Creating all sorts: Sonny Bill
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A fine first-half performance helped New Zealand to a 41-10 victory over Tonga in the first game of the 2011 World Cup at Eden Park on Friday.
It was hardly a vintage 80 minutes but with the job done and dusted before the break, it is difficult to blame the hosts for taking their foot off the gas.
They carded six tries in all while the Tongans, who were unlucky not to take the second-half spoils after topping both the possession and territory statistics, responded thanks to a late try from replacement loosehead prop Alisona Taumalolo.
We had a sneaking feeling that a strong game here for Israel Dagg could make life very difficult for veteran Mils Muliaina to reclaim his number fifteen jersey. And so it happened as Crusader Dagg was a constant threat from full-back, scoring twice and claiming the opening score of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in the process.
New Zealand were sublime for many chunks of the fixture and the experiment of Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu at centre gave more than a feeling that head coach Graham Henry had known about this combination for some time but kept it under wraps until the tournament kick-off. Rivals must now do their homework.
Japan are next on their schedule so expect plenty of changes in personnel for that, with Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and the entire back-three expected to be kept in cotton wool ahead of the France game. On this form and creating so many opportunities, one expects les bleus may struggle. As the aforementioned stats show, NZ don't need much to score.
It did take them ten minutes to cross the whitewash though as, following a Carter penalty five minutes before, Kahui busted two tacklers before recycled ball found Nonu who handed to Dagg for the simplest of scores. Carter missed the extras from wide on the left touchline.
Maybe there were still a few nerves at Eden Park as it took another nine minutes before the scorers were troubled again. This time it was the impressive Sonny Bill Williams who turned provider with a lovely inside offload to Isaia Toeava which led to Kahui getting over.
New Zealand were starting to turn the screw.
And so it proved as another Williams pass in the tackle to Toeava produced Dagg's second try before the full-back fed Kahui for try number four. The All Blacks had 29 points on their tally before a Kurt Morath penalty put the Tongans on the board on 40 minutes.
But it was a different Tonga after the break and in the first fifteen minutes Williams, Nonu, Toeava and Brad Thorn were all dropped in crunching tackles in reach of the try-line.
Kahui managed to break the second-half deadlock though, regathering his own chip kick and passing to the supporting blindside flanker Jerome Kaino who extended the lead.
But then came one of the biggest cheers of the night as Tonga, who had 6,000 supporters welcoming them at the airport upon arrival, crossed the line thanks to Taumalolo. The All Blacks had the final say though as Nonu scored late on to cap a professional showing.
Man of the match: It was a toss-up betwen Sonny Bill Williams for his assists and Richard Kahui for grabbing his opportunity on the wing with both hands. Kahui was just too good with two tries picked up - one of which was a well-finished score down the right touchline.
Moment of the match: The offload from Sonny Bill Williams back inside to Isaia Toeava was sublime. Without looking, SBW sent the ball behind his back and inside to the wing, who then handed the pill to a scoring Richard Kahui. Quality stuff that thrilled Eden Park.
Villain of the match: No bad-boy in what was a clean 80 minutes.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Dagg 2, Kahui 2, Kaino, Nonu
Con: Carter 3, Slade
Pen: Carter
For Tonga:
Try: Taumalolo
Con: Morath
Pen: Morath
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Richard Kahui, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Isaia Toeava, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Cory Jane.
Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Viliame Iongi, 13 Suka Hufanga, 12 Andrew Ma'ilei, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Finau Maka (c), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joe Tu'ineau, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ephraim Taukafa, 17 Alisona Taumalolo, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Samiu Vahafolau, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Alipate Fatafehi.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
Danatthecorner says...
Outstanding for 30 then ordinary for 50. Dagg and Kahui showed they are not just here to make up the numbers and looked razor sharp. I feel we saw the best and worst of Sonny Bill and this probably showed why he's still behind Nonu, the man bombed 2 tries through sheer greed. This was offset by his sensational offloading but I don't think for a second Mermoz and Rougerie will allow him anything like that kind of room. Something to think about going forward.
