LONDON — Reigning champion New Zealand began its World Cup title defense with a grueling 26-16 Pool C win over Argentina at Wembley Stadium Sunday. The All Blacks, in front of a World Cup record crowd of 89,019, saw skipper Richie McCaw and center Conrad Smith sent to the sin-bin by English referee Wayne Barnes. It was not until replacement forward Sam Crane went over for a converted try in the 66th minute that New Zealand, which has never lost to Argentina, finally had some breathing space at 10 points in front. But with the Pumas restricting them to two tries, the first by Aaron Smith, the All Blacks failed to secure a bonus point. Two-time champion New Zealand is bidding to win the World Cup on foreign soil for the first time, with both its 1987 and 2011 successes coming at home. Wales Beats Uruguay 54-9 Wales labored to a 54-9 win over the amateurs of Uruguay in an underwhelming start to the Cup made worse by the sight of three more players joining its lengthy injury list Sunday. Center Cory Allen scored three of Wales' four first-half tries — which sealed a bonus point — but was helped off the field with a hamstring injury in the second half to complete another miserable day on the injury front. Prop Paul James and fullback Liam Williams were first-half injury withdrawals for the Welsh, who lost Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb in the build-up to the tournament. Gareth Davies (2), Samson Lee, Hallam Amos, and Justin Tipuric also crossed for tries as Wales recovered from a 6-0 deficit after 14 minutes without showing any fluency under the Millennium Stadium roof. In the Uruguayans' last Rugby World Cup match, in 2003, they were beaten 111-13 by England and the South Americans faced grim pre-match predictions in Cardiff. Samoa downs US With tougher tests ahead, Samoa started its Rugby World Cup campaign with a 25-16 win over the United States in Pool B Sunday and, after South Africa's shock defeat to Japan Saturday, will be delighted to be safely over the first hurdle. Kicks proved the difference as the teams scored two tries each but the US paid the price for giving away too many penalties after Samoa had established a 14-8 halftime lead in the midday sunshine in front of 29 178 at the Brighton Community Stadium, the scene of Japan's stunning victory over the Springboks that blew the pool open a day earlier. Tries from Tim Nanai-Williams and Ofisa Treviranus and 12 points from the foot of flyhalf Tusi Pisi and another penalty by Michael Stanley saw them home. The Americans ensured a nervy end to the contest for Samoa when Chris Baumann went over to cut the deficit to nine points for the final 10 minutes of the contest. Samoa has expectations of a quarterfinal place for the first time since 1995, and with group matches to come against South Africa, Japan and Scotland, needed to make a positive start. "It was tough but it has set us up for the next game. The South Africa loss to Japan showed that all teams at the World Cup have quality," said Treviranus Samoa tops the pool alongside Japan with four points to the two of South Africa — which it faces next in Birmingham Saturday. The US plays Scotland Sunday. France eases past Italy France made light work of an indisciplined Italy to begin its Rugby World Cup campaign with a straightforward 32-10 Pool D victory at Twickenham Saturday. Second-half tries from Rabah Slimani and Nicolas Mas added gloss to the scoreline after the boot of Frederic Michalak had punished the Italians in the first half. France made the most of Italian errors to kick five first-half penalties and take a 15-3 lead into the interval and extended its advantage to 25-3 swiftly after the restart with Slimani's try and another penalty from Michalak. Italy rallied with a try from Giovanbattista Venditti but never looked like launching a realistic comeback and was finished off when Mas added a second try late in the game. The result gave France a solid platform to make it out of a pool that also includes Romania, Canada and Ireland, which opened its campaign Saturday with a crushing 50-7 victory over the Canadians. France suffered a first setback in its campaign when wing Yoann Huget was ruled out with a knee injury Sunday. Huget sustained an injury to his right knee's cruciate ligaments in his team's Pool D opener. France's next outing is against Romania in the Olympic Stadium, London, Wednesday, while Italy takes on Canada at Elland Road Leeds next Saturday. — Agencies
