The All Blacks have announced their Rugby World Cup intentions with a dazzling 14-try performance to rout Tonga 92-7 in Hamilton.
Playing with freedom against hopelessly outclassed opposition, the world champions flexed their attacking muscles ominously on Saturday, notching their biggest winning margin over any team in more than a decade.
Winger George Bridge bagged four tries while fullback Ben Smith and inside centre Ryan Crotty crossed twice each in what was a glorified training run before leaving for the global tournament in Japan.
It was a colourful way for Smith, Crotty and captain Kieran Read – who also scored a try – to end their careers on New Zealand soil. The veteran trio will all take up offshore club contracts after the World Cup.
Tongan skipper Siale Piutau crossed three minutes from the end to ensure the All Blacks wouldn’t keep their opponents scoreless for a second straight game, having whitewashed the Wallabies 36-0 three weeks ago.
Up 54-0 at halftime, New Zealand appeared on track to raise a century for most of the game but were held scoreless over the final 15 minutes.
They weren’t helped by their own tactic of fielding just 14 men for that period. They didn’t replace Crotty, choosing to play under-manned to prepare for that contingency at the World Cup.
Otherwise, the hosts were ruthless, playing with a speed the 15th-ranked Tongans couldn’t match.
Steve Hansen’s men won’t get the same leeway when they face the Springboks in a mouth-watering opening World Cup pool game against South Africa in Yokohama on September 21.
Read was pleased his team stayed grounded throughout.
“It’s one of those games where you could have had your eyes on what’s coming over the next couple of weeks but I’m really proud of the way we stuck at it,” he said.
“It’s two weeks until that first big game so it’s important we keep building. It’s the exciting part now from here on in.”
Five-eighth Josh Ioane replaced Beauden Barrett at halftime to make a memorable Test debut.
Ioane’s first touch was a kick off claimed by Bridge, who scored just seven seconds after the restart – most probably a world record.
Tonga face England in Sapporo on September 22 and coach Toutai Kefu, the former Wallabies forward, has a mountainous task to get them up to speed.
Injuries forced Kefu to field Siua Maile as his starting hooker. Maile is a full-time Christchurch roofer who had never previously played higher than club rugby.
Piutau said the lessons came thick and fast for his team.
“We knew it would be hard playing a world class team like the ABs. We prepped as well as we could and had a game plan but we got put to the sword.”
-AAP
