The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 kicked off this weekend, after the Pool A opener of England vs USA on Friday, August 22.
Pool B, consisting of Scotland, Wales, Canada and Fiji, got underway on the Saturday, with matches occurring in Manchester and York.
The Sporting News runs through the matches, scores, key players and moments, and what this means for the next stage of the group rounds.
Scotland vs Wales
Score: 38 - 8
Location: Salford Community Stadium, Manchester
Try scorers:
Scotland: McGhie (3), Brebner-Holden, Gallagher, Orr; Con: Nelson (4)
Wales : Callander; Pen: Bevan
Match report:
Despite pre match predictions pegging this match as one destined to be nail bitingly close and fraught, Scotland were able to out perform all expectations to barrel to a 38 -8 win.
Scotland were able to maintain their aggressive play throughout the game, as McGhie scored just 55 seconds into the game, and late tries by Evie Gallagher and Emma Orr kept Wales guessing right until the final whistle.
It was undeniably McGhie's game, who earnt Player of the Match on her World Cup debut after scoring a hat-trick early on in the second half.
But although Scotland enjoyed an onslaught of beautifully aggressive play and set pieces, the Welsh attack was utterly unable to make an indent. Although co-captain Callander was able to cross the line for some much needed points, Wales were unable to convert.
Defensively, the physicality of the Scottish repeatedly broke through any attempts of Welsh defence, in a game where the Dragons were playing more as individuals than a cohesive team.
The large point difference now places Wales, who are already in a tough pool with physical and fast Fiji and world number two's Canada, in an incredibly tricky position to be able to reach the knock-out rounds, and puts a lot of pressure on their upcoming match against Canada.
Canada vs Fiji
Score: 65 - 7
Location: LNER Community Stadium, York
Try scorers:
Canada: de Goede, Boag, Crossley, Corrigan, Schell (6), Paquin; Con: de Goede (4), Tessier
Fiji : Lomani; Con: Vueti
Match report:
The world number two's Canada began as they mean to go on in York, as they pummelled Fiji to a 65 - 7 win.
The Maple Leafs had a strong start from the beginning, as barn-storming back row and captain Sophie De Goede kickstarted Canada's domination in the 8th minute.
De Goede also continued to make an impact on Canada's points, converting four tries before Tessier took over.
Fiji briefly looked set for a come-back in the beginning of the second half, as Lomai scored a stunning try and Vueti converted.
However, Canada clapped back in an impressive style, as Julia Schell ran across the line a staggering six times in just the second half, becoming the second woman ever in World Cup history achieve those numbers, after American Krista McFarren against Sweden in 1994.
Schell's performance also means that Canada now holds the record for the fastest hat-trick scored at any Rugby World Cup, male or female.
The Fijians were unable to step up another gear to face Canada's assault, something that wasn't helped by Bulou Vasuturaga being sin binned at the 70th minute, a ruling that was later upgraded to a red card due to a high degree of danger.
The Canadian performance was also not exempt from mistakes, as fly-half Taylor Perry was sin binned for a head-on-head collision, and Fancy Bermudez was taken off injured early in the second half.
Regardless, Canada's mega performance means that they now lead Pool B with a bonus point win and huge point difference ahead of their clash with Wales.
What does this mean for next week?
Canada currently leads Pool B with 5 points and a points difference of 58, with Scotland following in second with 5 points and 30 points difference.
Fiji and Wales both have no points, with Wales just beating Fiji on points difference, as they have - 58 and - 30 points respectively.
Next Saturday, Scotland will face Fiji and Wales will battle Canada at the Salford Community Stadium, Manchester.
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