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All Blacks claim 41-10 win over Tonga
Tonga and the All Blacks lock in the scrum during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between New Zealand and Tonga at Eden Park on September 9, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
( September 8, 2011 - Photos by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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All Blacks up and running in Auckland
A fine first-half performance helped New Zealand to a 41-10 victory over Tonga in the first game of the 2011 World Cup at Eden Park on Friday.
It was hardly a vintage 80 minutes but with the job done and dusted before the break, it is difficult to blame the hosts for taking their foot off the gas.
They carded six tries in all while the Tongans, who were unlucky not to take the second-half spoils after topping both the possession and territory statistics, responded thanks to a late try from replacement loosehead prop Alisona Taumalolo.
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Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks is tackled by Andrew Ma'ilei
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New Zealand were sublime for many chunks of the fixture and the experiment of Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu at centre gave more than a feeling that head coach Graham Henry had known about this combination for some time but kept it under wraps until the tournament kick-off. Rivals must now do their homework.
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Man of the match: It was a toss-up betwen Sonny Bill Williams for his assists and Richard Kahui for grabbing his opportunity on the wing with both hands. Kahui was just too good with two tries picked up - one of which was a well-finished score down the right touchline.
read the whole thing here:
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Ali Williams of the All Blacks is lifited by Sione Kalamafoni of Tonga
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Match Highlights Video
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/rugbytracker/match=10920/video.html
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next for Tonga & New Zealand:
Match Highlights Video
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/rugbytracker/match=10920/video.html
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next for Tonga & New Zealand:
9-14
Tonga v Canada
Whangarei
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9-16
NZ v Japan
Hamilton
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