England open World Cup campaign with 14-try mauling of Fiji

Winger Claudia MacDonald has scored four tries as title favourites England opened their women’s Rugby World Cup campaign with an ominous 84-19 rout of Fiji at Auckland’s Eden Park, extending their winning streak to 26 matches.

The Red Roses ran in 14 tries – four to secure a bonus point in the first half and another 10 after the break – in a statement Pool C win over the Fijiana, who tired after a promising start to their World Cup debut.

Earlier, fellow tournament heavyweights France stamped their mark with a 40-5 win over South Africa in the tournament’s opening match, also in Pool C.

But England’s huge win over a game Fiji put everyone on notice.

“They rattled us a bit in their physicality and their intent to run the ball in the first half,” said England captain Sarah Hunter.

“We were a bit more composed in the second half, managed to go back to being England and turned the game around.”

Hooker Amy Cokayne, lock Abbie Ward and MacDonald scored tries which all had their origins in England’s trademark lineout drive in the opening 27 minutes before Fiji hit back with a brilliant try created by fullback Roela Radiniyavuni and finished by winger Alowesi Nakoci.

England responded through centre Helena Rowland after a break from flanker Sadia Kabeya but Fiji came back with a fine individual score from centre Sesenieli Donu which cut the deficit to 24-14 at the break.

The second half was pretty much one-way traffic as Cokayne grabbed a second score, winger Lydia Thompson scored a double and MacDonald added three more tries to her tally.

Lock Zoe Aldcroft, replacement winger Abby Dow, reserve hooker Connie Powell and scrumhalf Leanne Infante all also crossed as the hapless Fijians chased shadows.

Fiji scrumhalf Lavena Cavuru scored a consolation try just before the final hooter.

“I’m so proud of these girls, we were playing a professional outfit and they really got stuck in in the first half,” said Fiji coach Senirusi Seruvakula.

In the first match, halfback Laure Sansus scored two tries as France underlined their title credentials with their bonus-point victory over South Africa.

Fans were treated to some fine early tries as France, who finished third at the last two World Cups, took a 19-0 lead after 17 minutes.

Sansus ran through a gaping hole off the back of a rolling maul, centre Emilie Boulard latched onto a chip ahead from flyhalf Caroline Drouin and winger Gabrielle Vernier ran in an intercept for the third score.

South Africa, playing in their first World Cup since 2014, had some good moments in the scrum and at the maul, but it was not until 10 minutes after halftime that they got on scoreboard when winger Nomawethu Mabenge finished well in the corner.

Four minutes later the French were in again after No.8 Romane Menager made a break up the middle and found Drouin inside her, allowing the playmaker to race away and cap her fine performance with a try.

Drouin was not finished yet and her crosskick gave debutante winger Joanna Grisez the simplest of finishes for the sixth try in the last few seconds.