KEY POINTS:
Once they were able to catch their breath after watching the All Blacks' exhilarating performance in Marseille this morning, international media have been lavish in their praise of New Zealand - and quick to note a bit of Italian arrogance that backfired horribly on the hapless Azzurri.
Here's a sample of what's being said today:
Hugh Godwin writing in The Independent:
Italy's most notable contribution to this Pool C opener was to gather in a circle and snub the All Blacks' haka, which had reverted to the more traditional "Ka Mate" rather than the throat-slitting version.
When Italy came out of their huddle they did not have the guts to eyeball their opponents.
Twenty embarrassingly one-sided minutes later New Zealand were five tries to the good, 38-0 up, and into the World Cup flow more easily than they could possibly have expected.
By the end it was 11 tries to two.
"I was a little angry with them turning their backs," said Luke McAlister, New Zealand's inside-centre.
"The scoreline in the first minutes showed it was probably a bad choice." ...
... There must now be heightened concern among the powers that be at what Portugal's amateurs might suffer in Lyon next Saturday.
"There will be some sensitivity there," promised Henry.
"But not a huge amount."
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The Sun:
The All Blacks underlined their class with a clinical performance in the first pool C match at The Velodrome in Marseille.
New Zealand made a whirlwind start with five tries in the first 18 minutes to blow away Italy.
The Azzurri simply had no answer to the power and pace of Graham Henry's men, who will move on in confident mood to Lyon next Saturday, where next group opponents Portugal will await their fate with trepidation.
New Zealand never looked back after an opening quarter in which everything came off for them and they made the most of perfect conditions to run in 11 tries.
* * *
James Standley of the BBC:
Italy's task was made somewhat easier when giant New Zealand tight-head Carl Hayman was sent to the sin bin for a punch a minute into the second half.
It took 10 minutes before towering second row Jack, who will join Saracens after the World Cup, strode over for his side's seventh try and they continued to arrive at regular intervals.
The Munster-bound Howlett grabbed a brace to move level on 46 tries with legendary full-back Christian Cullen as the All Blacks' all-time leading try scorer, while Collins also picked up a double.
Carter and Luke McAlister, who is heading to Sale Sharks, added four conversions between them before the younger of the two Bergamasco brothers went over for Italy, with Roland de Marigny converting.
Marseille may be famed for the Mistral, the strong wind which frequently sweeps over the southern port city, but on Saturday it was the All Blacks who simply blew the opposition away.
* * *
Simon Baskett of the Daily Telegraph (Sydney):
World Cup favourites New Zealand completed a destruction of an awe-struck Italy side in their Pool C opener in Marseille today.
Just as they did when they won their only previous Rugby World Cup 20 years ago, the All Blacks began their campaign by sending out a warning to their rivals with a classy display against the Italians.
Graham Henry's side racked up 38 points in the first 19 minutes against an Italian side who were a shadow of the team who gave Ireland a scare last month and beat Wales and Scotland in their best-ever display in this year's Six Nations.
The All Blacks scored 11 tries, including a hat-trick from winger Doug Howlett and two apiece from Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Flyhalf Carter contributed 17 points with the boot to overtake Grant Fox and move into second place behind Andrew Mehrtens in the list of top All Black test scorers.
New Zealand demonstrated the mixture of pace and physicality that has characterised their play over the past two years but, worryingly for their rivals, they never looked as though they even needed to hit top gear.
* * *
Bill Day, in the Daily Mail (UK):
... 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."
