Wallabies lose Gerrard in Japan rout
The Wallabies shook off early rust to crush Japan 91-3 in their World Cup opener in Lyon.
The win came at a heavy cost, with Mark Gerrard rupturing a medial ligament in his left knee.
Gerrard will be sent home this week, although he won’t require an operation.
The Wallabies were solid enough in the first half, with Rocky Elsom crossing twice as Australian opened a 23-3 lead at the break.
The second half quickly became a rout as the Japanese defence was non existent. Elsom ended with a hat trick, while 21 year old Berrick Barnes cross twice on his test debut.
Chris Latham and Drew Mitchell also scored doubles.
Coach John Connolly was generally pleased with the effort, athough he was typically low key.
“We haven’t played for a couple of months, and we were a bit loose in the first half. Second half was better. Japan tired a bit, which flattered us a bit.”
Japan remain winless at the World Cup since 1991.
“We held our own for the first 50 minutes,” said Japan coach John Kirwan.
Cameron Shephard looms at a likely replacement for Gerrard, who sustained the injury with his first touch of the ball.
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