FT: AUSTRALIA 30 NEW ZEALAND 6

80 Full-time. The scoreline does not reflect Australia's superiority. England need to be firing on all cylinders next weekend. See you there!

80 CONVERSION SMITH -With Thurston off the field, it's left to the hooker to add a touchline conversion.

79 TRY FOLAU - Wonderful hands from Slater and the centre is over for his second touchdown of the night. The icing on the cake for the impressive hosts.

78 Inglis kicks down the line for Monaghan to chase and Hohaia carries the ball out of play.

77 Paul Gallen spills the ball. Over 34,000 in here to see the error.

76 Leuluai has been an anymous figure for much of this game and his kick on the last here is awful. Slater collects.

75 Steve Ganson says no try and knock-on. A controverisal call.

75 Jerome Ropati is all set to score for New Zealand but the ball comes loose as Slater slides in to prevent it. Is this a try? Video referee again.

72 Penalty to New Zealand. Australia not standing square. Both sides will be pleased to hear the final hooter now.

69 Lockyer spills the ball as he looks to send Inglis over for a try. Despite their pressure and a tiring defence, Australia have yet to cut loose.

67 No try. New Zealand re-start the verdict.

67 Inglis looks set to score but the ball comes loose. Smith touches down but was it ripped out or simply lost? Over to the video referee.

62 New Zealand are falling off tackles at will now. More points are in the offing for the Green And Golds.

59 TRY SLATER - The video referee says try and Thurston converts. New Zealand look down and out.

59 Thurston brushes off several woeful tackles. He finds Slater on the inside who hacks on to score. Has he knocked on? Over to the video referee.

56 Tate is down injured but New Zealand come up with a handling error. Tate is being forced off.

54 Slater traps Hohaia behind his own line to force a drop-out.

53 Matai is still out there and working hard but the Kiwis lack invention with ball in hand. They kick to the corner on the last but Lockyer is there to drop on a loose ball.

51 A relieving penalty for New Zealand as Folau holds on in the tackle.

50 Marshall goes for a 40-20 but Slater is alive to the danger.

48 For the first time Thurston fails with the boot.

48 TRY FALAU - The pressure had to tell and when the try arrives it's a simple effort. The centre too strong from close-range.

45 Monaghan and Inglis produce wonderful offloads but still there's no way through for Australia.

44 Thurston is hauled back by Hohaia after a clever kick from Marshall.

43 Cameron Smith loses the ball. Another big left-off for New Zealand.

42 Falau breaks down the right touchline but is lucky an aimless pass on the inside find Slater.

41 Back under way and surely New Zealand have to score first if this is to remain a contest.

40 Half-time. Australia's dominance is not entirely reflected on the scoreboard but New Zealand did more discipline and better ball control to stay in this one.

39 Slater does well to prevent Marshall from booting a timely 40-20.

38 Brent Tate can't hold into a wild Slater pass. A chance wasted. New Zealand will be relieved to still be in this game.

35 Another Australian penalty. New Zealand are looking for the half-time hooter.

33 Matai is in a lot of trouble with his wrist injury.

30 CONVERSION THURSTON - Another cracking effort from the best player in the world.

30 TRY MONAGHAN - Australia hit back immediately. Lockyer and Billy Slater are the architects and the winger takes two defenders over the line with him. The video referee can't decide whether he touched down or not. Klien says yet.

28 New Zealand cough up posession inside their own half. Thurston looks to take advantage.

26 Matai converts but is holding his wrist while Manu seems to have a neck problem.

26 TRY MANU - Benji Marshall turns the ball inside, Sika Manu steps off the left foot and thunders to the line. Against the run of play but game on.

24 Folau looks to have gone over in the corner after a crisp handling move but he's lost the ball in the act of touching down. Referee Klein spots it and New Zealand escape.

22 Swinging arm from Fien this time. New Zealand's discipline has been awful thus far.

21 Nathan Fien's kick on the last for New Zealand is awful.

21 A relieving penalty for New Zealand. This is the first time they've started a set of six within sight of the home try line.

20 Matai is now struggling with a wrist injury. It's been a hectic start to his World Cup.

18 Thurston opens the defence but his pass to Glenn Stewart goes to ground with the line open.

14 Thurston converts from the touchline. Australia's bright start continues.

14 TRY INGLIS - Matai goes low this time but completely misses Inglis who crashes over the for the game's first try.

13 Matai is warned over his tackling technique. It did seem to be a forearm smash and he is lucky to still be out there. Australia run the penalty.

12 Paul Gallen is flat out after a swinging arm from Steve Matai. Another penalty to Australia and worse could follow for New Zealand.

11 Jerome Ropati is penalised for stealing the ball in the tackle. The last thing his side needed.

9 PENALTY THURSTON - The home fans don't like the decision to go for goal but the Green And Golds lead.

7 Benji Marshall kicks early in the tackle count but it's out on the full. A costly error which invites pressure.

6 Israel Folau proves a handful down the right centre for Australia and the ball is switched to the other flank and Greg Inglis almost puts Joel Monaghan over in the corner.

3 Australia trying to move the ball wide as Glenn Stewart ducks under a high swinging arm. Darren Lockyer kicks on the last and Lance Hohaia is fortunate to see it bounce out of play.

1 Strong defensive set from the Kiwis but Australia reach halfway but the time Jonathan Thurston kicks on the last tackle.

1 New Zealand kick-off as Ashley Klein sounds the opening whistle. Steven Pryce takes the first drive forward.

0 Haka over. New Zealand form a final huddle. We are ready to roll.

0 Leading Australian artiste Natalie Bassingthwaighte is singing the World Cup theme song. She is better known as Izzy in Neighbours and will continue to be so after this performance.

0 A lavish pre-match routine in Sydney. A real sense of occasion going into this one.

0 Welcome to our coverage of the hosts' opening game of the tournament. Earlier Scotland started brightly against France but ran out of steam, losing 36-18.