gemi10689
Joined: 15 Sep 2011 Posts: 69 Location: Hoa Kỳ
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:19 am Post subject: 7 beating New Zea |
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World Cup hosts New Zealand laid down a marker with a one-sided mauling of Japan in their Pool A encounter.
The All Blacks, showing 10 changes from the side that beat Tonga in their opening match, ran in 13 tries at a packed Waikato Stadium.
And while there will be far sterner challenges to come, the scoreline itself will make New Zealand's rivals sit up and take notice.
The All Blacks' next game is against France in Auckland next Saturday.
Much of the pre-match conjecture centred around the missing star duo Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, as well as full-back Mils Muliaina, with some sections of the New Zealand media suggesting they were not injured at all but merely being rested by coach Graham Henry.
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We played well most of the time, but there are still things we need to work on. There were four 50-50 passes in the second half, one of which resulted in a try. We're trying to cut those out of our game
Graham Henry
All Blacks coach
While Henry denied the accusations, the raft of unenforced changes in the starting XV also caused disquiet, with some critics suggesting a lack of continuity could be the undoing of the All Blacks, as it has been in the past.
Nevertheless, when outside-centre Conrad Smith, playing his 50th Test, opened the scoring with a try after only two minutes, it looked like a repeat of the record 145-17 beating New Zealand gave Japan at the 1995 World Cup might be on.
But it took until the 15th minute for the hosts to extend their lead, left-wing Richard Kahui darting over for a try after the ball was shipped down the line.
Blind-side Jerome Kaino scored his side's third try six minutes later after sustained pressure on the Japanese line before hooker Kevin Mealamu went sliding over following a scything run by centre Ma'a Nonu.
Astrologer
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