France into World Cup last eight with huge win

Women's Rugby World Cup - Pool D

France (53) 84

Tries: Boulard (2), Morland, Bourdon, Arbey (2), Deshayes, M Menager (2), Queyroi, Okemba (2), Konde, Tuy Cons: Queyroi (7)

Brazil (0) 5

Tries: Bianca Silva

France eased into the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by thrashing minnows Brazil 84-5 at Sandy Park in Exeter.

Les Bleues scored 14 tries, including nine in the first half.

But Brazil enjoyed arguably the moment of the match when they scored their first try at a Women's Rugby World Cup through Bianca Silva.

The replacement back threw a dummy and ran three-quarters of the length of the pitch to touch the ball down in triumph.

Silva's brilliant second-half effort stung France into renewed action and they responded with two more tries within five minutes.

By not claiming a bonus point in their 24-0 win over Italy in their first outing, France have nine points after two matches and are still in second place in Group D behind leaders South Africa.

The top two play each other next Sunday, with whoever finishes the group in second place likely to face World Cup holders New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

It was one-way traffic from the outset, with Emilie Boulard crossing after only five minutes and Marie Morland going over almost immediately from the restart.

Tries from Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Kelly Arbey and Annaelle Deshaye took France to a 31-0 lead just after halfway through the first half, with only Lina Queyroi's missed conversions keeping the score down slightly.

Queyroi added to her points tally with a try of her own while Seraphine Okemba also scored, and the second of two tries for Marine Menager ensured that France were 53-0 ahead at the break.

Silva makes history for brave Brazil

Bianca Silva raced away from the French defence to claim Brazil's first try at a Women's Rugby World Cup

Les Bleues were threatening to surpass their record 99-0 win over Japan at the 1994 World Cup, but they slowed down a touch in the second half. Okemba, Boulard and Nassira Konde added more tries before Silva lit up the evening and brought the crowd at Sandy Park to its feet.

Brazil turned over a France line-out deep inside their own half and quickly fed the ball out to Silva on her own 22. She fooled three French players with a sublime dummy before racing away for her country's first try in their first appearance in the competition, and was quickly engulfed by her team-mates.

Further tries from Lina Tuy and Arbey saw the match resume its earlier course, but Silva's historic try saw her mobbed by Brazil fans on the touchline after the final whistle.

"I hope the try is going to be a point of growth for rugby in Brazil because all of our players are from sevens and 15s is growing a lot in Brazil," said head coach Emiliano Caffera.

"We came here to play three tough games. Hopefully we will score another try and keep more of the ball."

'We are big contenders' - France captain

Player of the match Bourdon Sansus made her return to the France team a month and a half after giving birth.

"Baby Arthur gave me a lot of strength," she said. "I'm very happy to be back to help the team.

"I didn't feel any pressure. I just wanted to come back and show what I can do. I was suspended for two matches and couldn't wait to come back. I have fire in my legs."

Captain Marine Menager said that the comprehensive victory showed that her side were serious title challengers.

"I think we have proved that we are here for this World Cup and having beaten Brazil by that score it shows that we are big contenders," she said.

Line ups

France: Boulard; Menager, Konde, Vernier, Arbey; Queyroi, Bourdon; Deshayes, Sochat, Bernadou, Maka, Ikahehegi, Okemba, Champon, Morland.

Replacements: Riffonneau, Baleinadogo, Brosseau, Berthoumieu, Cissokho, Chambon, Tuy, Neisen

Brazil: Tenorio; De Souza, Santini, Fioravanti, Soares; Graf, Campos; Vergara, Gomes Saccomanno, Prioste, Coimbra, Silva, Medeiros, Carvalho, Coluna.

Replacements: Jonck, Barros, Santos, Santana, Carvalo, Silva, Pereira, Silva.