Genevieve Berhent and Rebecca Scown compete at Rio. Photo: Getty Images
The short turnaround did not seem to affect them as they led from start to finish to beat second-placed South Africa by a boat length.
Their semifinal will take place tomorrow, just over an hour before the women's eights repechage, who finished second in their heat today. The finals of both events, should they make it, are on different days.
The men's eights finished third in thier heat and will also contest a repechage.
World champion duo Julia Edward and Sophie Mackenzie were beaten by the Dutch in their heat in the lightweight double sculls, but were still able to reach the semifinals.
The men's quad had their medal hopes quashed, finishing sixth, and last, in their repechage.
