Ireland and South Africa achieved their highest Women's Rugby World Cup scores in their opening matches on Sunday. Ireland thrashed Japan 42-14 and, in the second game of the Northampton doubleheader,

Scott Bemand's side are back on the world stage after an eight-year wait and have seemingly gone from strength to strength in recent times

The bottom line for Ireland was overwhelmingly positive after a bonus-point victory over Japan to start their World Cup campaign, claiming six tries in front of an Irish-dominated crowd at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.