Tries galore in opening matches

PARIS – Australia crushed Japan 91-3 and New Zealand outplayed Italy 76-14 on the day the Rugby World Cup got over its initial shock.

Although England was restricted to 28-10 by underdog United States, at least the defending champions never looked like being the victim of an upset. But it only shared the second half 7-7 after leading 21-3 at halftime.When host France failed to score a single try in an opening day 17-12 loss to Argentina, it suggested that the sixth World Cup could be one of surprises.Then the Wallabies and the All Blacks showed the French how it should be done.Australia collected 13 tries against the Japanese in Lyon, including 68 unanswered points in the second half.Backrower Rocky Elsom scored three tries, Berrick Barnes scored two on test debut and Chris Latham and Drew Mitchell had two each.Japan coach John Kirwan, who won the championship as a New Zealand player in 1987 and went on to coach Italy, said the result would not dishearten his players.”We’re trying to build a team,” he said.”We have a lot of young players and that was an important learning curve for them.”After host nation France tumbled 17-12 to Argentina in Friday’s opening game of the championship, there were expectations of more upsets on day two.New Zealand slapped down that idea with four tries in the first 18 minutes against Italy in Marseille to make sure early on it had a bonus point to go with its four for winning the game.Winger Doug Howlett collected three of the All Blacks’ 11 tries to tie Christian Cullen’s New Zealand record of 46.Richie McCaw, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Jerry Collins each scored two, and Mils Muliaina and Chris Jack also crossed the Italian line at the Stade Velodrome.”Our guys had a purple patch to start off with, they made perfect decisions with the ball,” New Zealand coach Graham Henry said.The All Blacks led 43-0 in the first half before the Italians hit back and Pierre Berbizier’s team replied with tries by Marco Stanojevic and Mirco Bergamasco.The Italians looked impressive and imaginative going forward, but their defence was repeatedly exposed by New Zealand’s superior ball handling.When tries by Jason Robinson, Olly Barkley and Tom Rees opened up a 21-3 lead at the Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens, England looked set to amass a big score against the Americans in Group A.Instead, the defending champions didn’t even achieve a bonus points for scoring four tries.Replacement prop Matekitonga Moeakiola charged over for a late try for the US team and England left the field with more questions to answer.”It was not the best display in the world by any means and we have got a lot of work to do,” said captain and prop Phil Vickery, whose team next faces one of the championship favourites, South Africa, at the Stade de France Sept.14.”The reality is we were disappointing this evening and we’re all disappointed in the changing room.”US captain Mike Hercus, who kicked a penalty and a conversion, said his team created several openings in the second half which would have cut England’s lead even further.Nampa-APBut it only shared the second half 7-7 after leading 21-3 at halftime.When host France failed to score a single try in an opening day 17-12 loss to Argentina, it suggested that the sixth World Cup could be one of surprises.Then the Wallabies and the All Blacks showed the French how it should be done.Australia collected 13 tries against the Japanese in Lyon, including 68 unanswered points in the second half.Backrower Rocky Elsom scored three tries, Berrick Barnes scored two on test debut and Chris Latham and Drew Mitchell had two each.Japan coach John Kirwan, who won the championship as a New Zealand player in 1987 and went on to coach Italy, said the result would not dishearten his players.”We’re trying to build a team,” he said.”We have a lot of young players and that was an important learning curve for them.”After host nation France tumbled 17-12 to Argentina in Friday’s opening game of the championship, there were expectations of more upsets on day two.New Zealand slapped down that idea with four tries in the first 18 minutes against Italy in Marseille to make sure early on it had a bonus point to go with its four for winning the game.Winger Doug Howlett collected three of the All Blacks’ 11 tries to tie Christian Cullen’s New Zealand record of 46.Richie McCaw, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Jerry Collins each scored two, and Mils Muliaina and Chris Jack also crossed the Italian line at the Stade Velodrome.”Our guys had a purple patch to start off with, they made perfect decisions with the ball,” New Zealand coach Graham Henry said.The All Blacks led 43-0 in the first half before the Italians hit back and Pierre Berbizier’s team replied with tries by Marco Stanojevic and Mirco Bergamasco.The Italians looked impressive and imaginative going forward, but their defence was repeatedly exposed by New Zealand’s superior ball handling.When tries by Jason Robinson, Olly Barkley and Tom Rees opened up a 21-3 lead at the Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens, England looked set to amass a big score against the Americans in Group A.Instead, the defending champions didn’t even achieve a bonus points for scoring four tries.Replacement prop Matekitonga Moeakiola charged over for a late try for the US team and England left the field with more questions to answer.”It was not the best display in the world by any means and we have got a lot of work to do,” said captain and prop Phil Vickery, whose team next faces one of the championship favourites, South Africa, at the Stade de France Sept.14.”The reality is we were disappointing this evening and we’re all disappointed in the changing room.”US captain Mike Hercus, who kicked a penalty and a conversion, said his team created several openings in the second half which would have cut England’s lead even further.Nampa-AP