Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

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

Claudia MacDonald of England evades the tackle of Sesenieli Donu of Fiji to score a try during the Pool C Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand match between Fiji and England at Eden Park on October 08, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 6 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ How long can South Africa hedge their bets in both hemispheres? How long can South Africa hedge their bets in both hemispheres?
Search