Another two: Richard Kahui
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New Zealand recorded two wins from two in World Cup 2011 on Friday with a slick 83-7 victory over Japan, a result that saw them score thirteen tries.
It quickly turned into a procession in Waikato as Ma'a Nonu caused all kinds of problems for the Brave Blossoms, who had rested several of their first-choice players. New Zealand had done something similar during midweek while niggles for Richie McCaw and Dan Carter saw them pull out soon after being named in the starting XV.
What was worrying early on for the All Blacks was the kicking from hand and tee of Colin Slade - one could picture the scribes already sharpening their pens for the second-choice fly-half. However, a settling conversion on 31 minutes calmed the number ten and he went on to enjoy a try-scoring effort for a side that was always on the front-foot.
Nonu was the key to this victory though, with his ability to fix and beat a man always keeping Japan on the back foot. It seemed like visiting head coach John Kirwan had targetted the soon-to-be Blues man by loading two players onto him, but that proved futile as Nonu tore the opposition to shreds in setting up his team-mates.
Centre colleague Conrad Smith, who was in for the benched Sonny Bill Williams, opened the scoring on just four minutes when number eight Victor Vito, Nonu and full-back Isaia Toeava combined to send over the number thirteen. Slade was on-target with the conversion from close to the left touchline but then mis-judged a penalty attempt soon after.
New Zealand had definitely found their rhythm and it didn't take too long for them to cross again, with Richard Kahui ghosting over after good work from Toeava for his third try of the tournament so far. He would get his fourth later on. The score was 12-0 with the television camera showing John Kirwan trying to keep a brave face. Things would not improve though.
On the other end of the scale, there was some pleasant viewing for Graham Henry, who will have a fair few selection headaches to deal with ahead of facing France in Auckland.
Nonu has nailed his spot down and Henry would have been encouraged by how Williams played on the right wing, scoring two tries in his cameo. Israel Dagg meanwhile has to start.
Joining Williams, Smith and Kahui on the try-scoring chart was Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu, Andy Ellis, Slade, Toeava, Andrew Hore, Nonu and Adam Thomson. The All Blacks now have until next Saturday to recover before facing les Bleus in a Pool decider.
Man of the match: While it took him over an hour to cross the whitewash, Ma'a Nonu was at the hear of all things good for New Zealand. Both he and Isaia Toeava were regularly on hand with assists for team-mates but Nonu was the man who caused the most problems.
Moment of the match: We always knew the All Blacks would be the ones scoring the tries but when veteran wing Hirotoki Onozawa went over for Japan on 58 minutes, it led to one of the biggest cheers of the night.
Villain of the match: Played in a good spirit. Nothing dirty.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Smith, Kahui 2, Kaino, Mealamu, Ellis, Slade, SB Williams 2, Toeava, Hore, Nonu, Thomson
Con: Slade 9
For Japan:
Try: Onozawa
Con: Williams
New Zealand: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
Japan: 15 Taihei Ueda, 14 Takahisa Usuzuki, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Yuta Imamura, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Murray Williams, 9 Atsushi Hiwasa, 8 Takashi Kikutani (c), 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Itaru Taniguchi, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Hithoshi Ono, 3 Nozomu Fujita, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Naoki Kawamata.
Replacements: 16 Hiroki Yuhara, 17 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 18 Yuji Kitagawa, 19 Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Shaun Webb, 22 Alisi Tupuailai.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Jérôme Garces (France)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
KiwiLad says...
LeslieUdwin, only by playing teams better than yourseff, can you improve..
Following your logic, perhaps only the ABs grandparents should play Japan at next RWC..
As for celebrating a try making people arrogant, if they were to score and run back to half way, without so much as a smile, would that mean you would support them??
Vey odd comments...
Posted 12:55 16th September 2011
Lankanallblack says...
This game should not used as a marker for the Allblacks nor should any All black player be measured by this game, if they do its ridiculous. Im not down grading on Japan, but honestly 2nd XV japan Vs The All blacks come on!!!!
If history is anything to go by group performances can hardly counted.
Posted 12:37 16th September 2011
LeslieUdwin says...
This result is a disgrace to rugby and the WC.There must be some way to show the minor rugby nations respect without just bringing them to theWC to be used as cannon fodder. When 1st tier teams play 2/3 tier teams maybe the 1st tier side should be limited to 150 caps total for the match or have 10 players with 10 caps and under in the side ? This would ensure a much more fair contest. Be a full international and check the depth of talent in the 1st tier nation. The way the AB celebrated every try with exaggerated glee was disgusting.Before this display of misplaced gloating I wanted the AB to win the WC. Now that I have seen their arrogance I really hope they will lose.
