The All Blacks got back to winning ways in some style at the World Cup yesterday by running in 11 tries in a 71-3 hammering of a courageous but outclassed Namibia side to revive their Pool A campaign.
Stung by their loss to France in the tournament curtain-raiser last week, New Zealand tore into the Africans from the kickoff at a high tempo and scrumhalf Cam Roigard crossed twice in the opening seven minutes on his first test start.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie also grabbed two tries, the bonus point was secured by winger Leicester Fainga’anuku in the 25th minute, and after that it was only a matter of how many points the All Blacks could score.
Namibia never stopped looking for a try and had their chances, especially after New Zealand prop Ethan de Groot was sent from the pitch for a red card offence, but move on to face France next week still without a World Cup win in 24 attempts.
New Zealand were wasteful at times, but then they could afford to be. Winger Caleb Clark appeared to have squandered a break when in plenty of space on the right, but hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho was on hand to rumble over from a team drive shortly after.
The swirling rain that made a mockery of World Rugby’s granting of extra water breaks for the fixture did not deter the All Blacks from some typically ambitious play.
Prop Ofa Tuungafasi collected a pass on a break down the left and swung it without looking behind his back to the onrushing Beauden Barrett, before the play cut back inside for the livewire McKenzie to romp under the posts.
McKenzie, who despite his sparkling portfolio of skills has struggled to nail down a starting berth in the All Blacks, was on effervescent form here as he unleashed kick passes, silky offloads and effortless sidesteps.
&uuid=(email))