World Cup favourites New Zealand completed a 76-14 destruction of an awe-struck Italy side in their Pool C opener in Marseille.
Just as they did when they won their only previous 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.
Fly-half 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.
McCaw was the master of the loose, Carter was cool and composed at fly-half and outside him the backs burst through the Italian defence almost at will.
For Italy, there was little positive in the first half to take from the match, but they did show more heart in the second though a far better display will be needed if they are to beat Scotland and take second place in the group.
The All Blacks may have been light on match practice since winning the Tri-Nations, but they took just 64 seconds to breach the Italy defence, McCaw striding in unopposed after a line-out 15 metres out.
McCaw crossed the line again six minutes later, barrelling his way over from two metres out after scrum-half Byron Kelleher had slipped him the ball after a ruck.
Howlett, centre Mils Muliaina and Sivivatu added three more quick-fire scores to leave the Azzurri reeling.
The gulf in class was made glaringly obvious when full-back Leon MacDonald sped through the Italian midfield after making a mark just inside his own 22 and fed Sivivatu who thundered over for another try to make it 43-0.
Italy managed a face-saving try just before the break when winger Mark Stanojevic raced over after intercepting from Kelleher.
They rallied at the start of the second half when All Black prop Carl Hayman was sin-binned, but the onslaught resumed when Chris Jack sidestepped in from ten metres out, leaving Carter to bring up the half century with his conversion.
Howlett crossed the line twice more to join Christian Cullen at the top of the list of all-time All Blacks try scorers with 46.
Collins helped himself to two more tries, the second a neat kick and chase, before Italy centre Mirco Bergamasco ended the scoring with a late consolation try.
Scorers:
New Zealand - Tries: Richie McCaw (2), Doug Howlett (3), Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu (2), Chris Jack, Jerry Collins (2). Conversions: Dan Carter (7), Luke McAlister (2). Penalties: Carter
Yellow card: Carl Hayman (42)
Italy - Tries: Marko Stanojevic, Mirco Bergamasco. Conversions: Roland de Marigny, David Bortolussi.
Yellow card: Salvatore Perugini (62)
Teams:
New Zealand - 15-Leon MacDonald, 14-Doug Howlett, 13-Mils Muliaina (22-Isaia Toeava 53), 12-Luke McAlister, 11-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10-Dan Carter (21-Aaron Mauger 61), 9-Byron Kelleher (20-Brendon Leonard 53), 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7-Richie McCaw (captain, 18-Chris Masoe 61), 6-Jerry Collins, 5-Ali Williams (19-Sione Lauaki 71), 4-Chris Jack, 3-Carl Hayman, 2-Keven Mealamu (16-Anton Oliver 54), 1-Tony Woodcock (17-Neemia Tialata 64).
Italy - 15-David Bortolussi (22-Ezio Galon 67), 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Andrea Masi, 12-Mirco Bergamasco, 11-Marko Stanojevic, 10-Roland de Marigny, 9-Alessandro Troncon (20-Paul Griffen 67), 8-Sergio Parisse, 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Alessandro Zanni (19-Manoa Vosawai 42), 5-Marco Bortolami (captain), 4-Santiago Dellape (18-Valerio Bernabo 58), 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 2-Fabio Ongaro (16-Carlo Festuccia 57) 1-Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements not used: 17-Andrea Lo Cicero, 21-Gonzalo Canale.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
