All Blacks fullback Christian Cullen scored a try in a controversial debut yesterday for the New Zealand Maori, who piled on 28 unanswered points in the second half of a 47-12 win over Tonga at Albany, north of Auckland.
The Maori scored seven tries, all to backs. Sunday they will meet Six Nations champion England. Tonga, which scored two tries from intercepts in the first half and trailed 19-12 at the interval, had its defensive weaknesses exposed ahead of its next encounter against a New Zealand Divisional 15.
"As a forward effort that was quite good but the backs will have to look at their defensive pattern," said Tongan captain, lock Inoke Afeaki. "We're a pretty collective team, especially in the forwards. There's a lot of trust and faith and, hopefully, against the New Zealand Divisional XV we'll be a bit tighter."
Cullen, who was selected for the Maori after missing selection in the first All Black squad of the season, formed part of an explosive backline combination. He had a hand in several of the Maori tries and scored himself 11th minutes after halftime.
Best of the Maori backs were the midfield pair Ryan Nicholas and Rico Gear who both scored tries and who constructed several others, tearing apart brittle Tongan defense. Sevens speedster Brad Fleming, on the left wing, scored twice in an outstanding display of finishing.
Loose forward Taine Randell, All Black captain until he was overlooked in the most-recent selection, played a big role as Maori held 60 percent of possession.
Randell took over captaincy of the Maori side Monday after appointed captain Jono Gibbes suffered a broken leg in the 14th minute. Gibbes was carried from the field and rushed to Auckland Hospital.
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