Watch Team USA's Ilona Maher STIFF ARM her opponent into the ground as the Americans open Paris Olympics rugby play with a 36-7 win over Japan

They say that you should get off the tracks when the train's coming and Ilona Maher reminded Japan of that in a dominant victory in Team USA's first women's rugby sevens match of the Paris Olympics.

Maher, the native of Burlington, Vermont, converted a long try from just behind her own 22-meter line and bullied her way through the field.

That included a strong stiff-arm against a Japanese opponent that cleared the way for her to streak down the pitch to convert the try that put the US up 22-7.

After Kayla Canett converted the try, the US would go on to score another seven points to bring about the final score of 36-7.

In the American's second game of the day, Maher would grab herself another try with another marauding run against Brazil.

Her second try came from even further behind the 22-meter line and she broke out the stiff arm twice en route to the try line.

The Americans won that match as well - beating Brazil 15-7 for their second victory of the day.

The USA women's rugby sevens team are currently ranked the fourth best in the world according to the HSBC SVNS standings.

With a quarterfinals berth already secured, they'll take on host nation and third-ranked France in a battle for the top spot in Group C.

At the Tokyo Olympics, the Americans won their group but were eliminated by Team GB in the quarterfinals.