Rugby-France crush Fiji to advance to quarters, Australia beat Wales

(Reuters) -France joined Australia in qualifying for the quarter-finals of the women's Rugby World Cup on Saturday, cruising past Fiji 44-0 as hosts New Zealand handed Scotland a 57-0 thrashing.

Two penalties from Lori Cramer earned Australia a hard-fought 13-7 victory over Wales that ensures Jay Tregonning's team finish second in Pool A behind New Zealand, who notched up a third successive bonus point win with their shutout of the Scots.

Australia and France join New Zealand, who have all but locked up a top spot in the quarter-final seedings, as well as England and Canada in booking their places in the knockout round of the competition.

"We're really happy, obviously. We needed a bonus point victory to get that top spot. I don't know who we're playing yet because there are still some more games to come," Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith said.

Wales, led by Ioan Cunningham, could still advance as one of the two best third-placed finishers, depending on the outcome of the remaining group matches.

The Australians took the lead in the fifth minute when Iliseva Batibasaga gathered the ball at the back of a ruck before a dummied pass bought her the space to sprint under the posts to score and Cramer struck a successful conversion.

Wales levelled in the 23rd minute when Sioned Harries touched down after a pick-and-go from close range, and Elinor Snowsill's kick made it over the bar via the inside of the post.

Cramer's sweetly struck penalty on the stroke of halftime gave the Australians a slender advantage at the interval before both teams cancelled each other out throughout the second half.

Wales were given late hope when Australian replacement Kaitlan Leaney was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Alex Callender with 10