New Zealand half-backs Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie scored twice every because the All Blacks ran in 11 tries towards Nambia; prop Ethan de Groot’s late crimson card for a excessive deal with spoilt an in any other case near-perfect response to an opening-game defeat to France
Final Up to date: 15/09/23 10:33pm
Damian McKenzie scored two tries for New Zealand towards Namibia
New Zealand overcame Namibia 71-3 in Toulouse with a ruthless show of attacking to get off the mark in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks started their event with a defeat to hosts France in Paris however had no such hassle of their second outing as Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie every scored two tries to assist Ian Foster’s facet accumulate a bonus level and transfer second within the pool.
Namibia stay with out a victory in 23 makes an attempt on the World Cup going again to 1999 and by no means appeared sturdy sufficient to pose issues for New Zealand – for whom Ethan de Groot was crimson carded within the remaining minutes – in a sport performed largely in torrential rain.
The three-time winners drew first blood after solely two minutes. McKenzie kicked on for Leicester Fainga’anuku to gather and he offloaded for Roigard to take over and rating below the posts, with McKenzie changing comfortably.
It took solely one other six minutes for the result in lengthen to 12 factors when Roigard acquired the ball from a scrum and went over for his second attempt.
New Zealand ahead Ethan de Groot was despatched off for a excessive deal with
Namibia’s night time took an extra flip for the more serious when centre Le Roux Malan suffered a nasty knee damage, leaving the pitch on a stretcher and clutching an oxygen masks, moments after Tiaan Swanepoel had lower the deficit with a penalty.
Minutes later New Zealand pulled additional forward when McKenzie went over for a transformed attempt, weaving by means of Namibia’s line to make it 19-3.
The bonus level was secured for the All Blacks with quarter-hour of the primary half nonetheless to play, Fainga’anuku powering over and exhibiting glorious fingers for his staff’s fourth attempt, earlier than two tries in simply over a minute made the rating unassailable earlier than the break.
First, took full benefit of the slippery situations with two properly managed kicks alongside the bottom to get in behind Namibia and drop on it because it crossed the attempt line, then McKenzie added his second of the sport when he collected from Roigard off a scrum and crossed the whitewash to make it 38-3 on the interval.
Anton Lienert-Brown scored one of many All Blacks’ 11 tries
De Groot ensured New Zealand started the second half in the identical ruthless useless with which they completed the primary, the prop crashing over simply 30 seconds after coming off the bench regardless of the attentions of two Namibia defenders.
Beauden Barrett made the following attempt for Dalton Papalii, breaking out extensive earlier than slipping the ball throughout with a nice bullet go for Papalii to go over below the posts, minutes earlier than David Havili took benefit of an excellent run by means of the center from Roigard to go over the road and make it 57-3.
Caleb Clarke scored New Zealand’s tenth attempt when he bought on the tip of a cross-field kick from Richie Mo’unga to slip over the road.
De Groot was despatched to the sin bin with eight minutes to play – later upgraded to a crimson card for harmful play – nevertheless it didn’t halt New Zealand’s cost, substitute Rieko Ioane scoring to make it 71-3 close to the tip.
Roigard: McKenzie model fits my sport
Roigard, who was awarded participant of the match on his first Take a look at begin for the All Blacks, stated he loved his half-back mixture with McKenzie.
“It is fairly surreal. The environment right here is excellent. I suppose we had been fairly lucky that our forwards had been dominant, giving me a very good platform to play off,” Roigard stated.
“On the opposite facet, credit score to Naimbia, they confirmed a whole lot of ardour and coronary heart.
“I suppose we [Roigard and McKenzie] have had some coaching reps collectively and we’re type of beginning to work out how we wish to play.
“I do know that his attacking model fits mine as properly, so actually loved tonight enjoying alongside him.”
What’s subsequent?
New Zealand face their hardest remaining pool-stage fixture after they tackle Italy on Friday 29 September in Lyon (8pm kick-off BST).
The match is more likely to resolve who will end second to France in Pool A, with the hosts having overwhelmed the All Blacks within the event opener.
Namibia’s subsequent match is towards the hosts on the Stade de Marseille on Thursday 21 September (8pm kick-off BST), with the minnows doubtless in for an additional powerful night.