-time.
But the Red Roses’ professionalism shone as they scored 10 tries after the break and wing Claudia MacDonald took her particular person tally to 4.
England have by no means scored extra tries or factors in a World Cup match and lengthen their record successful run to 26 Tests.
England’s earlier highest World Cup rating was 82 towards Kazakhstan in 2010 and so they scored 13 tries towards Sweden and Canada in 1998.
Auckland’s Eden Park was bought out for the opening day, with an attendance of 34,235 surpassing the record for a ladies’s World Cup match of 20,000 set in 2014.
Earlier on Saturday, France – England’s closest rivals for the title together with New Zealand – beat South Africa 40-5 on the similar venue, that means the Red Roses are high of Pool C.
The three foremost contenders and Wales are the one sides on the event with sufficient funding from their union to be classed as totally skilled.
Exciting Fiji check England early on
Fiji introduced the identical quantity of depth to the primary half of their World Cup debut as they did emotion to the nationwide anthem.
Number eight Karalaini Naisewa made a right away break to set England on edge however the skilled and medical Red Roses quickly stifled Fiji’s creativity with their ever-reliable set-piece.
A maul left area for MacDonald to attain the opening attempt, earlier than Fiji’s quick sport started to check England once more.
The two foremost speaking factors earlier than the opening day had been that it’s the greatest ladies’s World Cup ever and that England are favourites to win.
Dropped balls from fly-half Zoe Harrison and flanker Sadia Kabeya – beginning forward of the injured Marlie Packer – hinted at nerves from the highly-touted group however once more their maul got here good as Amy Cokayne scored the second attempt.
England might not be capable of rely so strongly on that tactic towards stronger opponents like France and New Zealand and retired World Cup winner Katy Daley-Mclean questioned throughout the week whether or not the Red Roses have a plan B.
Plan A was all that was wanted towards Fiji. Women’s rugby continues to be in its infancy there, with the primary membership solely shaped 10 years in the past, and the facet’s most-capped gamers have made simply eight appearances.
Abbie Ward drove over for a attempt to Fiji captain Sereima Leweniqila was proven a yellow card in the aftermath.
Despite being a participant down, Fiji lastly delivered on their attacking promise as full-back Roela Radiniyavuni broke via a maze of crimson shirts inside her personal half and fed wing Alowesi Nakoci for the group’s first World Cup attempt.
Then Kabeya made amends for her earlier error with a powerful break of her personal, with Helena Rowland operating onto a low move to attain.
Fiji continued to indicate particular person brilliance as Sesenieli Donu faked a move and sliced via 4 England defenders for a second attempt earlier than the break.
England reinforce favourites tag
In the second half, England regarded extra just like the facet which has averaged 9 tries per sport in 2022.
Top of the world rankings since November 2020, the Red Roses have dominated the world sport since their final loss in July 2019.
That defeat got here towards five-time world champions New Zealand, however England’s opening win demonstrates why they’re such heavy favourites to take a 3rd title.
Cokayne drove over for a second attempt three minutes after the half started and one other three minutes later Zoe Aldcroft scored.
A free ball led to a attempt for Lydia Thompson and the wing then completed off a well-worked group rating earlier than MacDonald claimed a second.
If you needed to choose a winner among the many 14 tries, the tenth can be up there. Abby Dow, who accomplished her unlikely return from a damaged leg in six months to get to New Zealand, scored to the delight of her team-mates and coaches.
England will at all times discover room for enchancment and kicking could also be one such space, with centre Emily Scarratt lacking 5 of 10 conversion makes an attempt.
But it’s exhausting to search out a lot fault in a group that scored a attempt each 4 minutes in the second half, with Leanne Infante and Connie Powell additionally including their names to the scoresheet earlier than the 80 minutes have been up.
Player of the match – Sadia Kabeya
Line-ups
Fiji: Radiniyavuni; Nakoci, Laqeretabua, Donu, Naikore; Rokouono, Cavuru; Verebalavu, Matarugu, Rasolea, Serevi, Leweniqila (capt), Waisega, Adivitaloga, Naisewa.
Replacements: Tawake, Vasuturaga, Namositava, Ofakimalino, Daveua, Ravato, Roqica, Matanatabu.
England: Kildunne; Thompson, Scarratt, Rowland, MacDonald; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Cokayne, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, Kabeya, Hunter (capt).
Replacements: Powell, Botterman, Muir, O’Donnell, Cleall, L Packer, Aitchison, Dow.