Posted 12:36 16th September 2011
LeslieUdwin says...
This result is a disgrace to rugby and the WC.There must be some way to show the minor rugby nations respect without just bringing them to theWC to be used as cannon fodder. When 1st tier teams play 2/3 tier teams maybe the 1st tier side should be limited to 150 caps total for the match or have 10 players with 10 caps and under in the side ? This would ensure a much more fair contest. Be a full international and check the depth of talent in the 1st tier nation. The way the AB celebrated every try with exaggerated glee was disgusting.Before this display of misplaced gloating I wanted the AB to win the WC. Now that I have seen their arrogance I really hope they will lose.
Posted 12:31 16th September 2011
Golden_StateNBA says...
Question to irb suits: what exactly has New Zealand rugby gained from this thrashing?
Posted 11:59 16th September 2011
KiwiLad says...
Jonsey2, what game did you watch? Slade was ordinary..Wepu a better 10.
I think one of us should phone sky Sport and get the same game broadcast..
Posted 11:55 16th September 2011
hayj05 says...
Nonu was great again, just continues to shine in the Black jersey.
Japans WC starts next week, targeting two wins & automatic qualification for 2015 & to add to their only win to date. Their top players will be rested & ready to give it a good crack.
Posted 11:50 16th September 2011
jonesy2 says...
also i was close in my 30 point prediction for slade. and before idiots come on and bag him for missing kicks, the wind was making the ball swing both ways, even when he kicked one it was swirling. and andy ellis was good so what does that do? who is the first choice half back?
Posted 11:47 16th September 2011
jonesy2 says...
well this was great. slade silencing his idiot critics, he is pure class and a perfect back up and will only continue to get better. nonu was an absolute monster as usual. kaino has morphed into the best blindside in the world. asian kev lead very well. sonny bill is a ridiculous rugby player, the stuff he can do is unbelievable. repeat performance against france should be 40-50 point win
Posted 11:41 16th September 2011
KiwiLad says...
Festival rugby, and a never say die attitude from both teams..
Hard to know, however, what the AB selectors can gain from this with so many players out of position.
Colin Slade better at fullback than 10, so do we see Izzy Dagg at 10?? doubt it so what was the point?
Posted 11:21 16th September 2011
lostguy101 says...
here we go folks
SBW and Nonu will be a great pairing at the Auckland Blues
The AB's squad for today's game (minus Richie McCaw) is impressive (yes the AB's may just well want to play the final without Richie ((and that comes from a very hard core AB fan))).
But....I heard the worst thing of all....
Graham Henry said that he always plays the nucleus of the team for EVERY game.
Bahhhhh.....That is BS.
I was so p$#*@ed off with that statement I almost swore my head off at the TV in front of my family.
The reason the AB's lost the TriNations and the Bledisloe Cup was for the very reason that Graham changed 8 players when we went to SA.
Sorry folks for the rant....but losing the TriNations and the Bledisloe is big for me.
Anyways, I know that the team tonight that played will be the basis for the RWC final (allowing for just a couple of minor changes)
Posted 11:14 16th September 2011
kinsman says...
@leinster_goy What is your point? Are you suggesting Japan should not be permitted to play New Zealand?
Posted 11:12 16th September 2011
ruckman says...
I'm afraid John Kirwan has put a real stain on this World Cup.
Here we have the only match of the day - with japan given a real chance to show the world the big adavances their rugby side has made, and no doubt the opportunity to increase the popularity of the game back home.
Not only has Kirwan allowed his fellow countrymen an extra traning session (I hope there is nothing sinister about this), but worse still he has left the image of Japanese rugby as gallant minnows - and they are far better than that!!
This was an opportunity missed, and a great shame.
Posted 10:57 16th September 2011
melkdave says...
The result was never in dought good run out for the blacks and Japan deserved their try just for their effort.GH has some big decisions to make hasnt he lol
Posted 10:55 16th September 2011
leinster_goy says...
question to irb suits: what exactly has japanese rugby gained from this thrashing?
Posted 10:50 16th September 2011
bryans says...
Just hope that Carter doesn't get injured because Slade would crack under any real pressure !
Posted 10:49 16th September 2011
l00sehead says...
Again a great match, fair play to both teams but again...bloody ITV!. Talking about Japan and their 'damage limitation'. having watched and enjoyed Japan playing in ALL the world cups including the glorious match against Zimbabwe in '91, I can tell you that the one thing Japan NEVER do is try damage limitation. They fling the ball about and they go for it. If it doesn't come off, they try again. Its the old old story unfortunately a good big 'un will always beat a good lille 'un. When your 2 second rows are shorter than the opposition centres...well its always gonna be a hard day. Great game though.
Posted 10:45 16th September 2011