DON’T let anybody ever tell you women’s rugby is not as brutal as the men’s game.

In the opening week of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, two players have been hit with lengthy bans for unsavoury incidents.

South African captain Mandisa Williams has been suspended for 16 weeks for foul play after being found guilty of eye-gouging during her side’s opening loss against Australia.

Samoa’s Soteria Pulumu will also miss the remainder of the World Cup after being issued a straight red card for a spear tackle on England’s Natasha Hunt.

Pulumu’s nine-week ban was reduced to five on account of her remorse and clean record.

Watch Soteria Pulumu’s spear tackle in the video player above

Australia was also involved in a brutal encounter against Wales, in which the Wallaroos prevailed 25-3.

The win saw the Wallaroos take back-to-back wins and maintain their clean sheet defensively, with no tries scored against them in two games.

The real test comes on Sunday (4.45am AEST) when they play Women’s Six Nations champion and World Cup host France.