Australia 91 Japan 3

WALLABIES back-rower Rocky Elsom led Australia to a crushing 88-point victory over Japan in their World Cup opener in France by scoring three of their 13 tries.

But it wasn't all fun and games for the Wallabies, with reserve back Mark Gerrard in doubt for this week's clash against Wales at Cardiff after being helped from the field by two team officials in the 68th minute with a leg injury.

Gerrard, who had only come on a minute earlier for captain Stirling Mortlock, was smashed in his first run with the ball and clearly in distress as he left the field.

In warm, sunny conditions before a crowd of 40,043 at Stade Gerland in Lyons, Elsom bagged two tries in the first half to help Australia to a 23-3 half-time lead, and then his third just 90 seconds after coming back on for the second-half rout.

The game was always destined to be a big Wallabies win, even more so with the Cherry Blossoms playing without three of the best players due to injury, including world record Test tryscorer, winger Daisuke Ohata.

Nevertheless, it was an opportunity for the Wallabies to not only show where they were after not playing since July 21, but for individuals in the squad to display their wares.

Elsom clearly seized the day; as did so many others.

Australia left the Japanese ragged in the second half.

Elsom's third try at the 41st minute was followed by nine more to Adam Ashley-Cooper, Chris Latham (two tries), Berrick Barnes (two), who was making his Test debut, Drew Mitchell (two), George Smith and, finally, Adam Freier.

The Japanese came out courageously in the first half and were clearly ready to capitalise on any mistakes made by the Wallabies, twice turning over ball in the first five minutes.

In another attacking move by Australia, where Stephen Larkham cross-kicked into the Japanese corner with the plan being for right winger Lote Tuqiri to score, the ball instead went loose and ended in the hands of Japanese winger Hirotoki Onozawa, who brought the packed crowd to its feet with his 30m dash down the touchline.

The first half was not without its heated moments. One of them led to some push and shove in the ruck in the fifth minute and another in the seventh minute when George Gregan was penalised and warned by referee Alan Lewis for a high grab on a Japanese player in the maul.

Surprisingly, Australia's first points in the ninth minute came via a Stirling Mortlock penalty kick from 39m out and straight in front.

Then Australia moved to a 6-0 lead in the 15th minute when Mortlock potted another penalty kick - much to the crowd's displeasure, as their chorus of boos were a clear indicator that they wanted to see tries.

The Wallabies must have got the message, as two minutes later they finally used their forwards' collective weight advantage - 912kg to 856kg - to initiate a rolling maul that gained 15m and helped send second-rower Nathan Sharpe over the line to score their first try of this cup campaign. After Mortlock's conversion attempt hit the left post, they led 11-0.

But the Wallabies captain was not long off making amends. His line-bursting run at the 20th minute set up the maul from which the Wallabies launched their attack for a second try.

Quick ball soon found its way into Larkham's hands. His inside pass found blindside flanker Elsom, who charged 30m to score his first try.

Mortlock's conversion left Australia leading 18-0 after 22 minutes.

Elsom obviously enjoyed the moment and wanted more. He scored a second try at the 30th minute which, unconverted, left them 23-0 up.

Japan at least got some points on the board before half-time, with a successful penalty kick in the 27th minute leaving them 23-3 down.

AUSTRALIA 91 (Rocky Elsom 3, Berrick Barnes 2, Drew Mitchell 2, Chris Latham 2, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Adam Freier tries, Stirling Mortlock 7 cons 2 pens, Matt Giteau 3 cons) bt JAPAN 3 (Kosei Ono pen) at Stade Gerland, Lyon. Referee: Alan Lewis (IRE). Crowd: 40,043.