The New Zealand All Blacks with their experimental backline defeated a gutsy Tongan side 41-10 scoring six tries to one in front of nearly sixty thousand fans at Eden Park. Because this match followed the stirring opening ceremony there was far greater intensity than you would get in most New Zealand vs Tonga fixtures. The crazy thing with this match was that half of the Tongan team have New Zealand roots, while the All Blacks decided to start a massive midfield of Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu inside utility backs Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava with the exciting Israel Dagg at fullback.
First half
The All Blacks started the game strongly and raced out to an early lead through an early Dan Carter penalty against the shell shocked Tongans. The away team seemed to panic early on and made some silly mistakes which cost them dearly. The Tongans even tried a quick lineout on their own line,
Some amazing offloading from the All Blacks backs gained ultimate rewards with Sonny Bill Williams cutting capers in the backline and unleashing the talented Richard Kahui, Isaia Toeava and Israel Dagg.
One particular one lead to the All Blacks first try where Richard Kahui playing out of position on the wing made a break and then was on hand at the end of a sweeping move up the field to receive a customary pass in the tackle from Sonny Bill Williams to send Israel Dagg over for the first try of the match after 11 minutes.
Carter missed the conversion.
The second try was a beauty as Sonny Bill Williams offloaded a no look pass to Isaia Toeava who then sucked in a defender to offload to Richard Kahui who evaded a tackler to score. Carter got the conversion.
Sonny Bill, Isaia Toeava and Israel Dagg combined for another well taken try from a turnover which really hurt the Tongans. It gave Toeava a double as the All Blacks backs flexed their muscles. You can't afford to make mistakes against the All Blacks.
Kahui then scored his second try thanks to a brilliant break by Israel Dagg who then put Richard Kahui away for a try although he did have some work to score it. Kahui is showing he can cut it on the wing at international level. Carter slotted the conversion to take the All Blacks to a 29-0 lead.
Tonga finally got some possession down the right end of the field and were rewarded with a penalty to Kurt Morath just before halftime.
Half time score NZ 29-3.
Second half
I don't know what Tongan coach Isitolo Maka said to his team at half time, but they changed their game plan and maintained possession in their big forwards for long periods of the second half. It makes sense given the size of these boys and helped to deny the All Blacks a chance to score more tries by starving them of possession.
Richard Kahui made a break down the touchline to set up the first try of the second half finally after Tonga's new sense of belief had held the All Blacks at bay until 59 minutes into the match. He made another break and chip and regathered to offload to Jerome Kaino who was the best All Blacks forward tonight. The Kaino try wasn't converted by Carter from a handy angle.
The next fifteen minutes were dominated by the Tongan big men upfront who battered their way into the All Blacks territory and eventually were rewarded. They received several penalties at the scrum which had some of us wondering if the Tongans were going to receive the first penalty try of the tournament. Eventually their perseverance was rewarded when Hawkes Bay and Chiefs replacement prop Sona Taumalolo crashed over in the tackle of Richie McCaw. The try was converted by Kurt Morath.
The All Blacks who had been starved of possession for much of the second half finally scored another try when a Sonny Bill Williams offload unleashed Colin Slade who put Ma'a Nonu away for a long range try which Slade converted.
The All Blacks won 41-10 after leading by 29-3 at half time.
What can we take from this match?
The All Blacks backs outclassed their Tongan counterparts, but the Tongan big men in the forwards finished far stronger than the All Blacks. Tonga showed that if you starve the All Blacks of possession you can crash and bash your way through them. Some All Blacks looked really rusty and once they got up by so much some of the All Blacks let their games slip. The Tongan lineout needs plenty of work.
The rusty All Blacks included key men like Jimmy Cowan and Richie McCaw. Cowan made some poor kicks. Different teams in this tournament will have different strengths and the Tongans is in the tough tight forward exchanges. It was funny seeing Ali Williams have a verbal with his opposite and former high school team mate Joe Tuinea.
While, the All Blacks were rusty especially in the second half, they still beat a decent Tongan side by over thirty points so they have plenty to work on. Tonga have shown that they have some depth and should be too tough for Canada on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see if they can bully the French.
The best players for the All Blacks were mainly in the backs with Richard Kahui, Israel Dagg, Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu playing well. Jerome Kaino was the best forward for the men in black tonight.
I was really impressed at the impact that Sona Taumalolo had at loosehead prop. I thought that despite the lineouts, the Tongan forwards played well, especially in the second half, while Taniela Moa had some nice touches at halfback.
Man of the Match
Richard Kahui was amazing. He played really well given he is usually a midfielder. He scored two tries and had a hand in another two.
New Zealand 41 (Israel Dagg 2, Richard Kahui 2, Jerome Kaino, Ma'a Nonu tries; Dan Carter 3 con, pen; Colin Slade con.)
Tonga 10 (Alisona Taumalolo try, Kurt Morath con, pen).
HT: 29-3
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