England Women completed an unbeaten end-of-year campaign by running in 15 tries during an 89-0 thrashing of the United States in Worcester on Sunday.

This latest victory for the number one team in women’s rugby, followed England’s 43-12 and 56-15 hammerings of New Zealand — second in the global rankings — and an equally emphatic 51-12 defeat of Canada.

The Red Roses are now unbeaten in 18 matches, with Lydia Thompson, Lark Davies and Sarah Bern scoring two tries each against the United States as Zoe Aldcroft also touched down in her first match as England captain.

And the fact that such a crushing victory was achieved by a relatively inexperienced XV will bolster England’s hopes of winning a third successive Women’s Six Nations title in April.

It is also set to cement the status of England, the lone fully professional national side in the female game, as favourites to win next year’s Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

But the manner of their ‘blow-out’ wins against countries that were, until recently, competitive — the United States are, for example, sixth in the world rankings, may be of concern to rugby officials.