Impressive Australia hammer Japan

LYON, France -- Flanker Rocky Elsom scored a hat-trick of tries as Australia opened up their World Cup campaign with a 91-3 thrashing of Japan in Group B in Lyon.

The Australians led 23-3 at half-time after three tries and really turned on the power after the break with 10 more tries. They also added 10 conversions and two penalty goals to Japan's lone penalty goal.

Elsom proved a handful for the Japan defence while fullback Chris Latham, back from a serious knee injury and replacement Berrick Barnes -- the youngest member of the squad -- scored two each as the floodgates burst open in Australia's biggest win over Japan in four games.

The Wallabies had the luxury of replacing playmaking fly-half Stephen Larkham 13 minutes after halftime, giving youngster Barnes his first international cap.

Barnes scored with his first touch backing up a George Gregan break to score in the 57th minute as Stirling Mortlock raised Australia's half-century with the conversion.

It became a procession to the try-line as replacement Drew Mitchell (twice), flanker George Smith, Barnes, Latham and replacement hooker Adam Freier scoring tries as the Japanese surrendered.

Japan now have only one victory in 17 encounters at the World Cup beating Zimbabwe 52-8 in 1991.

Australia's only sour note was an apparent serious leg injury to replacement Mark Gerrard, just moments after he came on for Mortlock, who kicked 20 points from two penalties and seven conversions.

The Australians playing methodically built their winning platform in the first half with Elsom scattering the defence with his charges.

Elsom picked up two tries in seven minutes, one off a Larkham inside ball in the 24th minute and the other off Latham.

The Wallabies got particular satisfaction from a push-over try in the 19th minute when lock Nathan Sharpe finished off a 25-meter rolling maul with the Japanese unable to withstand the Australian power.

Elsom made it a hat-trick of tries a minute after the resumption, striding through two weak tackles for an easy put down for Mortlock to convert for 30-3.

The impressive Latham initiated Australia's fifth try, leaping high to take a high ball and in the next ruck Larkham sent Sharpe away linking with Gregan for winger Adam Ashley-Cooper to dash away unopposed seven minutes into the second half.

Australia have beaten Japan in all their four meetings, the last time a much closer 42-23 win at the 1987 World Cup in Sydney.

Meanwhile, reigning champions England began the tournament with an unconvincing 28-10 win against the United States in Pool A at Lens.

It was only when the Eagles were reduced to 14 men towards the end of the first half that Jason Robinson -- who scored England's last World Cup try in the 2003 final -- and Olly Barkley crossed the Americans' line.

Barkley, playing in place of the injured Jonny Wilkinson at outside-half, also kicked 13 points in a morale-boosting display ahead of Friday's crunch game against South Africa.

But the Eagles deservedly had the final say thanks to a 74th minute try from replacement forward Matekitonga Moeakiola, which captain Mike Hercus converted, after England No 8 Lawrence Dallaglio had been sin-binned.

There was a general lack of sharpness about much of England's play, compared to that shown by tournament favorites New Zealand during their rout of Italy earlier in the day.

Nevertheless, Barkley gave England the lead with a fifth minute penalty only for Hercus to counter from the re-start.

And it was the United States who nearly scored the game's first try when outside-half Hercus intercepted a stray pass and broke clear.

As he ran out of pace, he found center Paul Emerick, who appeared to be tripped illegally by England captain Phil Vickery. But the prop escaped punishment from referee Jonathan Kaplan.

England reverted to their familiar tactics of the cross-kick and rolling maul before US center Vahafolau Esikia was yellow-carded for hands in a ruck. Barkley's ensuing penalty was the prelude to a pair of tries which helped secure a 21-3 half-time lead.

First, center Mike Catt's cross-kick set up Robinson. Then lock Ben Kay released Barkley for a converted try. Flanker Tom Rees powered his way over for a third try early in the second-half -- England's last score of the game. E-mail to a friend