All Blacks in nine-try rout over Namibia
Outscoring the men from Windhoek by nine tries to one in London, the All Blacks produced the biggest score of the 2015 World Cup.
The result was never in doubt and it was always going to be a question of what the margin was – as New Zealand controlled 71 percent of possession.
However, the minnows from Africa defied the pundits who suggested the Kiwis will put more than 100 points past them.
In fact they scored one of the best tries of the game, but just never had the skill, pace and power to match the All Blacks for 80 minutes.
Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea got two tries each and the All Blacks had their bonus point try within 30 minutes – as the superiority of the top-ranked side told over the world No.20 minnows.
Namibia were brave and the All Blacks were not completely fluid.
The All Blacks made wholesale changes to the side that opened their title defence with a 26-16 win over Argentina and lost Liam Messam to injury before the match started.
But they had enough power to produce an uncompromising pack and their backs tore Namibia's defence to shreds with Sonny Bill Williams unleashing all his tricks from cheeky offloads to the sidestep to the powerful direct running.
The All Blacks had points on the board within four minutes.
At the kick-off, their pack drove Namibia from the 22-metre line to the halfway where they won two quick penalties with fullback Beauden Barrett slotting the second.
Within two minutes it was the All Blacks backs in action, stretching the Namibian defence to breaking point to allow a supporting Victor Vito to score the opening try.
Milner-Skudder (twice), Malakai Fekitoa and Beauden Barrett followed him over in the first half – with Barrett adding three conversions and a penalty
.
A pair of penalties by Theuns Kotze put Namibia on the board as the All Blacks turned with a 34-6 lead.
The All Blacks were held to four tries in the second half, two to Julian Savea and one each to Ben Smith and Codie Taylor.
Kotze kicked a third penalty for Namibia and Johan Deysel scored his try which brought the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd. "I thought we did quite well," Deysel said after.
"We gave away a few stupid tries, but I think that was a lack of experience," he added.
Some of the All Blacks tries were textbook, working Namibia from side to side at pace until the gaps opened, but others were the result of audacious skill particularly from Williams.
When he appeared sandwiched in a swarm of defenders Williams managed to free an arm to offload for Fekitoa's try.
He was again central in Milner-Skudder's second try, stooping at full pace to flick the ball off the ground allowing Savea to unselfishly forego the chance to score and fire a long pass to the right wing.
Barrett's try was from a 40-metre run in which he glided past Namibia's most feared defender Jacques Burger with ease.
At times the All Blacks were guilty of trying to be too clever resulting in unforced errors and when they conceded a try to Deysel 10 minutes into the second half coach Steve Hansen decided to unload the serious talent he had on the bench.
Namibia were the last team to take the field in the tournament.
Their attempts to provide a valiant opposition in their first ever match against the All Blacks centred around veteran flank Burger and experienced halves Theuns Kotze, Eugene Jantjies.
But their defence was exposed, they had few chances to run and kicking for territory was erratic.
Namibia, who have been in every World Cup since 1999 have now lost all 16 matches they have played and have become the second team behind Japan to concede more than 1,000 points in the competition.
Man of the match: Thinus du Plessis showed he can mix it with the best openside flanks in the world, while Jacques Burger showed his experience from playing in Europe's top competitions – both literally bleeding for the cause. And for pure heart, the rest the Namibian team. Sonny Bill Williams produced his usual barrage of off-loads and Nehe Milner-Skudder displayed his finishing ability. There was Sam Cane, Victor Vito and Jerome Kaino that smashed into anything with Namibian blue on it. Richie McCaw, Kieran read and Ben Smith also added plenty of quality off the bench. However, our award goes to New Zealand flyhalf Beauden Barrett, who showed the incredible depth the All Blacks have in the No.10 channel. His kicking does require some work, but all-round it was a fine display.
Moment of the match: New Zealand scored nine great tries, most of which would have qualified under normal circumstances. However, the Namibian try – scored by Johan Deysel in the 51st minute – was a score of pure beauty, a classic team try.
Villain of the match: Plenty of brutal hits, but nothing villainous.
The scorers:
For Namibia:
Try: Deysel
Pens: Kotze 3
For New Zealand:
Tries: Vito, Milner-Skudder 2, Fekitoa, Barrett, Savea 2, Smith, Taylor
Cons: Barrett 5
Pen: Barrett
Yellow card: Jaco Engels (Namibia, 57 – professional foul, slapping ball down)
Teams
Namibia: 15 Johan Tromp, 14 David Philander, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotzé, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Leneve Damens, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Burger (captain), 5 Pieter-Jan van Lill, 4 Tjiuee Uanivi, 3 Johannes Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Casper Viviers, 18 Raoul Larson, 19 Renaldo Bothma, 20 Janco Venter, 21 Rohan Kitshoff, 22 Eneill Buitendag, 23 Chrysander Botha.
New Zealand: 15 Colin Slade, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Tony Woodcock, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Richie McCaw, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Ma'a Nonu, 23 Ben Smith.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
