All Blacks blank hapless Canada
MATCH REPORT: Two-time defending champions New Zealand ran nine tries past Canada in a 63-0 romp to strengthen their grip on Pool B at the World Cup on Wednesday.
All three Barrett brothers – Jordie, Beauden and Scott – scored tries as the All Blacks totted up four before half-time and added another five in the second period.
AS IT HAPPENED: Canada v New Zealand
Brad Weber, back in the All Blacks after being sidelined for four years, was the inspiration the defending champions needed to set their second half alight.
The quick-thinking Weber, coming on as a replacement at the start of the second half, scored two tries himself and was instrumental in the other three.
In a messy first half, where the clammy conditions inside the roofed Oita Stadium contributed to multiple handling errors, the All Blacks only led 28-0 at half-time.
But with Weber dictating the flow they doubled that score in a frenetic opening 10 minutes of the second half with four rapid tries.
They only scored one more as the energy-sapping conditions took their toll, but it was enough to post the highest score in this World Cup so far.
However, the All Blacks finished short of the 79-15 scoreline when they last played Canada at the 2011 World Cup.
The try-scoring Barrett brothers made history as the first sibling trio to start a World Cup match for the All Blacks, and history was also made late in the second half when Ardie Savea, who is battling vision problems, became the tournament’s first player to wear protective goggles.
The New Zealanders, wearing black armbands as a mark of respect for former All Blacks lock Stan ‘Tiny’ Hill, who died aged 92 just a few hours before kick-off, needed only four minutes to get their first points on the board.
They were awarded a penalty try when Canada scrum-half Gordon McRorie dived into a scrum to prevent a pushover try.
Jordie Barrett latched on to a Richie Mo’unga cross-kick for the second try, and Sonny Bill Williams added the third with a simple dummy and sidestep for 21-0 lead after 16 minutes.
Canada had the crowd on their feet when a McRorie intercept put fly-half Peter Nelson in the clear, but he was cut down just short of the line by Beauden Barrett.
The plucky Canadians also turned down the chance of three easy points by electing for a lineout rather than a shot at goal when All Blacks skipper Kieran Read was penalised for a no-arms tackle.
It took until just before the break for the All Blacks to secure their four-try bonus point when Beauden Barrett snapped up a Williams grubber kick to cross near the posts.
Rieko Ioane, who has been in a form slump, needed only 43 seconds to open the second half scoring.
Scott Barrett, who spilled the ball when diving for the line in the first half, made no mistake when given a second opportunity before Shannon Frizell and Weber’s double closed out the scoring.
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Moment of the match: Canada coming close to scoring in the 22nd minute. Peter Nelson set up counter attack as the flyhalf put on the burners before being tackled by Beauden Barrett short of the try-line.
Villain of the match: No villains, but if there has to be one, it might as well be the Canadian team’s non-existence defense.
Man of the match: There were indeed loads of contenders in the All Blacks camp for this award. In the backline Sonny Bill Williams and Beauden Barrett could have easily snatched the title. While Kieran Read, Shannon Frizell and Scott B Barrett were the forwards that stood out. However, our nod goes to Richie Mo’unga. The flyhalf was flawless from the tee and also set up a few of his team’s tries.
The scorers:
For Canada: None
For New Zealand:
Tries: Penalty try, J Barrett, Williams, B Barrett, Ioane, S Barrett, Frizell, Weber 2
Cons: Mo’unga 8
Teams
Canada: 15 Patrick Parfrey, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Conor Trainor, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Peter Nelson, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 Tyler Ardron (captain), 7 Matt Heaton, 6 Lucas Rumball, 5 Conor Keys, 4 Evan Olmstead, 3 Cole Keith, 2 Eric Howard, 1 Djustice Sears-Duru.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Hubert Buydens, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Mike Sheppard, 20 Josh Larsen, 21 Phil Mack, 22 Taylor Paris, 23 Andrew Coe.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Atu Moli.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Ryan Crotty, 23 Ben Smith.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
