WELLINGTON: World champions New Zealand rebounded from defeat in style with 70-7 trouncing of Wales in their WXV1 women's rugby Test in Dunedin today.
The Black Ferns scored 12 tries to notch their first win of the tournament, having suffered a rare loss in the opening round last weekend, beaten 18-17 by France.
Wingers Ruby Tui and Mererangi Paul scored seven tries between them as New Zealand played with speed and vision, regularly out-flanking their opponents when the ball was passed wide.
World Cup star Tui bagged four tries within the space of 13 minutes during a dizzying period of play midway through the first half.
Up 27-0 at half-time, Paul bagged a second-half double to add to her first-half score while replacement flanker Lucy Jenkins ended the game with two tries.
It sets up a fascinating contest in the final round of matches next week, when the Black Ferns will face England in Auckland, in a rematch of last year's World Cup final.
Coach Allan Bunting warned his team to expect far stiffer opposition from the top-ranked English, who have swept aside Australia and Canada in their first two games at the tournament.
"We're going to come up against a pretty well-oiled English team next week so we're going to have to be a bit smarter with how we play," Bunting said.
"But I'm really proud of our ladies with their effort, especially on defence. We've still got a few things to work on."
Wales captain Hannah Jones said her team had endured "a tough day at the office" and would seek improvements when they face Australia next week.
"We've got to learn fast and put the wrongs right next week," she said.
"We're at the top tier, we're here to play that type of rugby at that type of level and we're only going to get better from this."
The second round of matches concludes later today when France meet Australia. --AFP