Image source, Getty Images

What a start for Scotland, who blew apart the pre-match predictions of this being a tense and tight tussle.

The Scots were better in all departments of the game and started rapidly for Francesca McGhie to cross for the first of her three tries.

Alex Callender responded for Wales from a driving line-out but McGhie and Leia Brebner-Holden gave Scotland a healthy 17-8 lead at the break.

McGhie’s hat-trick score came soon after the restart and further tries came in the final quarter from Evie Gallagher and Emma Orr.

It’s a win that leaves Scotland in pole position to make the quarter-finals while Wales, who failed to fire in attack and missed too many tackles, are now staring at an early exit.

Pool rivals Canada and Fiji are just kicking off in York before Six Nations rivals France and Italy meet meet in Exeter.

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Scotland head coach Brian Easson told BBC One: "Our prep coming into this game was absolutely bang on but that result is extremely satisfying.

"We were ruthless all the way through, we were ruthless in attack. We were pretty dangerous and defensively we made Wales look pretty ordinary. Once we got our kicking game right, I thought we managed the game pretty well and then there was only one team in it.

"We were keeping things in the back pocket for this game, knowing how Wales would play as well.

"The togetherness of this group is unbelievable. I know people talk about cultures and environments, I've never been in an environment like it. They are so tight together and they fight together.

"We knew the magnitude of this game, this was a big one. The focus was firmly on Wales, the focus as of now is on Fiji."

Sioned Harries
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

If we play like we played today in the next two games we have no hope of getting out of the group.

Today was Wales' most important game, and they've made it 100 times harder to get out of the group now.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales head coach Sean Lynn told BBC One: "I've just said to the players that's just not good enough. We said we wanted to be physical and Scotland, credit to them, bullied us off the park and beat us at the break-down.

"That's just not good enough. That's something that I'm saying to the girls we can't keep saying it, we have to start delivering it.

"They're all upset, it's hurting them, they're very passionate and they're disappointed by putting that result out.

"We just need to try and get something out of Canada. See what we can get from Canada and then Fiji next week might take a scalp (against Scotland).

"At World Cups there are upsets but we need to make sure we're on song for Canada next week."

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Both teams get a week off after that encounter to get ready for their second games in Pool B.

It’s a double-header in Salford on 30 August with Wales going up against Canada at 12:00 BST before Scotland take on Fiji at 14:45 BST.

It's now must-win for Wales while Scotland could secure their progression, potentially setting up a shoot-out with Canada to finish top and avoid England.

However, the Scots are keen to stress they are not getting ahead of themselves...

Caryl James
Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

We got bullied off the pitch today, Wales' defence couldn't deal with Scotland's physicality at all today.

I was surprised at how poor Wales were today, I didn't expect them to be so weak.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm told BBC One: "For the last few years I've had the image of Keira Bevan kicking that late kick against us at the World Cup and we just did not want to see anything like that happening again.

"We had the mindset that we wanted to start strong and not take our foot off the throttle for the full 80 minutes.

"That's the biggest ever differential between Scotland and Wales and to do that in such a high pressure game as this just shows the character of the team.

"People kept talking about the impact of stuff off the field would make Wales favourites but those people don't know the togetherness of this squad. Nothing was going to pull us apart and stop us achieving what we want to do at this World Cup.

"There felt like an inevitability about everything we did today. Without the ball we just felt it was a matter of time before we got it back and when we had the ball, it felt like we could always score. That confidence has been building slowly.

"Now we have make sure we're switched on and do a professional job in our second game. We are not even thinking about the quarter-final. So much can happen over the coming weeks that we must keep both eyes on the next game."

Caryl James
Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

Scotland were fantastic today, they knew exactly what they wanted to do. Even though they've struggled off the field, they didn't show it on the pitch.

It looks like what's happened off the pitch motivated them today, and they put in a heroic performance today.

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Francesca McGhie told BBC One: "We didn't think it was going to be easy against the Welsh, it is always a close game.

"We just went into this game knowing exactly what we needed to get out of it and I think we absolutely performed on that.

"We just spoke about a fast start, Wales have always got that in the bag as well and I think we said 'let's get the first score in, let's just play the game from there' and that's actually what we did.

"Fiji are a bit physical team and they're also fast, so hopefully we'll just carry the performance into next week as well."

Here are some stats from this afternoon's clash in Salford.

Scotland dominated on the scoreboard, which matters most.

• Possession: Scotland 54%, Wales 46%
• Metres gained: Scotland 447, Wales 264.
• Runs: Scotland 102, Wales 70.
• Defenders beaten: Scotland 18, Wales 7.
• Passes: Scotland 132, Wales 81.
• Tackles: Scotland 104, Wales 128.
• Tackle success: Scotland 90%, Wales 85%.

Sioned Harries
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

Wales looked tired, when you defend and defend for 80 minutes you're going to look tired.

But the question is why were they defending for 80 minutes? Because the tactics weren't right.

We need to question what changes we've seen in this Wales camp, because it hasn't changed anything on the pitch.

Image source, Getty Images

Sioned Harries
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

This Wales team feels like a team of individuals, and not a cohesive team.

Sean Lynn has had a 6 nations with the team, he's had two tests in Australia, he knows a lot of the players from Gloucester-Hartpury, there is no excuse for this performance.

Wales hunt a consolation with the clock in the red but a knock on ends their attack on the Scotland line.

It's a Scottish demolition job in Salford. Six tries to one and five match points to none.

That is a record winning margin for Scotland against Wales. The previous best was 26 points from a 40-14 win in a friendly last year.

Emma Orr goes over for another Scottish try but they are checking for a forward pass.

Rachel Taylor
Former Wales captain and coach on BBC Radio Wales

Wales have to try and salvage something out of this game and try and end on a high.

Image source, Getty Images

The camera cuts to Sean Lynn in the stands. The Wales boss will be hurt by this result and performance, which leaves his side needing to stun Canada if they are to progress from Pool B.

Scotland are hungry for more.

They put the ball through the hands for nine phases and pin Wales on their line with a grubber.

Wales scramble impressively but can only kick to touch just outside the 22.