Australia wield their muscle

Australia 91 Japan 3

Australia ran in 13 tries to demolish an under-strength Japan side in the World Cup Pool B opener in Lyon today.

Rocky Elsom was the star of the show with a hat-trick, while Chris Latham, debutant Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell each touched down twice.

Nathan Sharpe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, George Smith and Adam Freier also went over in a one-sided drubbing, with Stirling Mortlock kicking 20 points and Matt Giteau six points.

Kosei Ono booted Japan’s only points of the game at the end of the first half.

George Smith was next to go over, picking up a loose ball after a crunching hit on Koji Taira before outpacing the covering defence.

And in the 66th minute, Mitchell again showed his cutting edge on the left flank to take the try count into double figures.

Replacement wing Mark Gerrard hobbled off with a worrying-looking knee injury 14 minutes from time.

And in the final eight minutes, Latham and Barnes each notched their second tries of the game, with Freier adding another, to rub salt into Japan’s wounds.

Giteau, taking over kicking duties after Mortlock was substituted, converted all three of the late tries.