World Cup favourites start as they mean to go on

The day after hosts Australia got the defence of their World Cup crown off to a winning start, the side favoured by bookies to dethrone them, New Zealand, launched their own campaign against Italy in Melbourne.

The two nations have a long World Cup history, after meeting in the opening game of the inaugural World Cup in 1987.

It was a day that lives long in the memory of John Kirwan, now Italy’s coach, after he scored one of the tournament’s finest tries as the All Blacks romped to a 70-6 victory.

In fact, against Italy, New Zealand have achieved two of the World Cup’s five biggest victory margins, following that 1991 triumph with a 101-3 thrashing at Huddersfield in 1999.

And the All Blacks showed no mercy on the Italians this time round either, by naming their strongest available line-up for the game, including flying winger Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko.

Head coach John Mitchell named former Australian rugby league international Brad Thorn as replacement for injured lock Ali Williams, while 21-year-old Daniel Carter started ahead of groin-strain victim Aaron Mauger.

The Italians, who promised an exciting brand of “reckless” rugby, were forced to compromise over their selection after being dealt a horror draw of two games in four days.

Kirwan left squad captain Alessandro Troncon on the bench with Carlo Checchinato, in his fourth World Cup, leading the side.

Kirwan meant ``reckless'' in attack, but the game was all of 20 seconds old when New Zealand-born flanker Scott Palmer was penalised for holding on under his own posts.

Carlos Spencer, who had led a New Zealand haka that reverberated around the Telstra Dome, slotted the easy kick and the All Blacks were on their way.

Handed the early initiative, the All Blacks maintained pressure on the Italians, who took over five minutes to claim any possession in New Zealand territory and struggled to gain any decent ball.

Tana Umaga was running the crash ball, but Italy’s early cover defence was resolute as they snuffed out dangerous runs out wide from Rokocoko and Howlett.

But New Zealand’s handling was immaculate and it proved telling – but not until Thorn charged over from the 22 for his first Test try.

The Canterbury lock, who took a year off to ponder whether he was committed enough to wear the All Black shirt, burst through a throng of Italians to open New Zealand’s try account for the World Cup.

Having had their defensive line broken through the middle, Italy then succumbed to quick hands out wide as Keven Mealamu and Rokocoko combined to send skipper Reuben Thorne over.

Spencer, however, missed both conversions from an eminently kickable position - a factor that was unlikely to prove telling today but promises to be crucial as the tournament wears on.

However, the Aucklander’s vision is exceptional and he spied Rokocoko alone out wide and sent over a rugby league-style cross-field kick.

Italian Nicola Mazzucato did just enough to force a knock-on from Rokocoko, but the intent to mix-up the attacking options was clear.