ENGLAND slumped to their first defeat in the Women's World Cup as reigning champions Australia cantered to a 38-0 success.

Seven Bulls players featured in the starting line-up at the Southern Cross Group Stadium in Sydney but they were left with dampened spirits by the end.

England started the game on the front foot but the Jillaroos brought the same attitude that the England players had three days previously in their victory against Papua New Guinea.

The Lionesses had an early chance when Australia failed to connect a kick but their defence proved strong.

The Jillaroos capitalised on an England penalty as Isabelle Kelly got over the try line to get the scoreboard ticking.

England were awarded a penalty, giving them prime field position, and Bulls player Lois Forsell almost stretched over the whitewash.

Three back-to-back penalties conceded by Australia gave England possession 20 metres out but Charlotte Booth of Bradford could not collect a pass to the left-hand side.

The Jillaroos ran in a total of eight tries and will head into the third round of the group stages with an aggregate score-line of 96-4.

This second match saw England involved in another World Cup biting allegation, this time by Chantelle Crowl, but Australia centre Kelly was quickly cleared.

England winger Jermaine McGillvary had been charged but found not guilty of biting during his team's win over Lebanon in the men's tournament.

Women's prop Crowl had accused Australia centre Kelly of biting her after reeling out of a tackle in the first half.

The incident was put on report but a tournament spokesman confirmed the match review panel had advised that no charges would be brought.

England next take on the Cook Islands on Wednesday and the Lionesses need a win in order to progress through to the semi-finals. The Cook Islanders are bottom of the group and were demolished 76-0 by New Zealand.