New Zealand romped to an 11-try 70-7 victory over Italy on day two of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday while England coach Clive Woodward also went on the attack -- accusing the Australians of scoring an illegal try.
Doug Howlett, Carlos Spencer and Joe Rokocoko each collected two tries and five other players also crossed the Italian line under the roof at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium as the tournament favorites served notice that they want back the title they haven't won for 16 years.
Spencer kicked just one penalty before being hampered by an injury and center Danial Carter, who scored one of the tries and set up another, took over the kicking duties with five conversions.
PHOTO: AP
New Zealand born back row Matthew Phillips scored Italy's lone try converted by South African-born fullback Gert Peens with their team already 32 points down.
Although the score almost matched the 70-6 result when the two teams met in the opening match of the first World Cup in 1987, Italy's seven points belied an imaginative performance with John Kirwan's team attacking whenever they could instead of kicking for goal but repeatedly getting caught on the counter attack.
After Spencer had kicked a first minute penalty to score the 7,000th point in World Cup rugby, the All Blacks repeatedly tore through the Italian defense.
PHOTO: AP
Saturday's other games were Ireland-Romania at Gosford in Group A, France versus Fiji at Brisbane in Group B and South Africa-Uruguay in Group C.
Meanwhile, England coach Woodward reopened old wounds when he said that the Wallabies' second try, scored by winger Joe Roff in Friday's 24-8 victory over Argentina, was the result of an illegal blocking move.
Woodward has constantly criticized interpretation of the rules governing dummy runners. A player can make a run without the ball but, if he takes out a defender, he should be penalized.
PHOTO: AP
The England coach has publicly argued with Australian counterpart Eddie Jones over the issue and also accused the All Blacks of making illegal decoy runs in attack.
"It's back to the old chestnut -- is it a block or is it a dummy run?" Woodward said of Matt Burke's manouver against Argentina's Manuel Contepomi which opened up a route for Roff's run. "To me he blocked him."
Woodward stressed it was difficult for a referee to pick up with players going everywhere at top speed.
"It's part of this World Cup but you don't often see players run through defenses without a finger or a hand put on him," said the England coach, whose team plays its first game against rookie Georgia in Perth on Sunday.
France 61, Fiji 18
Yannick Jauzion scored three tries and Christophe Dominici two as France overpowered Fiji 61-18 on Saturday to take early control of its World Cup group.
Back row Imanol Harinordoquy and front row Raphael Ibanez also crossed the Fijian line in a game that exploded into violence in the second half with a player from each side -- Olivier Magne and flying Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca -- sent to the sinbin for brawling.
The seven-try performance gives the French the bonus of an extra point from the game as well as the four for winning. Scotland, Japan and the US are the other teams in Group B which the French are strong favorites to win.
Flyhalf Frederic Michalak contributed 26 points with six penalties and four conversions.
"Yes, it was a very important match for us because we didn't know where we were exactly in the World Cup," said French captain Fabien Galthie. "We tried to keep the pressure on and keep control of the match.
"It was a very good performance, we had some good moves and good momentum. Fiji started the game well but it was a beautiful match for the [French] backs."
Fijian captain Alifereti Doviverata said his team failed to follow up a promising start.
"We started well in the first 30 minutes, but then there was a lapse of concentration in the last 10 minutes [of the first half] in our defensive lines and they punched holes into our lines and scored tries,'' the back row said.
Flyhalves Nicky Little and Michalak exchanged penalties in the first six minutes before another Michalak kick in the ninth gave the French an edge.
But a blunder by French winger Aurelien Rougerie, who sliced a kick across the field from right to left, handed the Fijians the first try in the 17th.
It was pounced on by center Seru Rabeni who slipped the ball to lock forward Api Naevo with a slick backhand pass and the powerful forward charged over.
Little missed the conversion attempt and the French hit back with two Michalak penalties to go 12-8 ahead before breaking out with two tries.
In the 34th minute, they worked the ball from the base of a scrum 15 meters out and Dominici raced over in the corner for his 13th try. Michalak missed the conversion
Three minutes later it was 24-8. Back row Harinordoquy scored a pushover try after the Fijians had stopped another flowing French move by giving away a penalty close to the posts. Michalak converted.
