Rugby-Grisez scores hat-trick as France move into World Cup semis

(Reuters) - France will take on either hosts and defending champions New Zealand or Wales in the semi-finals of the women's Rugby World Cup next week after defeating Italy 39-3 in their quarter-final in Whangarei's Northland Events Centre on Saturday.

Thomas Darracq's team sealed their progress with a strong second half showing despite being frustrating by an Italian side that defended with determination in their first-ever appearance in the competition's knockout rounds.

Joanna Grisez scored a hat-trick for the French, opening the scoring with barely two minutes on the clock before completing a trio of tries with two scores late in the second half.

"We are so happy for this game, to play a semi-final in Eden Park next week," said French centre Gabrielle Vernier.

"I'm so proud of the girls. It's been a tough few weeks and today we proved that we are one of the best teams and we hope to do our best next week.

"It's amazing, a lot of us haven't played a World Cup before. It's a dream come true."

France made the perfect start when Emilie Boulard scooped up possession on the edge of her own 22 before bursting through the Italian defensive line and offloading to Grisez to the right, leaving the winger to sprint between the posts.

Michela Sillari's penalty briefly reduced the deficit while France's Caroline Drouin slotted between the posts after Maria Magatti was shown a yellow card late in the first half to give the French a boost going into the interval.

For all their dominance, though, France were only able to add another Drouin penalty seconds before Magatti returned to the game as handling errors and dogged defending kept them out.

Charlotte Escudero and Boulard both had tries ruled out before the French were awarded a penalty