England vs USA live: Latest score and updates from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 opener

72 mins: A lapse in communication in the USA backline allows a high ball to go unclaimed.

England move the ball around skilfully, but a knock-on from Dow hands the USA a scrum.

70 mins: The USA have been thoroughly outplayed in the second half though this was always set to be a tough test.

Their World Cup campaign likely begins in earnest next week against Australia as it seems almost certain that England and one other team will advance from Pool A.

64 mins: The highlight of the match sees England finish in style. Despite the USA’s relentless efforts they cannot breach the hosts’ defence.

Seventeen phases later deep in England’s 22 the ball comes free and the Red Roses strike.

Kildunne breaks along the left touchline, chips ahead, regathers, weaves in and out and delivers a perfect pass inside to Breach who scores in spectacular fashion. That’s 10 tries in total now for England!

Scarratt enters the fray making history as the first England player – male or female – to feature in five World Cups.

64 mins: Maher powers through for the USA and some promising play puts the visitors in a good position down their left.

However, the momentum soon fizzles out highlighting the USA’s lack of the ball speed that England consistently display.

59 mins: The USA have visibly run out of energy in the second half while England continue to press relentlessly at the Stadium of Light.

The Red Roses dominate with substitute Atkin-Davies adding to the tally by scoring England’s ninth try of the night.

57 mins: Breach scores her 48th try for the Red Roses after Kildunne who was on track for a hat-trick, makes an unselfish pass out wide to set up her teammate.

By Harry Latham-Coyle at the Stadium of Light

It must be pretty demoralising to see bench front rowers of the quality of Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern arriving on the 50-minute mark when you are already 38 points down. The pair could quite easily start for this England side, while Kelsey Clifford has had an excellent year to snare that replacement loosehead shirt from Mackenzie Carson. Clifford is capable of playing both sides of the front row, which has huge value within the England squad – their depth is really on show now. Bern got a huge cheer when her arrival was announced – the tighthead really is a standout star of this England side.

51 mins: England are dominating the USA at times looking dangerous with every attack.

Cokayne scores her seventh try of the evening powering through after a well-executed line-out. Harrison misses the conversion going wide.

47 mins: That’s six tries in total now for England. There have been moments of promise for the USA, but England have consistently shown why they are a class above.

A brilliant charge down from the outstanding Jones creates a try-scoring chance and Kildunne powers through to extend the lead. Harrison then adds the conversion.

45 mins: One worry for England head coach John Mitchell has been the team’s struggles to secure clean ball from restarts.

Mistakes like these haven’t hurt them so far, but they could prove costly later in the tournament.