Canada eased into the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup with a 46-5 thrashing of Australia in Bristol on Saturday.

The world's number two ranked side, Canada, will be back in Bristol to play reigning champions New Zealand in the last four on Friday, after the record six-times World Cup winners defeated South Africa 46-17 in the first of this weekend's quarter-finals earlier Saturday.

Canada, who crowd-funded their tournament preparations with a drive entitled 'Mission: Win Rugby World Cup', had their last-eight clash sewn up by half-time, leading the Wallaroos 31-5 after running in five tries in the opening 40 minutes.

An ever-present since the inaugural 1991 edition, Canada have yet to win the Women's World Cup although they did lose the 2014 final to England and were beaten by the Red Roses in the last four in New Zealand three years ago.

"It is incredible," outstanding Canada lock Sophie de Goede told the BBC. "We were excited last time and now we are excited again. We have ticked everything off to get here.

"What makes us a good team is our versatility and our adaptability and hopefully you can see that in the rest of the tournament."

It took Canada, unbeaten at this tournament after dominating Pool B, just three minutes to open the scoring through a try from left wing Asia Hogan-Rochester.

Australia, second in Pool A behind World Cup favourites England, did draw level six minutes later when their left wing, Desiree Miller, crossed Canada's line.

But that was as close as the Wallaroos came the entire match, with Canada's potent combination of forward power and skilled back-line handling proving too much for an Australia team coached by former England captain Joanne Yapp.

"We are incredibly disappointed," said Yapp, now set to stand down as Wallaroos boss.

"We knew Canada, if we gave them opportunities with the ball, what they are capable of. We saw that in the first half."

Australia did restrict Canada to just two tries after the break, but by then the damage had been done.

"In the second half we tried to throw more punches and we definitely saw that," said Yapp.

Alysha Corrigan, Canada's right wing, scored two tries either side of one from De Goede, with prop McKinley Hunt crossing just before the break.

Early in the second half, a converted try from No 8 Fabiola Forteza stretched the scoreline to 38-5 but Australia, to their credit, then kept their opponents at bay until Canada captain Alexandra Tessier landed a 72nd-minute penalty.

Canada flanker Karen Paquin rounded off a convincing win three minutes from time with her side's seventh try.