Netherlands’ greater experience in key positions and speed out wide saw them run in eleven tries to take a place in Pool A, after a comprehensive win over Italy at the Maurizio Quaggia Stadium, in Mogliano, Venice.

London Broncos fullback Nicole Kennedy ran in a hat trick of tries, second rower Linneke Gevers matching her effort. Centre Lisa Berding was superb defensively, finishing with a try and four goals, while Hannah Van Beukering’s try just before the half hour – a blistering 70 metre touchline run in front of the vociferous main grandstand was a key moment.

NRLB chair, Daan van Rossum, commented: “I know the girls can definitely play rugby league, but what they showed today was beyond our imagination. It was on a different level and so fitting for our national holiday, King’s Day. Some of the plays we saw, our men can learn from them, I’m really, really happy.

“Ireland and Wales are big rugby countries so it is going to be tough for us but for some of the girls this was only their second game, and it will do wonders for their confidence.”

Italy prop Giulia Iozzi was sinbinned in the fifth minute for hair pulling in the tackle and the Oranje immediately ran in two tries, Gevers with her first and loose forward Kaylee Geerlings crossing to make it 10-0.

Home captain Marvin Severgnini replied from a base of the scrum move and her side enjoyed a spell of pressure, but Van Beukering and Gevers again made it 20-6 at the break.

Netherlands, led by scrum half Rixt Aerts controlled the second half with their greater fitness, Nicole Kennedy’s linking from the back proving unstoppable for the visitors.

Italy women’s head coach, Alberto Suin, said: “We expected a tough game and so it proved. We had a lot of new caps in the team and the difference between the sides was easy to see.”