New Zealand kicked off their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a bang in England overnight, obliterating South Africa 55-3.
Wing Carla Hohepa continued her sterling form from last year, when she was leading try-scorer at the Rugby World Cup Sevens, scoring a hat trick to help her team to victory in Guildford, Surrey.
The Black Ferns dominated the match from the off, notching up six tries in the first half hour while South Africa looked on helplessly.
Hohepa and centre Huriana Manuel each managed two tries, while hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili and second five-eighth Kelly Brazier also scored to take the team to a hefty 38-0 halftime lead.
New Zealand came back from the break firing, with wing Renee Wickliffe putting a try over the line within minutes and Hohepa then scoring again to extend the lead to 48-0.
South Africa put their only points on the board late in the second half, when Zandile Nojoko scored a penalty.
However, New Zealand were not done, answering their opponents with a converted try from Number 8 Casey Robertson taking the final score to 55-3.
New Zealand's next World Cup match is against Australia on Wednesday morning (NZT).
