Whangarei (New Zealand) (AFP) - Hooker Emily Tuttosi muscled over for a hat-trick of tries as Canada opened their women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a resounding 41-5 defeat of Japan in Whangarei on Sunday.
The Canadians secured a bonus point in their seven-try display, as did pool B rivals Italy, who beat the United States 22-10 in the day's first game.
Unfancied Japan were eclipsed in the forward exchanges, struggling to contain Canada's powerful rolling maul.
Tuttosi was the beneficiary, scoring all of her tries from close range.
"I think we've had really good buy-in since we started trying to make it into a weapon," said captain Sophie de Goede about her forwards' strength in the maul.
"Overall it was a good game for us.We started strong, got to work some kinks out.I still think we have a stronger performance in us."
De Goede continued a unique family tradition when she led the team out, with her father Hans and mother Stephanie having both previously captained Canada at Rugby World Cups.
She said it was "special" to have both watching from the grandstand.
"They've been my heroes forever so to be able to follow in their footsteps, there's no words."
It was a straightforward win for the tournament's third-ranked side, although they lacked the flair of leading contenders England, France and hosts New Zealand, who attacked with freedom to win their opening games handsomely in Auckland on Saturday.
Half-back Brianna Miller crossed twice to help put Canada 27-5 up at half-time while the other tries went to wing Paige Farries and prop Mikiela Nelson.
Canada have reached the World Cup semi-finals four times and the final once, in 2014 when they lost to England.
Italy have never advanced to the knockout stages but they gave themselves every chance against the USA with an impressive win based on the brilliance of their backline.
A clash between the teams ranked fifth and sixth in the world was always expected to be tight and it was the higher-ranked Europeans who secured victory by pulling clear in the second half.
Up 7-5 at the interval, Aura Muzzo scored twice before the try of the match to fellow-winger Maria Magatti, who burst onto fly-half Veronica Madia's inside pass and ran 40 metres on the angle to score.
"It's very, very important," lock Valeria Fedrighi said of Italy's first ever defeat of the US.
"We've worked so hard over the summer and we've started on the right foot, it's incredible.
"We knew they are a very physical team.We just tried to play our game and we have done it."
Wales play Scotland later on Sunday.
