All Blacks put a ton past hapless Tonga
MATCH REPORT: New Zealand kicked off their Test season in sublime fashion, beating Tonga 102-0 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
The All Blacks equalled their highest score against Tonga. They also scored 102 points in 2000.
The All Blacks outscored Tonga 16 tries to none, with livewire wing Will Jordan scoring five tries.
*RECAP all the action – New Zealand v Tonga
Jordan’s five-try display equals Jeff Wilson’s effort against Fiji in 1997 for the second-most tries ever scored by an All Black in a test match.
Scrumhalf Brad Weber scored a hat-trick of tries and Dalton Papalii bagged a double.
Given the intensity of rugby the New Zealanders have played for two years, and with their reduced Rugby Championship last year, it was hardly a surprising outcome against a Tongan side that had played no Test rugby.
It was a blockbusting start from the All Blacks.
With just 10 minutes on the clock, Ian Foster’s men already had a 24-0 lead.
Damian McKenzie, Dalton Papalii, Brad Weber and Will Jordan all crossed the line for the early lead, while Richie Mo’unga added the two conversions with the boot.
Tonga finally got their hands on the ball in the 14th minute however handed possession straight back to the hosts, who punished their opposition.
A lethal break by McKenzie saw the All Blacks worked their way inside Tonga’s half before Weber added his second try.
Jordan added his second try just short of the quarter mark. Mo’unga added the extra for the 38-0 lead.
5IVE: Will Jordan crosses for his fifth try and this is the best of the lot.#NZLvTGA #SteinlagerSeries
🎥: @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/qMtLLCvvM7
ADVERTISEMENT— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 3, 2021
Tonga gradually started to work their way into the match and managed to keep the hosts’ scoreless for 11 minutes They had a scrum inside the All Blacks’ five-metre and had a rare spell inside the All Blacks’ 22 and build a couple of phases however a knock-on halted all their effort.
Instead, it was Papalii who went over in the corner for his second try.
The hosts made scoring look absolutely easy as they took a 43-0 lead at the break.
It didn’t get any better in the second half. After two minutes, after a superb kick to the Tongan defensive corner by McKenzie, hooker Dane Coles out of the lineout read the attempted long throw, took it and set his pack in motion with No.8 Luke Jacobson going over beside the posts.
McKenzie was in the action again in the 47th minute. The All Blacks replaced their front row to immediate effect as captain Sam Whitelock called for scrums at every opportunity, rather than kicking to the corners. The ball was moved swiftly to the outside with McKenzie taking the defence out of the equation to allow Jordan to cap a snappy move with his third try.
Beauden Barrett marked his return when substituting Mo’unga, who had just scored from a turnover. Barrett chipped a kick over the Tongan backline which was taken by Tupaea and fed outside to centre Rieko Ioane to score.
Patrick Tuipulotu, who replaced Scott Barrett, got on the scoreboard with four minutes remaining and the last act was delivered from a turnover after a Tongan penalty when wing George Bridge scored.
Here it is, the All Blacks FIRST try of 2021.
🎥: @skysportnz #NZLvTGA #SteinlagerSeries pic.twitter.com/eqoLXVoUd9
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 3, 2021
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: McKenzie, Papalii 2, Weber 3, Jordan 5, Jacobson, Mo’unga, R Ioane, Tuipulotu, Bridge
Cons: Mo’unga 7, B Barrett 4
For Tonga: NONE
Teams
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Jordie Barrett.
Tonga: 15 James Faiva, 14 Hosea Saumaki, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Nikolai Foliaki, 11 Penikolo Latu, 10 Kalione Hala, 9 Sonatane Takulua (captain), 8 Sione Tu’ipolotu, 7 Solomone Funaki, 6 Mateaki Kafatolu, 5 Zane Kapeli, 4 Don Lolo, 3 Sila Puafisi, 2 Sam Moli, 1 Duke Nginingini.
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17Jethro Felemi, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Harrison Mataele, 20 Viliami Taulani, 21 Nasi Manu, 22 Leon Fukofuka, 23 Walter Fifita.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Glenn Newman
