Saturday, September 15, 2007

New Zealand 108-13 Portugal


New Zealand (52) 108
Tries: Rokocoko 2, Toeava, Williams, Mauger 2, Collins, Masoe, Hore, Leonard, Evans, Ellis, MacDonald, Smith 2, Hayman
Cons: Evans 14

Portugal: (3) 13
Tries: Cordeiro
Cons: D Pinto Drop-goals: Malheiro

New Zealand ran in 16 tries as they brushed aside Portugal in Lyon.

Joe Rokocoko (2), Isaia Toeava, Ali Williams, Aaron Mauger, Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe and Andrew Hore went over in the first half for the All Blacks.

They added further scores through Nick Evans, Brendon Leonard, Andrew Ellis, Mauger, Leon MacDonald, Conrad Smith (2) and Carl Hayman.

Portugal managed a converted Rui Cordeiro try to add to Goncalo Malheiro's earlier drop goal.

The Portuguese, 22nd in the world, had eagerly awaited their opportunity to meet the world's top ranked team and they visibly relished the chance to face the haka.

Italy had spurned the challenge when they met the All Blacks and conceded a try within two minutes, Portugal at least held out twice as long before Rokocoko scythed through to score.

The winger soon added a second try but the next score went to Portugal as their all-time record points scorer, Malheiro, drilled over a fine drop-goal.

The All Blacks said they would be "sensitive" facing a largely amateur team, but conceding points was not part of the deal and the drop-goal had the same effect as poking a wasps' nest.

New Zealand started to swarm over Os Lobos and in the last 18 minutes of the first half they added further tries by Toeava, Williams, Mauger, Collins, Masoe and Hore.

Amazingly the first score of the second half went to Portugal as Cordeiro finished off a series of close-range drives, with Duarte Pinto adding the conversion to put the minnows within 42 points.

But Leonard rapidly hit back for the All Blacks and although Portugal defended bravely Evans, Ellis, Mauger, MacDonald, Smith, who grabbed a double, and Hayman all crossed as the floodgates opened once more.

Evans converted 14 tries for a personal haul of 33 points as New Zealand finished well short of the record 145 points they ran up against Japan in 1995.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko; Nick Evans, Brendon Leonard; Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins (c), Chris Masoe, Sione Lauaki.
Replacements: Anton Oliver, Tony Woodcock, Carl Hayman, Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu, Andy Ellis, Leon MacDonald

Portugal: Pedro Leal; Antonio Aguilar, Miguel Portela, Diogo Mateus, Pedro Carvalho; Goncalo Malheiro, Luis Pissarra; Andre Silva, Joao Correia, Ruben Spachuck, Marcello d'Orey, Goncalo Uva, Paulo Murinello, Diogo Coutinho, Vasco Uva (capt). Replacements: Rui Cordeiro, Joaquim Ferreira, David Penalva, Tiago Girao, Joao Uva, Jose Pinto, Duarte Cardoso Pinto

Source: BBC Sport

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