It was the result that was expected (nowhere more than in these columns as more than a few readers spotted!) but once again the All Blacks failed to convince that they are worthy of their favourite status at this tournament.
Defending champions and world ranked no.1 they may be but only in bursts have they looked at their best in this tournament and against a Tonga side that had just a solitary win to its name they made countless errors in seeking to gain control of this Pool C match.
Dropped balls, breakdown turnovers, charged down kicks and collapsed scrums all featured in the opening half, while only on a couple of occasions did they manage to string together sufficient phases and passes to break down a doughty defence, Conrad Smith’s sleight of hand putting in clansman Ben before Tony Woodcock ploughed over from close range.
However, Kurt Morath having got his side on the scoreboard with a penalty in between those tries, the half ended in unseemly fashion for the All Blacks with Kieran Reid, their captain, in the sin bin for collapsing a maul as they took their turn to defend their line desperately.
Such was Tonga’s momentum that a penalty try might have been given for that offence and another might have come as New Zealand collapsed a series of scrums, but the half ended when the replay official decided Tonga had just failed to ground the ball over their opponents’ line.
More urgent defending close to their line was required early in the second half to keep the damage to three points early in the second half as Tonga attacked dynamically and after the first of Nehe Milner-Skudder’s tries for the All Blacks Morath struck the target a third time.
At that point three scores each was a fairer reflection of the balance of play than the 21-9 lead boasted by New Zealand, however only they could attract as much criticism as they doubtless will when the bonus point win was secured within an hour after Milner-Skudder’s second try and they ultimately claimed a comfortable 49-9 win, Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Cane both crossing before Ma’a Nonu got the chance to mark his 100th cap in style, Dan Carter converting all seven tries.
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