Women's Rugby Super Series: England open with victory over USA

Emily Scarratt scored 13 points for England

England got their Women's Rugby Super Series title defence started with a 38-5 victory over the USA in San Diego.

Heather Kerr crossed twice for the Red Roses, with Kelly Smith, Claudia Macdonald, Mo Hunt and Emily Scarratt also scoring to secure a bonus point.

Scarratt added eight points with the boot, as Hope Rogers crossed for the hosts' only score in the first half.

England, who won the tournament in 2017, face Canada next Sunday before meeting France and New Zealand.

England head coach Simon Middleton said: "It was a tough game, a very physical game which we expected. We couldn't quite get our attacking game going but our set-piece was really good at times.

"I thought the USA were outstanding for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the game in particular.

"However, what we did do was defend outstandingly well. So attacking wise plenty to work on, but we really put in a great defensive shift."

The Red Roses lost to New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup final but have now won 16 of their 17 Tests since, and completed the Grand Slam at the Six Nations earlier this year.

England: McKenna; Thompson, Scarratt, Reed, Smith; Harrison, Macdonald; Perry, Kerr, Bern, Aldcroft, Scott, Brown, Packer, Cleall.

Replacements: Nielson, Botterman, Edwards, O'Donnell, Beckett, Hunt, Wood, Williams.