Defending champions Australia returned to the top of Pool A with a 90-8 victory – equalling their biggest winning margin in international rugby – over Romania at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Wallabies scored 13 tries, four of them in the opening half hour to wrap up their first bonus point of Rugby World Cup 2003, against a spirited Romanian side who battled to the end.
However the sin binning of Romanian centre Valentin Maftei in the 57th minute proved decisive with Australia scoring five tries, all of them breakaways, while he was off the field.
Stirling Mortlock started this sequence in the 59th minute with Joe Roff, Stephen Larkham, Mat Rogers – the full back completing his hat trick – and Matt Giteau also touching down.
Larkham’s was his second try, his first having come as a result of his quick thinking, the fly half taking a quick tap penalty to catch the Romanian defence cold in the 49th minute.
Until then Romania had managed to keep their more fancied opponents out in the second half, the Oaks having started the brighter and been unlucky not to score themselves after a period of intense pressure on the Australian line.
Australia’s final two tries came from Lote Tuqiri, who was playing at flanker rather than his familiar wing position, and George Smith to ensure a forward got his name on the scoreboard.
Elton Flatley was the man of the match for Australia, the centre kicking 25 points with his boot through 11 conversions and a penalty to add to the first try of the match after just 18 seconds.
This is believed to be the fastest try in Rugby World Cup history and doubles by Rogers and Matt Burke saw Australia secure a bonus point after only 30 minutes.
Romania though continued to battle with captain Romeo Gontineac, in his record eighth Rugby World Cup appearance for the Oaks, making some bone crunching tackles.
Another highlight for Romania was their pushover try by prop Petrisor Toderasc in the 21st minute, their first ever in three Rugby World Cup meetings with Australia.
Australia: 90
Tries: Flatley, Rogers (3), Burke (2), Larkham (2), Mortlock, Roff, Giteau, Tuqiri, Smith
Conversions: Flatley (11)
Penalties: Flatley
Romania: 8
Tries: Toderasc
Penalties: Tofan