England's women ran in 10 tries as they opened their World Cup campaign with a 65-3 win over 14-woman Samoa in France.

The Red Roses - runners up at the past three tournaments - used their superior pace to exploit the gaps in Marcoussis after Soteria Pulumu's early red card.

Lichfield centre Emily Scarratt kicked 15 points and ran in a second-half try to top-score in the Pool A match.

Wingers Katherine Merchant and Lidia Thompson, scrum-half Natasha Hunt and sub Kay Wilson scored two tries apiece.

Samoa, who had to hold fundraising dinners to afford to travel to France, made a physical start but paid the price when their full-back was sent off for a trip on Hunt after 12 minutes.

Scarratt kicked the resulting penalty and Gary Street's side never looked back.

With Canada beating Spain 31-7 earlier in the day, England sit top of Pool A.

They last won the World Cup in 1994 and were beaten by favourites New Zealand in the 2010 final at Twickenham Stoop.

With Spain next up for England on Tuesday, they are well placed to set up another meeting with the Black Ferns, who beat Kazakhstan 79-5 in their opener.

(BBC)