Summary

  • Tournament favourites England run in 11 tries to start 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in brilliant style at Sunderland's Stadium of Light

  • Star player Ellie Kildunne scored England's bonus-point fourth try in first half and added a superb second after the break

  • Jess Breach and Lark Atkin-Davies both went over twice as England ran riot

  • Game watched by 42,723 fans - a record for a Women's World Cup match

  • John Mitchell's England face Samoa and Australia in remaining Pool A games

Live Reporting

Alastair Telfer

  1. Get Involved

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    England much too bunched up in defence, leaving huge gaps outside.

    Nick, Gloucester

  2. England 14-7 USA

    Another scrum penalty is awarded to England. Into the corner the ball goes.

  3. Watch: Kabeya's opener

    England 14-7 USA

    Here is Sadia Kabeya's score from earlier.

    The first of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.

  4. USA 'not here to make up numbers'

    England 14-7 USA

    Sara Orchard
    Women's Rugby World Cup commentator

    The USA get their score. They are not here to make up numbers.

    USA Celebrating a tryGetty Images

  5. Sin-bin - Alev Kelter (USA)

    England 14-7 USA

    Alev Kelter is yellow-carded for slapping the ball out of Natasha Hunt's hands. Very silly.

  6. 'Fair play for a second row'

    England 14-7 USA

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC One

    That's fair play for a second row.

  7. try

    Converted try - England 14-7 USA

    Erica Jarrell (con McKenzie Hawkins)

    WOW!

    USA lock Erica Jarrell gallops clear and fends off Jess Breach to score.

    Far too high from Breach, she will be annoyed at that one, still a wonderful finish.

  8. USA chance

    England 14-0 USA

    Bulou Mataitoga is unleashed down the wing and chips and regathers. A try looked on but Mataitoga threw the ball away. A nice bit of play from the American winger but poor execution. A pass inside was the option.

  9. Botterman with a line 'centres would be happy with'

    England 14-0 USA

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC One

    This is the line that players want from Botterman and it is a line centres would be happy with.

    Botterman scoring a tryGetty Images
  10. try

    Converted try - England 14-0 USA

    Hannah Botterman (con Zoe Harrison)

    BOOM!

    Hannah Botterman hits a superb line and fends off the final defender to score. Some power from the prop.

    Abby Dow initially claimed a cross-field kick to get the good position.

  11. England 7-0 USA

    Megan Jones has now just smashed her way forward. That's a response.

  12. England 7-0 USA

    Sara Orchard
    Women's Rugby World Cup commentator

    Ilona Maher and Meg Jones. We have paid good money to see this and they are in the thick of it.

  13. England 7-0 USA

    Fair play. Ilona Maher tucks and punches hard through Meg Jones. Too high from Jones and the social media star drives her back.

  14. England 7-0 USA

    USA's Rachel Johnson gets in and steals the ball. The former Exeter forward is a proper player and one to watch.

  15. England 7-0 USA

    Another mega scrum penalty for England. Hannah Botterman loves it!

    ScrumGetty Images

  16. England 7-0 USA

    Fans holding a sign saying Go on red rosesGetty Images

  17. England 7-0 USA

    Another restart is not claimed by England. That's an issue that will need to be fixed.

    The hosts end up running it out of their own 22, with Ellie Kildunne galloping forward.

  18. England got that right

    England 7-0 USA

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC One

    Good take! The important thing was getting set first and they made sure none of the USA players could get round. Very difficult to stop if you get that right and England did.

  19. try

    Converted try - England 7-0 USA

    Sadia Kabeya (con Zoe Harrison)

    Sadia Kabeya drops over the tryline after a rampaging maul. Zoe Harrison nails a brilliant conversion.

    The first try of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.

  20. England 0-0 USA

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC One

    The USA will be really happy with their defence.

    Ellie KildunneGetty Images