Australia - 90 Romania - 8 Centre Elton Flatley scored the fastest try in World Cup history on Saturday to inspire Australia to victory over Romania. It was Australia's second-highest Test victory, after their 92-10 win over Spain in Madrid two years ago.
Flatley raced over the Romania line 18 seconds into the Pool A match after hooker Brendan Cannon had driven the ball deep into the opposition half. Mat Rogers collected a hat-trick of tries while Matthew Burke and Stephen Larkham scored twice for the defending champions.
The superb form of Burke has given Australia a welcome headache as the Wallabies nurse former starting centre Stirling Mortlock back to form after a shoulder injury.
Mortlock played half an hour of the second half, showing his class immediately with a try after six minutes on the field. Burke and Rogers scored their tries in the first half to give Australia a 38-8 lead at half-time through five converted tries and a penalty.
The Wallabies gave their reserves a run in the second half, practising set-piece back-line moves with cut-out passing, inside runners and midfield crash balls. "It was a good effort," said Wallaby captain George Gregan. "Everybody expects you to win by a big score."
Outhalf Larkham added: "It was a little disappointing with a few dropped balls but we ran away with it in the end. Our fitness really showed."
Romania coach Bernard Charreyre said his team were very disappointed. "It's very difficult for us because we meet Ireland and only days later we meet the world champions," he said.
Larkham is approaching the form which was instrumental in Australia's World Cup triumph four years ago, according to Gregan. Larkham was in his element as he guided the Wallaby backs into constant gaps in the brittle defence.
"This is the best I've seen him training. The more I see him doing extras the better I know he's going to play," Gregan said of Larkham. "He is probably one of the most analysed players around and a lot of teams put a certain plan in place for him. But present him with the right sort of opportunities such as quick ball against a team that is stretched and he is very hard to tackle and defend."
Gregan will not play against Namibia next Saturday because of a thigh strain although the Wallabies are hopeful lock David Giffin may return for the game after injuring a shoulder against Argentina. Gregan would not be drawn into comparisons between Ireland's 45-17 win over Romania and the Wallabies' much larger victory as an indication of where the two teams stand.
"It's a trap really," said Gregan. "You see it in Super 12 and in international football all the time.That was their (Ireland's) first game in a while just like ours was against Argentina. I'm not going to fall into that one because we beat them (Romania) by an extra 40 points."
AUSTRALIA: M Rogers; W Sailor, M Burke, E Flatley, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan (capt); B Young, B Cannon, A Baxter, D Vickerman, N Sharpe, G Smith, P Waugh, D Lyons. Replacements: M Giteau for Gregan (40 mins); B Darwin for Baxter (44 mins); S Mortlock for Burke (49 mins); J Paul for Cannon (51 mins); J Harrison for Vickerman (51 mins); M Cockbain for Lyons (56 mins); L Tuqiri for Waugh (63 mins).
ROMANIA: D Dumbrava; G Brezoianu, V Maftei, R Gontineac (capt), C Sauan; I Tofan, L Sirbu; P Toderasc, R Mavrodin, S Florea, S Socol, C Petre, M Niculai, O Tonita, O Tonita. Replacements: M Tudori for Niculai (9 mins); C Popescu Florea (for 50 mins); M Socaciu for Mavrodin (50 mins); C Podea for Sirbu (63 mins).
