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Australians make triumphant start
SYDNEY, Australia -- Winger Wendell Sailor scored the first try of the 2003 Rugby World Cup as defending champions and hosts Australia wore down Argentina 24-8 in the opening game of the tournament in Sydney. Sailor delighted the World Cup-record 81,350 crowd at the Olympic Stadium when he held off two tacklers and dragged another across the tryline in the 20th minute. He had taken a neat pass from Mat Rogers seven meters out. The Wallabies had opened up holes in Argentina's defense in the previous phase, with the ball spread through 13 sets of hands. Sailor had an impressive match, beating the first tackler every time and giving Australia forward momentum. But the backline stuttered, with 10 handling errors in the first 50 minutes ruining positive attacking plays. The Wallabies led 14-3 at half-time, with Sailor's try and penalties from Elton Flatley in the sixth, 16th and 40th minutes against Felipe Contepomi's lone penalty goal in the 27th minute. In a dour second half, dominated by forward exchanges and handling errors, Flatley's penalty in the 52nd minute provided the only points until the last nine minutes. The Pumas fans celebrated when fullback Ignacio Corleto crossed in the left corner in a lunging tackle from Sailor after a sniping blindside run from Agustin Pichot. But Joe Roff, a veteran of three World Cups, responded three minutes later, sliding through a gap in the Argentine midfield, after a clever pass from replacement fly-half Matt Giteau, and racing 30 meters for his 28th test try. Flatley landed the conversion from in front to make improve his record to five goals from six attempts to extend the winning margin to 16 points. Carried offThe win came at cost for Australia, with giant lock David Giffin carried off with concussion after falling heavily to the ground as he gathered the opening kick off in the second half. The Pumas lacked options and continually peppered the Australian back three with deep kicks that gave the Wallabies counter-attacking opportunities. Australia showed their intention to use the ball from the start, although the attacking game plan almost backfired when the Pumas went within a meter of the tryline following Agustin Pichot's quick penalty tap in the third minute. Roff salvaged the loose ball and the Wallabies won the subsequent lineout against the throw. Felipe Contepomi had three attempts at goal in the first half but was successful with only one -- while his twin brother Manuel was spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Rogers. Felipe missed another shot from close range in the 57th minute as his nightmare kicking against the Wallabies continued. He missed seven shots in the 17-6 loss to Australia in Buenos Aires last November. Australia, who also triumphed in 1991, are bidding to be the first team to win the title back to back. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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