Women's RWC Day 1 round-up: Victories for England, New Zealand and Ireland

The 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup is here and day one of the competition saw six games as holders England, hosts Ireland and Wales were all in action.

Here's a round-up of all that went on in Dublin on Wednesday...

England 56-5 Spain

England began the defence of their World Cup crown by scoring 10 tries in a 56-5 victory in the opening game of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland.

Kay Wilson scored four tries from the wing, while Meg Jones, Emily Scarratt, Harriet Millar-Mills, Alex Matthews, Amy Cokayne and Lydia Thompson all crossed the whitewash to secure an emphatic scoreline for Simon Middleton's side.

Diana Grosso grabbed Spain's only score at Billings Park in Dublin, but England looked in impressive form and will go into their second Pool B fixture against Italy on Sunday filled with confidence.

New Zealand 44-12 Wales

Like England, New Zealand began the tournament with an emphatic victory over Wales on Wednesday at University College Dublin.

Glenn Moore's Black Ferns proved to be at their clinical best, racing into a 32-0 lead against the Welsh in their Pool A encounter.

Full-back Selica Winiata scored a hat-trick, while wing Renee Wickliffe grabbed a brace as Rowland Phillips' side struggled to contain New Zealand's backs.

Centre Stacey Waaka, wing Portia Woodman and lock Eloise Blackwell all also crossed for the Black Ferns as Wales were punished for repeated handling errors.

Sioned Harries and Mel Clay crossed for the Welsh to leave the scores 44-12, but the squad will know improvements are needed ahead of their second pool game against Canada on Sunday.

United States 24-12 Italy

The United States opened their first game of the tournament with victory over Italy at Dublin's UCD Bowl on Wednesday.

Wing Kris Thomas, who scored two tries, opened her team's account with an early score as the Americans claimed a bonus-point Pool B triumph.

Fly-half Kimber Rozier also touched down in the first half, converting her own try, but Italy - England's next opponents on Sunday - struck back with a Lucia Cammarano try that Veronica Schiavon converted.

Thomas, who was yellow-carded late in the game, added her second try to ensure some breathing space before replacement lock Abby Gustaitis secured a five-point maximum, with Alev Kelter converting before flanker Elisa Giordano claimed a consolation score.

Canada 98-0 Hong Kong

Meanwhile, Canada began their campaign with a blistering 98-0 win over Hong Kong in Dublin.

Magali Harvey scored five tries as the tournament debutants were humiliated by the 2014 finalists, who seized the initiative by scoring their first try with just four minutes on the clock.

As well as Harvey's five tries and eight conversions, Canadian captain Kelly Russell, another veteran of the loss to England three years ago, scored three.

AJ Burke, Elissa Alarie and Amanda Thornborough each scored a pair of tries, with Brittany Waters and Alex Tessier scoring one each.

Ireland 19-17 Australia

Hosts Ireland clung on to claim a nail-biting 19-17 Women's Rugby World Cup opening win over Australia in Dublin.

Replacements Ciara Griffin and Sophie Spence had scored tries to put the Irish in a commanding position midway through the second half.

But the Australians hit back with a late converted try by Hilisha Samoa to ensure it was a tense final few minutes for the home side, who were a relieved side at the final whistle.

France 72-14 Japan

Elsewhere, Caroline Ladagnous ran in a hat-trick of tries as France launched their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a comfortable 72-14 Pool C victory over 13-woman Japan in Dublin.

It took France just 14 seconds to open the scoring with the quickest try in the history of the World Cup as Romane Menager took advantage of Japan fumbling the kick-off to leap over the line.

It was all one-way traffic from there as Elodie Guiglion, Menager and Annaelle Deshayes went over for a pair of tries each and there were also scores for Marjorie Mayans, Caroline Boujard and Montserrat Amedee.

Japan - who had Makiko Tomita sent off 13 minutes from time - went over for tries from Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave and Yumeno Noda.