2007 Rugby World Cup: New Zealand, Australia and England open with wins
{{date|September 8, 2007}}

[[w:All Blacks|New Zealand]], [[w:Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] and [[w:England national rugby union team|England]] started their [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 Rugby World Cup]] campaigns today with victories over [[w:Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], [[w:Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] and the [[w:United States national rugby union team|United States]] respectively. Australia and tournament favorites New Zealand comprehensively defeated their opposition, while defending champions England produced a comparatively unimpressive display to overcome the American team.
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{{footballbox|
date=September 8, 2007<br>13:45 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:All Blacks|New Zealand]] [[Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg|20px]] |
score= 76 – 14 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[w:Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] |
report= |
goals1='''Try:''' [[w:Richie McCaw|R McCaw]] (2) 2', 7'<br>[[w:Doug Howlett|D Howlett]] (3) 12', 56', 59'<br>[[w:Mils Muliaina|M Muliaina]] 15'<br>[[w:Sitiveni Sivivatu|S Sivivatu]] (2) 18', 29'<br>[[w:Chris Jack|C Jack]] 50'<br>[[w:Jerry Collins|J Collins]] (2) 68', 70'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Daniel Carter (rugby player)|D Carter]] (7) 3', 8', 14', 16', 19', 51', 58'<br>[[w:Luke McAlister|L McAlister]] (2) 69', 70'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Daniel Carter (rugby player)|D Carter]] 11'|
goals2='''Try:''' [[w:Marko Stanojevic|M Stanojevic]] 38'<br>[[w:Mirco Bergamasco|Mirco Bergamasco]] 71'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:David Bortolussi|D Bortolussi]] 39'<br>[[w:Roland de Marigny|R de Marigny]] 72'|
stadium=[[w:Stade Vélodrome|Stade Vélodrome]], [[w:Marseille|Marseille]] |
referee=[[w:Wayne Barnes|Wayne Barnes]] [[Image:Flag of England.svg|20px]]}}
[[Image:RugbyWorldCup2007.png|left|150px]]
<span id="New Zealand"/>Tournament favourites [[New Zealand]] dominated their opening match against [[Italy]]. [[w:Richie McCaw|Richie McCaw]] opened the scoring after just 64 
seconds and scored again in the seventh minutes. Tries from [[w:Doug Howlett|Doug Howlett]], [[w:Mils Muliaina|Mils Muliaina]] and two from 
[[w:Sitiveni Sivivatu|Sitiveni Sivivatu]] increased the All Black's imposing lead. Just before half time, [[w:Marko Stanojevic|Marko Stanojevic]] scored 
a try for Italy taking the score to 43-7.

After the interval New Zealand scored five more tries, two each from Howlett and [[w:Jerry Collins|Jerry Collins]] and one from 
[[w:Chris Jack|Chris Jack]], with All Blacks fly half [[w:Daniel Carter (rugby player)|Daniel Carter]] kicking seventeen points during the match. In the 71st minute, 
[[w:Mirco Bergamasco|Mirco Bergamasco]] scored a consolation try for Italy.
----
{{footballbox|
date=September 8, 2007<br>15:45 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|20px]] |
score= 91 – 3 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|20px]] [[w:Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] |
report= |
goals1='''Try:''' [[w:Nathan Sharpe|N Sharpe]] 18'<br>[[w:Rocky Elsom|R Elsom]] (3) 24', 31', 41'<br>[[w:Adam Ashley-Cooper|A Ashley-Cooper]] 46'<br>[[w:Chris Latham (rugby player)|C Latham]] (2) 53', 72'<br>[[w:Berrick Barnes|B Barnes]] (2) 57', 75'<br>[[w:Drew Mitchell|D Mitchell]] (2) 59', 66'<br>[[w:George Smith (rugby player)|G Smith]] 62'<br>[[w:Adam Freier|A Frier]] 80'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Stirling Mortlock|S Mortlock]] (7) 25', 42', 47', 54', 58', 60', 67'<br>[[w:Matt Giteau|M Giteau]] (3) 73', 77', 80'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Stirling Mortlock|S Mortlock]] (2) 10', 16'|
goals2='''Pen:''' [[w:Kōsei Ono|K Ono]] 38'|
stadium=[[w:Stade de Gerland|Stade de Gerland]], [[w:Lyon|Lyon]] |
referee=[[w:Alan Lewis|Alan Lewis]] [[Image:Flag of Ireland rugby.svg|20px]]}}

<span id="Australia"/>[[Australia]] scored thirteen tries against [[Japan]] in their opening match.  A try from [[w:Nathan Sharpe|Nathan Sharpe]] and a hat-trick from [[w:Rocky Elsom|Rocky Elsom]] put the Wallabies ahead by 23-3 at half time. Australia overwhelmed Japan in the second half, scoring nine tries without reply. [[w:Chris Latham (rugby player)|Chris Latham]], [[w:Berrick Barnes|Berrick Barnes]] and [[w:Drew Mitchell|Drew Mitchell]] claimed two tries each, and [[w:Adam Ashley-Cooper|Adam Ashley-Cooper]], [[w:George Smith (rugby player)|George Smith]] and [[w:Adam Freier|Adam Frier]] completed Australia's victory.

