Australia find a win and new ways to embarrass Italy

The world champions, Australia, thrashed underdogs Italy 34-3 in Genoa as the Wallabies ended their less-than-impressive pre-World Cup tour with a success.

Two tries by Scott Staniforth and one by Justin Harrison gave the Australian team a 17-3 lead at half-time. Toutai Kefu and Stirling Mortlock added second-half tries, and Matt Burke scored with a penalty, to seal the 10th Australian victory in as many matches against Italy.

The home team got their only points in the closing moments of the first half through a penalty taken by Ramiro Pez, the substitute for the injured fly-half, Diego Dominguez.

The Wallabies, coming off consecutive losses against Ireland and England, played with great determination. Wendell Sailor led spectacular attacks by the Australian side, who could have scored more tries with better control of the slippery ball. It was Italy's second defeat in a week following a 36-6 loss to Argentina in Rome.

The first try of the match, by Harrison, came in the 11th minute. Staniforth had two tries within five minutes, and Burke failed the conversion of both, as Australia sprinted to 17-0. Home fans cheered the penalty by Pez and some aggressive actions by the Italian side. Then Australia regained full control of the match with two tries by Kefu and Mortlock in the 73rd and 78th minutes.

It was the last match of the tour for Australia, who defend their title at home in next year's World Cup. The Italians have an embarrassing record of 14 losses in a row in the Six Nations' Championship.

At the Stade de France, the French scored their biggest-ever win against Canada, romping to a 35-3 result in pouring rain. French coach Bernard Laporte said afterwards he was now "dying to face England" next year, adding: "We are the only side to defeat them this year and I think the Twickenham game will be a very exciting clash."

Earlier, David Bory and Damien Traille had a try each for France and winger Vincent Clerc, playing only his third international game, scored two. The veteran French fly-half Gerald Merceron converted three penalties but missed two others in his return to the starting line-up.

The fly-half Bobby Ross converted a penalty late in the second half for Canada's only points of the match.