In short, they look good, but not unbeatable. Henry and the kiwi fans should be happy there is room for improvement as this is the first game of a long tournament.
Posted 14:26 09th September 2011
Danatthecorner says...
Outstanding for 30 then ordinary for 50. Dagg and Kahui showed they are not just here to make up the numbers and looked razor sharp. I feel we saw the best and worst of Sonny Bill and this probably showed why he's still behind Nonu, the man bombed 2 tries through sheer greed. This was offset by his sensational offloading but I don't think for a second Mermoz and Rougerie will allow him anything like that kind of room. Something to think about going forward.
In short, they look good, but not unbeatable. Henry and the kiwi fans should be happy there is room for improvement as this is the first game of a long tournament.
Posted 14:25 09th September 2011
BackingLeinster says...
I agree the All Black's should have been looking at a yellow card at some stage when Tonga were camped on their line. Not sure about the penalty try but surely they should have ended up with the card.
Posted 14:25 09th September 2011
BigSi says...
Well done to the ABs but also great respect to Tonga. We know the ABs are great in attack, offloading and support play - however they are pretty average come scrum time. France will hope to ruin their front five! Can't wait to see the tournament pan out - there will be a few surprises
Posted 13:53 09th September 2011
Bones7 says...
Kahui has proved he can definitely do more than provide outside back cover. As good as his tries were his chip, catch and quick pass to put in Kaino was the best thing he did I think, that was great work, especially with defenders coming up on him so quickly. I do normally enjoy watching Jimmy Cowan play but today he was just awful. Sonny Bill was great as I expected but I agree with ztekkiwi in that he was far too sloppy when going to ground with the ball. Toeava dropping his offload early on when he took out three defenders was truly unforgivable though!
Posted 13:46 09th September 2011
hybrid187 says...
Trinats.. your just here to stir **** aren't you ?
My god reading your comments over the next 6 weeks is almost going to be as painful as listening to the FoxSports commentators...
Anyway, thought the ABs could have finished better, but really decent effort from the proud Tongans, I was even cheering them on when they scored. I want the ABs to be tested as hard as they can in pool stage.
Posted 13:34 09th September 2011
Carpelone says...
Quite ordinary game for the ABs' standard.
The other teams will get some spirit after watching this, as the ABs did not impress in the tight play. They conceded (not leaked) a try to Tonga and the scrum should have penalised early on.
SBW, Kahui, and Dagg were outstanding, but my MOM is Nonu, perfect.
I felt for Toeava when the try was not awarded, but he did not have a performance as good as the others. Still think that Hosea and Sivi are wondering why the hell are not there.
The game with France will be tighter than expected, as I rate France having the best tight 5 of the NH.
Posted 13:17 09th September 2011
Ben7 says...
The opening ceremony was soooooooo coooool. Were the ITV commentators English or did thy get the commentary from sky sport nz? Coz I live in nz and the sky sport commentators are awfully biased towards the all blacks as well.
Posted 13:03 09th September 2011
ShamanSheep says...
Was I the only person who noticed Tonga's second half scrummaging? Not exactly traditional for them.
@ztekkiwi - there were not 'constant resets' - NZ were penalised twice, there were two resets and 2 free kicks to Tonga because NZ engaged too soon because they were under pressure. In short, during that passage of play Tonga dominated the NZ scrum and that's not a good sign. France will definitely come at you there, you should still win that one though.
Chwarae Teg Tonga
Posted 12:56 09th September 2011
jonesy2 says...
my boys kahui and dagg were awesome in the first. kaino as well. not sure what happened with the scrum i think the tongans were going in a bit early and taking the AB pack by surprise. but pretty much as i expected. damn i was going to put mula on dagg and kahui to score. sonny bill shut his critics up. either you know SBW is an amazing player or you dont understand rugby, simple.
oh but very well done from tonga, i would love to see them give france a scare or maybe an upset? man this WC is going to be brilliant.