Japan's only points came from a [[w:Kōsei Ono|Kōsei Ono]] penalty just before half time, while [[w:Stirling Mortlock|Stirling Mortlock]] kicked 27 points for Australia.
----
{{footballbox|
date=September 8, 2007<br>18:00 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:England national rugby union team|England]] [[Image:Flag of England.svg|20px]] |
score= 28 – 10 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] [[w:United States national rugby union team|United States]] |
report= |
goals1='''Try:''' [[w:Jason Robinson|J Robinson]] 35'<br>[[w:Olly Barkley|O Barkley]] 40'<br>[[w:Tom Rees (rugby player)|T Rees]] 49'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Olly Barkley|O Barkley]] (2) 40', 50'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Olly Barkley|O Barkley]] (3) 7', 22', 31'|
goals2='''Try:''' [[w:Matekitonga Moeakiola|M Moeakiola]] 74'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Mike Hercus|M Hercus]] 76'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Mike Hercus|M Hercus]] 9'|
stadium=[[w:Stade Félix Bollaert|Stade Félix Bollaert]], [[w:Lens, Pas-de-Calais|Lens]] |
referee=[[w:Jonathan Kaplan (rugby)|Jonathan Kaplan]] [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|20px]]}}

<span id="England"/>In contrast to the day's earlier matches, the [[England]] team overcame the [[United States]] by only eighteen points. After 31 minutes the score was 9-3 with all points coming from penalties. However [[w:Jason Robinson|Jason Robinson]] and [[w:Olly Barkley|Olly Barkley]] scored tries late in the first half for England, with the score 21-3 at half time. Nine minutes after the interval [[w:Tom Rees (rugby player)|Tom Rees]] scored England's third try, but they were not able to score again. [[w:Matekitonga Moeakiola|Matekitonga Moeakiola]] scored for the Americans in the 74th minute.

==Related stories==
{{wikipedia|2007 Rugby World Cup}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: Argentina shock France in tournament opener|date=September 8, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6977724.stm|title=New Zealand 76-14 Italy|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=September 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10074/report.html#all+blacks+launch+blitz+opener|title=All Blacks launch try blitz in opener|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=September 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6974147.stm|title=Australia 91-3 Japan|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=September 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10075/report.html#elsom+snatches+record+wallabies+dominate|title=Elsom snatches record as Wallabies dominate|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=September 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6983423.stm|title=England 28-10 USA|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=September 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10076/report.html#defending+champions+england+rattled+usa|title=Defending champions England rattled by USA|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=September 8, 2007}}
{{haveyoursay}}

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[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Rugby]]
[[Category:Rugby World Cup]]
[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Japan]]

[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby: Inglaterra gana a Estados Unidos]]
[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Australia humilla a Japón]]
[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Nueva Zelanda destroza a Italia]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : l'Angleterre peine à s'imposer face aux États-Unis]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Australie 91 - 3 Japon]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : La Nouvelle-Zélande confirme son statut de favori]]
[[it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: vincono Australia e Inghilterra]]
[[it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: Nuova Zelanda - Italia 76 - 14]]
New Zealand, Australia and England started their 2007 Rugby World Cup campaigns today with victories over Italy, Japan and the United States respectively. Australia and tournament favorites New Zealand comprehensively defeated their opposition, while defending champions England produced a comparatively unimpressive display to overcome the American team.
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150px
Tournament favourites New Zealand dominated their opening match against Italy. Richie McCaw opened the scoring after just 64 
seconds and scored again in the seventh minutes. Tries from Doug Howlett, Mils Muliaina and two from 
Sitiveni Sivivatu increased the All Black's imposing lead. Just before half time, Marko Stanojevic scored 
a try for Italy taking the score to 43-7.

After the interval New Zealand scored five more tries, two each from Howlett and Jerry Collins and one from 
Chris Jack, with All Blacks fly half Daniel Carter kicking seventeen points during the match. In the 71st minute, 
Mirco Bergamasco scored a consolation try for Italy.
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Australia scored thirteen tries against Japan in their opening match.  A try from Nathan Sharpe and a hat-trick from Rocky Elsom put the Wallabies ahead by 23-3 at half time. Australia overwhelmed Japan in the second half, scoring nine tries without reply. Chris Latham, Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell claimed two tries each, and Adam Ashley-Cooper, George Smith and Adam Frier completed Australia's victory.

Japan's only points came from a Kōsei Ono penalty just before half time, while Stirling Mortlock kicked 27 points for Australia.
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In contrast to the day's earlier matches, the England team overcame the United States by only eighteen points. After 31 minutes the score was 9-3 with all points coming from penalties. However Jason Robinson and Olly Barkley scored tries late in the first half for England, with the score 21-3 at half time. Nine minutes after the interval Tom Rees scored England's third try, but they were not able to score again. Matekitonga Moeakiola scored for the Americans in the 74th minute.


es:Copa Mundial de Rugby: Inglaterra gana a Estados Unidos
es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Australia humilla a Japón
es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Nueva Zelanda destroza a Italia
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : l'Angleterre peine à s'imposer face aux États-Unis
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Australie 91 - 3 Japon
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : La Nouvelle-Zélande confirme son statut de favori
it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: vincono Australia e Inghilterra
it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: Nuova Zelanda - Italia 76 - 14
Sports Rugby Rugby World Cup New Zealand Italy England United States Australia Japan