Ruthless England send out warning to world

our next game. Spain came at us and gave us some problems at times. It’s pleasing to get that run out and get that training on the pitch.”

England’s potent win hands Simon Middleton’s side the immediate edge in Pool B, with clashes against Italy and the USA still to come. The Americans won their opening tussle 24-12 against Italy yesterday. Hunter said England will not get carried away with their fast start however, with the Italians up next on Sunday in Dublin.

England were able to mix up their play between a tight forward-based game and a more fluid, width-centric approach. That flexibility will doubtless leave future opponents guessing on quite how England will focus their tactics.

“Since we’ve arrived here, our focus has been on us and we’ve not taken on the external pressure. It’s one job at a time,” said Hunter.

“At times we did OK but we have to go away and work on some aspects. In tournament rugby you have to win every game in front of you.” Wales showed some promising signs in their Pool A match against New Zealand but could not prevent a 44-12 defeat.

All the pool matches in Dublin have already been sold out and World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont expects the tournament, which ends with the final at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium on August 26, to be the best-attended women’s rugby event in history. “The excitement across Ireland and beyond is phenomenal,” Beaumont said. “It all points to what will be a defining, record-breaking World Cup.”

GLOUCESTER’S new men’s head coach Johan Ackermann has signed his son, back-row forward Ruan, from Super Rugby finalists the Lions.