Six tries for Canada’s Schell while Australia, France and Scotland also win

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EXETER, England - Australia got their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign off to a perfect start with a 73-0 thumping of Samoa on Saturday, while Canada fullback Julia Schell scored six tries in the space of 23 second-half minutes to help her team to a dominant win over Fiji.

There were also wins for France and Scotland on the second day of the six-week tournament after hosts England opened proceedings on Friday with an emphatic victory over the U.S.

Schell’s double hat-trick came after Canada, who are second in the World Rugby rankings, had already established a healthy lead in their Pool B clash at York Community Stadium, with the fullback running from deep with pace and power to repeatedly break through the opposing defence.

A guy over there told me he would give me $200 if I scored, so I need to go and speak to him,” she said of the inspiration she received from a spectator.

I think as a team we didnt start as we wanted to, but we had some calm chats at half-time and ramped it up.”

Schell had only scored three tries in 25 Canada appearances before Saturday. Her double hat-trick, however, was not a record for the tournament. Portia Woodman scored eight for New Zealand against Hong Kong in 2017.

Australia were merciless with seven first-half tries against Samoa, and went on to record their biggest margin of victory at the tournament. Desiree Miller scored a hat-trick of tries, with 18-year-old Caitlyn Halse and replacement Adiana Talakai each dotting down twice in a completely one-sided match at the Salford Community Stadium.

Scotland beat Wales 38-8 in the opening Pool B