Trying to make up for his mistake, Rougerie was denied a try in the corner because his right hand had touched down out of play. But the French went into half time leading by 16 points.
Little ended the French scoring streak with a 35-meter penalty early in the second half before the Fijians scored a memorable try to cut the lead to six points.
Deep inside his own half, scrumhalf Mosese Rauluni flung a long pass out left to winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca. Arguably the fastest winger in world rugby, he raced down the left flank and then cut inside to weave past Rougerie for the try which Little converted to make it 24-18.
But the Fijians' lack of discipline in defense cost them again and Michalak kicked his fifth and sixth penalties, also clipping the post with another effort in between.
The French scored a third try in the 56th when center Yannick Jauzion went over.
He took an inside pass from Tony Marsh as the French backs pulled the Fijian defense apart with a typically imaginative sweeping move from midfield. Michalak made a difficult angled conversion and it was 37-18,
Violence broke out in the 63rd minute after a double tackle on Michalak. Fists flew among several players and Irish referee Alain Rolland sent Caucaunibuca and Magne to the sinbin for 10 minutes. The Fijian try scorer appeared lucky not to receive a red card for twice aiming and landing punches.
With both teams down to 14 players, Jauzion scored his second try in the 67th minute with more help from his partner at center. Marsh went through three tacklers and slipped the ball out left to the unchallenged Jauzion to go over by the posts. Michalak landed his third conversion and the French led by 44-18.
Jauzion added his third try in the 72nd minute when the French moved the ball through several sets of hands from right to left, Dominici cut inside and fed Jauzion who strolled through a huge gap in the Fijian defense. Michalak converted and the French led by 33 points.
Ibanez went over for another pushover try before Dominici added his second in injury time to take the French past 60 points.
Ireland 45, romania 17
Keith Wood scored his fifth World Cup try and Denis Hickie captured a double as Ireland romped to a 45-17 victory over Romania yesterday to lift his team above Australia in their group.
Although the Wallabies began with as 24-8 victory over Argentina in another Group A game on Friday, the Irish ran in four tries which meant a bonus point.
Wood's other four World Cup tries came in one match against the US four years ago. And he played a part in another as wing Shane Horgan and back row Victor Costello also crossed the Romanian line at Central Coast Stadium.
Fly half David Humphreys contributed 18 points with four penalties and three conversions.
"I think getting the win under our belts first up was important," said Wood, the Irish captain who is making a fourth World Cup appearance.
"Romania were played a strong game and made it quite difficult but we're happy with a reasonably good effort and a bonus point."
"I think getting the win under our belts first up was important."
The hooker went off with a knee injury but didn't think it would be a problem.
"I'm hoping it's nothing serious," he said. "It's hard to say at this stage but I don't think it's anything major."
Helped by a strong wind in the first half, Humphreys kicked his 100th test match penalty from 40 meters in the fifth minute and added another in the 12th to open up a 6-0 lead.
Wood, back on the Irish lineup after a year played by injury, almost drove over in the 18th minute but was held up by some determined Romanian tackling right on the line.
But the Romanians failed to complete the clearance, conceded another penalty close to the posts and Humphreys made it 9-0 in the 19th minute.
Wood, leading his team for the 32nd time, played a part in Ireland's first try in the 22nd minute. The hooker joined the backs in a slick move from 40 meters out, the ball being taken on by Horgan and Girvan Dempsey's weaving run to Kevin Maggs who then fed Horgan in front of the posts.
The towering winger stretched his massive frame to touch down and Humphreys' conversion stretched the lead to 16-0 with just over a quarter of the game gone.
Wood's try came in the 32nd minute. The Irish recycled the ball after a good run down the right flank by Humphreys and O'Driscoll and scrum half Peter Stringer aimed the pass inside.
Playing almost like to top quality center, Wood grabbed the ball at speed to run through a gap and charge 30 meters unchallenged for his 15th try in Irish colors. Humphreys' conversion made it 23-0.
A fourth Humphreys penalty from 38 meters increased the lead and, despite an impressive series of rolling mauls close to the Irish line just before half time, the Irish went into half time 26-0 ahead.
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