1st round results
 Sports Talk: Will the Kiwis be stopped?

Defending champions New Zealand made a convincing start to their defence of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona with a 117-0 demolition of Germany.

England also began in encouraging fashion, beating Italy 68-9 while the United States, finalists at each of the last three tournaments, romped past the Netherlands 87-0.

Wales failed to get on the scoreboard as Australia's physical presence proved to much, losing 30-0.

Australia's Ferris clears the ball against Wales

Scotland beat Samoa 13-3 in the closest match of the opening round, but Ireland slumped to heavy 57-0 defeat at the hands of Canada.

Hosts Spain beat Japan 62-0 in the first match of the tournament, while France toppled Kazakhstan 31-12.

New Zealand, who play under the name the Black Ferns, scored 19 tries with winger Vanessa Cootes, the star of the 1998 tournament, touching down five times.

England opened brightly against Italy to race to a 19-0 lead early in the first half and a 46-6 advantage at the break. But stout Italian defence restricted them to three second-half tries.

Sue Day score five of the team's 11 tries.

The Eagles wasted no time in asserting themselves over the Netherlands, racing out to a 58-0 half-time lead.

They ran in 13 tries and now face France in the next round.

1st round results:

Spain 62-0 Japan
New Zealand 117-0 Germany
Australia 30-0 Wales
USA 87-0 Netherlands
France 31-12 Kazakhstan
England 63-9 Italy
Canada 57-0 Ireland
Scotland 13-3 Samoa

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