Australia romp to massive win

Australia's George Smith dives over for a try in the tackle of Japanese player Yasunori Watanabe at the Stade Gerland stadium in Lyon, France, on Saturday. PHOT: AP

Two-time Rugby World Cup champions Australia blew away the cobwebs of almost two months' inactivity with a record 91-3 mauling of Japan in Lyon on Saturday.

Flanker Rocky Elsom claimed a hat-trick of tries and backs Chris Latham, Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell scored two tries each as the Wallabies put 13 tries past the plucky Japanese, who were competitive up to halftime.

It was Australia's highest score against Japan and ranked only behind the 142-0 romp over Namibia at the 2003 World Cup and 92-10 against Spain in 2001 as their biggest match totals.

The Australians led 23-3 at halftime after three first-half tries and added 10 more after the interval in a powerful statement of their intentions of winning an unprecedented third Webb Ellis Trophy.

It gives them the ideal tonic for their key pool game against Wales in Cardiff next Saturday.

It was the Wallabies' first outing since going down to New Zealand 26-12 in the Tri-Nations in Auckland on July 21.

"We hadn't played for a couple of months and in the first half we were a little rusty but when Japan tired we took advantage of it and we're satisfied with the performance," head coach John Connolly said.

He was pleased with the contributions of his big-name stars with veteran halves George Gregan and Stephen Larkham running the show, Stirling Mortlock a handful in the centers, kicking 20 points, and the forwards skittling the smaller Japanese pack.

"We wanted to get Stirling kicking in a match situation, we wanted to work on our rolling maul and get some work into the forwards, we went out with a certain way we wanted to play the game and we probably got something out of it," Connolly said.

Japan coach John Kirwan said he was satisfied with the first half.

"At halftime I was very happy and the second half was disappointing. But the positive thing for us is that we had some very young members out there and at this World Cup we need to have one eye on the future, Kirwan said.