It was hardly a war, but it was definitely cold. The USA won their eagerly awaited showdown with Russia on the frozen steppe of Stadium Taranaki, surviving a late scare as 160 minutes of rugby in four days started taking their toll.

Anxiety levels are rising with the All Blacks' star power parked in the casualty ward.

Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper told media he saw the good side in being called a "boofhead" by Nick Farr-Jones.

The curtain went up on the World Cup and the All Blacks delivered a main play response with a few acts missing.