LONDON (AP) — The all-embracing feeling of all 16 teams after their first game at the Women's Rugby World Cup was relief.

Years of dreams followed by weeks in camps strained the anticipation among the players, whose excitement was energized when they walked into electric stadium atmospheres unlike many had experienced.

Nearly all 16 teams celebrated a win in some way; eight of them on the scoreboard, and some by simply appearing. But all 16 were happy to finally get going last weekend.

Defending champion New Zealand admitted to being over-excited, Japan to starting too nervously, and Samoa, after 11 years away, to being overwhelmed.

“I went through the whole game like I couldn't breathe, like I couldn't play my usual game,” 20-year-old France winger Kelly Arbey said of her World Cup de

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