Posted 12:53 09th September 2011
startledwombat says...
Who would have thought Tonga would keep the All Blacks scoreless for twenty minutes in the second half, and would challenge the All Black scrum time after time?!
Tonga could have made their try a little easier by going for the padding on the post and grounding the ball there. Instead they went for two or three extra phases, which maybe tuckered out the Tongan forwards a little.
A good game by Mr Clancy.
World Cup has started!
Posted 12:48 09th September 2011
wallop says...
Whol else thinks ITV commentatrors should be sacked? It was a case of the commentators busy reclying a whole load of cliches and not having anything inciseful or constructive to add
Posted 12:36 09th September 2011
wallop says...
@Trinats - you are such a joker, any oportunity to wind the kiwi contingent hahahaha
Posted 12:33 09th September 2011
melkdave says...
Well job done i think the ABs showed enough took their foot off the gas a little in 2nd half and Tonga got their act togather and showed some good play but the blacks always had the game under control. Expected Tonga to be more physical but that only surprise really
Posted 12:31 09th September 2011
the_blackness says...
nice one Trinats- didn't Tongs beat Samoa in the Pacific Cup and then Samoa beat the shackle draggers. With your reasoning I doubt Your convicts will leave the pool rounds .... hahaha
Posted 12:31 09th September 2011
ruckman says...
Good start to the tourny - was expecting Tonga to do quite well - plaudits to Taumolol who really did well when he came on.
I agree with the poster who found the ITV commentator's praise of the AB's to be unbalanced and OTT - they may be deserved favourites for the WC, but OZ at 7/2 ish are far far better value.
McCaw plays like a mere motal these days, and my MOM was Kaino.
Posted 12:09 09th September 2011
jimbobathy says...
Must say the ITV coverage was pretty poor, not only the constant adverts during the build up but the fact the the commentators did not seem to realise that scrummaging is an integral part of rugby union. Some people like to see a good scrummaging contest and the AB's were under pressure
Posted 12:07 09th September 2011
hughes says...
Great game All Blacks, good to see your not peaking to early, remembering 07's thrashing of Italy. A wins a win and great to get that first one outer the way, @ Trinats, your a clown, did Australia beat Samoa recently? Italy will come close to beating you guys.....
Posted 12:05 09th September 2011
APV1 says...
I can't wait to watch this, as I'm at work and recorded it. The text commentary never does a match justice, but it sounded like a fantastic way to open the tournament!!
Glad Tonga crossed the whitewash. If for no other reason than it proves that it can be done!!!
Posted 11:50 09th September 2011
ztekkiwi says...
Well the long awaited RWC opener is history and probably none too soon for Graham Henry ... The Blacks looked fresh in the first half and nicked heaps of Tongan ball in the loose which the NZ back-line converted into 4 tries with nine points by the boot of Dan Carter. But the second half was a definate letdown for the AllBlacks ... as talented as Sonny Bill Williams is there are times when he is a definate liability. Despite a couple of ripper hits and some deft offloading SBW was responsible for 4 penalties and 5 turnovers. Such play can not be tolerated against a more competitive side. Jerome Kaino gets my man of the match for his tremendous work rate with an honorable mention to Israel Dagg. And lastly, Ma'a Nonu advances the gainline every single time; he deserved the final try. Problem is he's better at inside than outside so Henry seems to have a decision to make about SBW.
The low light of the game was the pitiful 5-6 minute patch of play late in the 2nd half when both sides seemed to forget how to scrummage with reset after reset. I'd hoped this had all been sorted out by now.
Game 1 is in the books with a win for the ABs, no apparent injury worries, and the flutterflies dispelled. However, the Blacks must be more disciplined and cohesive against stiffer competition if they are to erase 24 years of frustration.
Posted 11:42 09th September 2011