France, with 11 fresh faces in their starting line-up, sent a warning to their rivals with a compelling and ruthless display against a willing if limited Brazil, who got what they wanted with an emotional score. 

Story of the match

Despite the result, France were left rueing their looseness in their opening Pool D win over Italy – not a charge that could be levelled at them in Exeter on Sunday afternoon. Nine first half tries were indicative of a clinical Les Bleus, who came roaring out the traps and barely let up.

Two returning players were central to such ruthlessness. Iconic scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus took most of the pre-match attention but she will no doubt be happy to have shared the headlines with teammate Emilie Boulard. It was the all-action full-back who opened the scoring, showing a neat step.

Then Bourdon Sansus got to work, scoring a stunning third and setting up the fourth with a deft kick through for rapid winger Kelly Arbey to pick up. The diminutive No.9 – one of the nominations for the 2024 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year – was also central to arguably the try of the match. Gathering a pass deep in her own half, Bourdon Sansus outstripped the cover and released Boulard who pinned her ears back before slipping a delightful inside ball to skipper Marine Menager.

For Brazil, and their passionate fans there was a moment that they will never forget. After exciting the crowd throughout with their grit and ambition to play, the ball found its way across to Bianca Silva in the 64-minute. Not much looked on but the replacement back had other ideas. An outrageous dummy sent her though the stunned French line and then she raced 40m-plus to the line and a place in history. 

But even that outpouring of joy could not halt the French, who added five more tries in the second half to give the coach plenty of happy selection headaches moving forwards. 

Mastercard Player of the Match

It looked like Pauline Bourdon Sansus had never been away, as the scrum-half brought tempo and direction to a focused France. Several assists and a fine try made her the clear choice for Mastercard Player of the Match. 

"I didn't feel any pressure, I just wanted to come back and show what I could do. I was suspended for two matches so it's really great to come back. I have fire in my legs and I just wanted to show everything I had," Bourdon Sansus said. 

"I gave birth about a month and a half ago and baby Arthur gave me enormous strength, and I'm very happy to be back with the team. 

"We have the team for this. the energy. We just have to focus and everything will be great."

Coach insight

France coach Gaelle Mignot is keen to keep her player's feet on the ground, despite the impressive display. 

"This match was an opportunity to set our pace, put our game our and gain strength over it - and I think we've done that. The girls are happy and it's just a step forward for the next stage," Mignot said. 

"The next match is key (v South Africa), we know it's going to be hard, we'll be concentrated 100 per cent because we want to finish top of our group. It's going to be interesting but we hope everything goes as planned."

Brazil head coach Emiliano Caffera is focused on the future. 

"The first half was really shocking for our players. In the second half we started to do some things. We scored a try. I am very proud of the girls," he said before turning to the moment that delighted a nation. 

"I hope it (Silva's try) is going to be a point of growth for rugby in Brazil, because all of our players are from sevens and 15s is growing a lot in Brazil. "We came here to play three tough games. Hopefully we will score another try and keep more of the ball."

Stat of the day

It has to be a pair of ones.

Brazil made just one line break in the match, but it is one they will never forget. Bianca Silva selling a dummy that fooled three French players, before she outstripped the defence from well inside her own half to touch down Brazil's first ever Women's Rugby World Cup try.

Next steps

France head to a top-of-the-table clash v South Africa on Sunday, 7 September. The result of that match will determine who heads into the quarter-finals as the top seed in Pool D. 

For Brazil, it will be all about keeping the positive vibes, as they attempt to inspire more and more young girls and boys in South America to give rugby a go - and perhaps score another try v Italy.