Australia's George Smith (left) scores a try, grabbed by Japan's Yasunori Watanabe, during their Rugby World Cup Group B match at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, yesterday. Australia won 91-3. - AP

LYON, France (AP):

ROCKY ELSOM scored three tries in Australia's opening 91-3 World Cup win yesterday, when the Wallabies were more focused on ticking all the boxes, than how the scoreline looked.

Barring the biggest upset in the Cup's history, the two-time champions and 2003 finalists were always going to beat Japan - it was a matter of by how much.

The Wallabies scored 13 tries, captain Stirling Mortlock kicked two penalty goals and seven conversions for a 20-point haul, and the defence kept Japan tryless.

More important for the Wallabies, without any international match time since July 21, was refining combinations ahead of next weekend's crucial Group B match against Wales at Cardiff.

Flyhalf Stephen Larkham survived 54 minutes, surpassing David Campese as Australia's second most-capped international, before getting a rest and giving Berrick Barnes a debut Test cap.

Barnes scored three minutes later - after George Gregan ran into space in the attacking quarter - and added another in the last five minutes.

darting runs

Larkham rehearsed most of his options: kicking for possession, giving a stunning inside ball to put Elsom on his way for his first try and making some darting runs.

Gregan increased his world record to 135 caps and Chris Latham, in the starting line-up for the first time this year after recovering from knee surgery, showed glimpses of his best.

The Wallaby fullback was sure under the high ball, set up a try and scored two: burrowing over from a close-range maul and chasing a kick through in the second half.

The Australians even got some practice in a situation they weren't expecting, when they had to play a man short for the last 11 minutes.

Mark Gerrard was the seventh and final substitution in the 68th minute, but lasted only one tackle before hobbling off with an injured knee. That left them with 14 men against Japan's 15.

Still, Japan were unable to capitalise and Australia scored four times in that period.

Australia travel to Cardiff for the September 15 match that should decide top place in the group. Japan play Fiji at Toulouse on Wednesday.