Summary

  • Tournament favourites England run in 11 tries to start 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in brilliant style at Sunderland's Stadium of Light

  • Star player Ellie Kildunne scored England's bonus-point fourth try in first half and added a superb second after the break

  • Jess Breach and Lark Atkin-Davies both went over twice as England ran riot

  • Game watched by 42,723 fans - a record for a Women's World Cup match

  • John Mitchell's England face Samoa and Australia in remaining Pool A games

Live Reporting

Alastair Telfer

  1. Kick-off

    England 28-7 USA

    We are back under way in Sunderland.

  2. Find out more about the Red Roses

    HT: England 28-7 USA

    Who is more likely to win a singing competition? Who is more likely to go on a reality TV show?

    For more off-field chat then watch below.

  3. HT: England 28-7 USA

    Maggie Alphonsi
    2014 England World Cup winner on BBC One

    Meg Jones is setting the standard for the backs.

  4. Kildunne score raises roof

    HT: England 28-7 USA

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

    The Stadium of Light crowd enjoyed that opening half - it had just the right mix of England supremacy and American fight.

    Ellie Kildunne's score, crowning a coast-to-coast sweeping move, was the moment of the half.

    Will England chance their arm more in the second half with the comfort of a hefty points cushion?

    Kildunne scores a 'beautiful' try to extend England's lead

  5. First-half in photos

    HT: England 28-7 USA

    Fireworks as the teams walk out on to the pitchGetty Images
    Hannah BottermanGetty Images
    The crowd celebrates Hannah Botterman's tryGetty Images
    Ellie Kildunne sscoringGetty Images
    Ilona Maher cheeringGetty Images
    Jarrell-Searcy Scores for the USAGetty Images

  6. 'Glimpses of hope for the USA'

    HT: England 28-7 USA

    Ruby Tui
    2021 New Zealand World Cup winner on BBC One

    The stats do say it is even until you get down to the penalties. England really brought the physicality. Glimpses of hope for the USA.

  7. HT: England 28-7 USA

    England scored 14 points during Alev Kelter's 10-minute sin-bin. It was a needless act to slap the ball out of Natasha Hunt's hands and has proved costly.

  8. 'Maher wants the physical contact'

    HT: England 28-7 USA

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC One

    There have been some really big carries from the American Ilona Maher. She wants that physical contact and you need to get her legs to stop her.

    Ilona Maher.Getty Images

  9. Watch: Jarrell's individual score

    HT: England 28-7 USA

    I think this wins try of the half.

  10. Half-time - England 28-7 USA

    Ellie Kildunne and Megan Jones are unable to combine and that's the first half.

  11. England 28-7 USA

    England go back for another scrum penalty. Struggling to recall USA not giving away a penalty from a scrum.

  12. Hawkins 'needs to be more ambitious'

    England 28-7 USA

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC One

    The kicks going sideways are disappointing. Hawkins really needs to be more ambitious.

  13. England keep out USA

    England 28-7 USA

    Hope Rogers is held up over the tryline by valiant England defence. USA then drop the 22 drop-out.

    That's the margins at this level.

  14. USA back up to 15 players

    England 28-7 USA

    USA are in a good position after a superb carry from Ilona Maher. Alev Kelter then returns to the field from the sin-bin.

  15. England are 'deadly'

    England 28-7 USA

    Sara Orchard
    Women's Rugby World Cup commentator

    Beautiful. That is how deadly England can be when they get it right.

    Ellie Kildunne scoring a tryGetty Images
  16. try

    Converted try - England 28-7 USA

    Ellie Kildunne (con Zoe Harrison)

    Ellie Kildunne grabs the bonus-point fourth try.

    England use the backs and swing it wide to Abby Dow, who races away and throws it back inside to Ellie Kildunne.

    Great play with the player advantage.

    Kildunne scores a 'beautiful' try to extend England's lead

  17. England 'making most of yellow card'

    England 21-7 USA

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC One

    England are doing the right thing not going for points. They need to make the most of the yellow card.

  18. try

    Converted try - England 21-7 USA

    Maud Muir (con Zoe Harrison)

    England opt to keep it tight and over goes prop forward Maud Muir.

    Maud Muir scoringPA Media

  19. England 14-7 USA

    Huge hit from Ilona Maher and she gets on her feet to jackal for the ball. Top performance so far!

  20. Watch: Botterman score England's second try

    England 14-7 USA