The All Blacks ran in 15 tries to two in a record 101-14 romp against completely outclassed Samoa in a one-off Test yesterday.
Samoa were always going to struggle against the top-ranked world side and the absence of their top players due to European club obligations ensured they lost by their highest ever margin against the All Blacks.
The men in black constantly exploited big holes out wide to set up a procession of tries, and after some early glitches in the lineouts secured complete dominance in the forwards.
PHOTO: AP
The first Test match between the two teams for seven years was billed by All Blacks management as a vital step in their build-up ahead of their Tri-Nations decider with the Wallabies next Saturday.
But it is debatable how much the All Blacks will have gained from their first match since the 19-0 win over South Africa last month.
The match went according to the form book from the start, with the All Blacks quickly asserting a big advantage in territory and possession.
The first try came in the third minute when star flyhalf Dan Carter threw a cut-out pass to Muliaina, who only had to step inside the last defender to touch down.
Tries to flanker Adam Thomson, a second to Muliaina and center Conrad Smith saw the All Blacks race to a 26-0 lead after 17 minutes.
Although heavily outgunned, Samoa refused to throw in the towel and hit back with a try of their own to flyhalf Uale Mai after 26 minutes.
Samoa halfback Notise Tauafao cleaned up from a poor All Black lineout and Mai wriggled between two All Black defenders to put his side on the scoreboard after converting his own try.
Tauafao was sinbinned in the 37th minute for infringing too many times at the scrum and the penalty count was heavily against Samoa throughout the match.
Muliaina’s third try, just after the halftime hooter sounded, put the All Blacks 47-7 in front at the break.
Their dominance was even greater in the second spell with another five tries piled on in the third quarter, including a penalty try in the 61st minute. The All Blacks pushed the crumbling Samoan scrum back over their own tryline with ease and referee Stu Dickinson awarded the penalty try against several Samoan forwards for being offside.
The most thrilling of eight second-half All Black tries came in the 74th minute when a devastating 50m break by replacement All Black back Isaia Toeava ended with a try to reserve scrumhalf Piri Weepu.
Samoa refused to hang their heads and two minutes later they hit back with a try to flanker Alafoti Faosiliva after a break by flyhalf Mai, one of the best in the beaten team.
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