Defending champions Scotland got their WXV 2 title defence off to a winning start but it is Australia and South Africa who lead the way following a thrilling opening round in Cape Town.

Hosts South Africa got off to the perfect start on Friday as they edged a nine-try epic 31-24 against Japan to take all five points into round two.

On Saturday, meanwhile, the Wallaroos avenged their warm-up defeat to Wales – and then some – scoring four tries in the final quarter to secure a bonus-point 37-5 victory.

In the final match of the weekend, last year’s winners Scotland ran in three tries to beat Italy, the team they had edged to the 2023 title on points difference.

South Africa 31-24 Japan

Japan struck first in the 10th minute of a see-saw first half as hooker Kotomi Taniguchi profited from a powerful lineout drive and Ayasa Otsuka converted.

But the Springbok Women hit back almost immediately through Aseze Hele, a trick they would repeat after Otsuka scored Japan’s second try of the match – following another attacking lineout – at the end of the first quarter.

This time it was Chumisa Qawe who burrowed over from close range and although Jacomina Cilliers missed her second conversion attempt, it gave the hosts momentum.

A mammoth South Africa lineout drive with four minutes of the half remaining ended with loosehead prop Sanelisiwe Charlie sliding over the line to give her side the lead.

The Springbok Women stretched that advantage early in the second half as the returning Ayanda Malinga scored her 11th test try in only her ninth appearance. Cilliers knocked over her second conversion to give the hosts a 24-12 lead.

It was Japan who needed to respond, and they did exactly that as number eight Seina Saito crossed the whitewash twice four minutes apart to haul her side level with the best part of half an hour to play.

But the moment that proved decisive came minutes later, with Japan down to 14 players, as Vainah Ubisi crashed over following another dominant South African drive. Despite their best efforts, the Sakura XV could not find a response this time.

Australia 37-5 Wales

Following a cagey opening quarter, in which Australia were forced to dig deep to hold up Wales on their own line, it was the Wallaroos who opened the scoring through Layne Morgan in the 21st minute.

Scrum-half Morgan caught the Welsh defence flat-footed with a quickly tapped penalty and backed her speed to get to the line.

Wales were back level 10 minutes later, though, as Carys Phillips went over at the back of a lineout drive.

However, captain Keira Bevan missed the conversion and the momentum of the match swung decisively in Australia’s favour on the stroke of half-time as tighthead prop Eve Karpani brushed off several tackles to score a sensational solo try.

Faitala Moleka stretched the Australian lead to eight points with a 56th-minute penalty before the Wallaroos cut loose in the final 16 minutes, running in a further four tries to take the game away from their opponents.

Maya Stewart scored the first and last of that batch of scores, while Moleka round off a fine performance with a try and replacement Lori Cramer – a late addition to the matchday 23 – got the other, as well as two conversions.

Wales’ afternoon was compounded by a late yellow card for replacement hooker Molly Reardon, who had been the heroine only eight days before.

Italy 0-19 Scotland

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm and Italy second row Giordana Duca led out the teams as they each celebrated earning their 50th cap. But it was the former who was still smiling by full-time.

The match was still scoreless when Italy winger Aura Muzzo was shown a yellow card in the 26th minute – Beatrice Rigoni having missed an earlier penalty – but Scotland soon made the Azzurre pay for that indiscretion.

Emma Orr supplied the scoring pass, following a fine team move, that allowed Chloe Rollie to slide over in the right corner and Helen Nelson added the conversion.

Scotland doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as Lana Skeldon touched down following a powerful lineout drive and Nelson supplied the extras in equally impressive fashion.

As the rain lashed down in Cape Town that is how the score remained until the final five minutes when the defending champions created the space for winger Coreen Grant to canter over.