Australia have advanced to the quarter-finals of rugby’s Sydney Sevens with a powerful 29-0 win over Ireland at Allianz Stadium.

After a rusty first-up 24-7 victory over Brazil, the Australian women showed improved poise, running in five unanswered tries over an Irish outfit who had earlier beaten Fiji.

Coach Tim Walsh made four changes to the starting line-up and the move paid dividends with three first-half tries for a 15-0 lead.

The opening two tries came down the left wing, one each to Emilee Cherry and Georgina Friedricks, while Cherry scored another on the stroke of halftime.

Committed defence contained Australia for much of the second half until Evania Pelite and Ellia Green scooted away for late tries.

“We got off to a slowish start (in game one) but, certainly in the second game, it was very physical and I thought, strategically, they executed what we went out there to do,” Walsh said.

“I think it was probably nerves, playing at home and just getting a feel for it. In the second game, we obviously had some pretty strong combinations and experience there that really came to the forefront.”

Walsh suggested he would make further changes for the team’s final Pool B game, against Fiji, before Saturday’s finals.

“Winning those first two games puts us in a pretty good position going into the third game,” he said.

“We can make sure the players are fresh for the business day.”

Earlier, New Zealand sounded a warning with a 34-5 win over Papua New Guinea, which included three tries to Michaela Blyde, while the USA overcame a first-up loss to Russia to inflict a 22-14 defeat on England.