France eased into the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by thrashing minnows Brazil 84-5 at Sandy Park in Exeter.
Les Bleues scored 14 tries, including nine in the first half.
But Brazil enjoyed arguably the moment of the match when they scored their first try at a Women’s Rugby World Cup through Bianca Silva, the substitute throwing a dummy and running three-quarters of the length of the pitch.
Silva’s brilliant second-half effort stung France into renewed action and they responded with two more tries within five minutes.
By not claiming a bonus point in their 24-0 win over Italy in their first outing, France have nine points after two matches and are still in second place in Group D behind leaders South Africa.
The top two play each other next Sunday, with whoever finishes the group in second place likely to face World Cup holders New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
It was one-way traffic from the outset, with Emilie Boulard crossing after only five minutes and Marie Morland going over almost immediately from the restart.
Tries from Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Kelly Arbey and Annaelle Deshaye took France to a 31-0 lead just after halfway through the first half, with only Lina Queyroi’s missed conversions keeping the score down slightly.
Queyroi added to her points tally with a try of her own while Seraphine Okemba also scored, and the second of two tries for Marine Menager ensured that France were 53-0 ahead at the break.
