Brazil had played just 16 games of XVs rugby before their 66-6 loss to South Africa, and you don’t get many better stories than that of out-half Raquel Kochann, a breast cancer survivor eager to show the world that there is more to her country than soccer. So results aren’t the only arbiter at play here. “It wasn't about 80 minutes of work,” said Spain’s Alba Capell of their score. “I'd say it was the work of a lifetime, of every pre-season, every training session, those high-intensity workouts where the forwards would do pick-and-go and the backs would try to hold us off. “It was a rehearsal, not just for the 32, but for the 40, or for all the Lionesses who have worn this jersey. It was a try for all of Spain." Hard to argue there, but the first eight games of this tournament threw up a litany of beatings, starting with England’s demolition job on the USA on the first night in Sunderland, and ending with New Zealand’s 54-8 dismissal of Iberia’s finest two days later. There wasn’t a single fixture across the three days that was an 80-minute contest. Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie suggested their meeting with Ireland was probably the game of the weekend, and she was most likely right. But even that produced a six-tries-to-two, 28-point difference. Italy’s 24-0 loss to France in Exeter’s Sandy Park on Saturday was the ‘closest’ on paper and, as evidence goes, it serves as a worrying portent given this was a relatively strong Six Nations side, ranked eighth in the world, being nilled on the biggest of stages. The average winning margin so far stands at 47.6 points. It’s a small sample size, but still an awful look for an event expanded from 12 teams to 16 for the first time, and given the stat after the opening weekend last time out was 29.1. That actually dipped to 25.7 by the end of the pool stages in 2022 - the average winning margin through the pool stages of the 2023 men’s tournament was 31.7 - but now isn’t the time for teams to sit back and take stock of the bigger picture. Spain’s head coach Juan Gonzalez echoed Capell’s take in expressing the hope that their show against the Kiwis will “inspire” girls in Spain, but there is an acceptance with it that they will have to regroup before facing Ireland next in Pool C. The defensive shift required in ‘limiting’ the Black Ferns to eight tries showed post-match with the number of players reporting calf problems, Capell’s included, while captain Laura Delgado expects to be okay for next Sunday despite her own fitness worries. "We have to know where we are, who we're playing, and what our goal is in the Rugby World Cup,” said Gonzalez ahead of their next date in Franklin’s Gardens. “We are now in a state of euphoria, we want to give it our all. But hey, I think we have to enjoy it, slow down, see how we're doing, and approach Ireland as just another match to go all out, because we've said we came to compete in every game, but with our objective very clear." As for New Zealand, who Ireland face in the third and last round of pool games, they fielded a side with nine tournament rookies and it took 20 minutes to shake off the rust and any nerves before finding their rhythm and pulling clear. Two second-half injuries left the Kiwis playing with 13 players for the last quarter and the loss of back row Kaipo Olsen-Baker to what looked like a serious ankle problem is a major blow for the team given her form last year and this. Jorja Miller, 2024 world player of the year on the sevens circuit, struck a more positive note with a blinding open-field try. The 21-year old has the potential to be one of the standouts stars over the next month or more. “She’s a special player,” said New Zealand head coach Allan Bunting. “She’s got a core role to do, but she’s someone who can see opportunities and take them, and she’s got a licence to do that.”