England have extended their lead over New Zealand at the top of the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini to 3.96 points following a dominant 56-15 win over the Black Ferns at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.
The victory broke the record winning margin set in last weekend's 43-12 win in Exeter and included a hat-trick from player of the match Amy Cokayne.
Ellie Kildunne, Leanne Infante, Lark Davies and Abby Dow also crossed in addition to a penalty try, while Zoe Harrison was 100 per cent from the kicking tee, converting each of the tries.
New Zealand scored three tries after the break, Olympic gold medallists Portia Woodman getting two and Stacey Fluhler the other, as they tried to eat into the 28-0 half-time deficit but the game was up by then.
The Red Roses' November series continues against world number three side Canada at the Twickenham Stoop next Sunday before they face USA.
Those two sides came up against each other for the second time in five days in Glendale in the World Rugby Pacific Four Series.
Canada won the inaugural title with a second defeat of the USA, beating their hosts 26-13 at Infinity Park.
That victory, combined with Monday’s 15-9 success, boosted Canada’s rating by two-thirds of a point but the difference between themselves and the Black Ferns in second is still more than four points.
Number four ranked France were emphatic 46-3 winners over South Africa in Vannes in what was a dress rehearsal for the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand next year.
Emeline Gros and Safi N'Diaye both bagged a brace of tries apiece in a win that did not alter either of the teams’ rankings.
Wales’ life under new head coach Ioan Cunningham began with a confidence-boosting 23-5 win over Japan.
Double Olympian Jasmine Joyce scored twice after an early try for captain Siwan Lillicrap in what was a first win in eight matches for Wales.
Wales, in 10th, now have a 5.53-point lead over their nearest rivals in the rankings.
Czechia were the big winners from the weekend in terms of rankings gains with a jump of four places.
An impressive 39-12 win over Finland in the Rugby Europe Women’s Trophy 2021-22 was worth 0.89 of a rating point which was enough to move them up from 48th to 44th. Finland drop one to 52nd.
