Ireland and South Africa achieved their highest Women's Rugby World Cup scores in their opening matches on Sunday.

Ireland thrashed Japan 42-14 and, in the second game of the Northampton doubleheader, South Africa overwhelmed Brazil 66-6.

Both teams' previous best scores were against Kazakhstan: Ireland’s was 40-5 in 2014 and South Africa's was just 25-10 in 2010.

Brazil's Yaras became the first team from South America to feature in the World Cup and played only their 18th test ever.

Defending champion New Zealand was playing Spain in the eighth and last match of the first weekend.

Ireland 42, Japan 14

Both teams, in the same pool as New Zealand and Spain, targeted their tournament opener at sunny Franklin's Gardens as a key step toward making the quarterfinals. Japan gave away heigh

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