All Blacks blow Italy away after Haka snub

If this was meant to be a statement of intent by the tournament favourites, the All Blacks succeeded in suggesting that the famous trophy is going nowhere other than a corner of the Pacific when the final is played next month.

But it was Italy's ridiculous gesture at the start that fired up the All Blacks for this famous rout.

As the New Zealanders lined up for their famous war dance, Marco Bortolami very deliberately gathered his men round him in a circle of blue with eye contact with the opposition forbidden.

Kiwi sections of the crowd showed their derision and Italy were made to pay a painful price for their gesture as the All Blacks treated the crowd to an avalanche of points and showed they were in no mood to fall into the same trap against unfancied opposition that left the French in deep trouble after their opening match against Argentina.

A hat-trick of tries by Doug Howlett, a brace each for McCaw, Sitiveni Sivivatu, and Jerry Collins, and one apiece for Mils Muliaina and Chris Jack did the damage, though the Azzurri never gave up and scored two consolation tries for their efforts through Marco Stanojevic and Mirco Bergamasco.

But if the New Zealand try-scorers received the acknowledgement their crossfield running and execution deserved, Dan Carter received a standing ovation, after scoring 17 of his team's cricket score, when he was withdrawn in the second half.

He earned the cheers with his all-round brilliance, dazzling runs, adhesive handling,quick-thinking movement and changes of pace — all the skills that make him one of the world's best outside-halves. The All Blacks rattled up 70 points on the two occasions — 1987 and 2003 — they have met Italy at the opening of a World Cup campaign, and there was no reason in Marseille to doubt that they cannot go on and win the tournament as they did 20 years ago.

Their scrummaging, mauling, rucking and movement in open play was blessed with stardust from some magical firmament. Italy were 38-0 down when Sivivatu scored their fifth try and the first of his two first-half strikes.

Italy never recovered from the black hurricane that swept them aside in those frenetic opening minutes and Italy's coach Pierre Berbizier was brutally frank in his assessment of their performance.

"It's difficult to comment on this because there was no match. This was a match between a great All Black team and Little Italy. At no point in time were we in this game. It was impossible to create positive conditions but it must have delighted the spectators." New Zealand coach Graham Henry praised his team for taking the "right options" in the opening stages when his team were "very precise".

Henry added: "We got a lot out of this match. Italy have improved immensely since coming into the Six Nations and the scoreline does not reflect the effort they put into the game. They will be very pleased with the way they hung in there."

Carl Hayman (New Zealand) and Salvatore Perugini were yellow-carded for infringing laws for foul play, but this game was much more of a spectacle than some expected.

Few give Portugal a hope against New Zealand next Saturday but Henry was warning that his side could reach the quarter-finals 'undercooked' if they fall short of effort or inspiration.

Fat chance of that happening yesterday.

NEW ZEALAND: McDonald; Howlett, Muliaina (Toeava 51min), Mcalister, Sivivatu; Carter (Mauger 61), Kelleher (Leonard 51); So'oialo, McCaw (Masoe 61), Collins, Williams (Lauaki 68), Jack, Hayman, Mealamu (Oliver 51), Woodcock (Tialata 64). Sin Bin: Hayman (42min).

ITALY: Bortolussi (Galon 67); Robertson, Masi, Mirco Bergamasco, Stanojevic; de Marigny, Troncon (Griffen 67); Perugini, Ongaro (Festuccia 54) Castrogiovanni (Lo Cicero 41), Dellape (Bernabo 58), Bortolami, Zanni (Vosawai 41), Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse. Sin Bin: Perugini (62min).

Referee: W Barnes (RFU).