The All Blacks celebrated their first outing of the century with a century of points, overwhelming Tonga 101-0 in a glittering performance at North Harbour Stadium, Albany, on Friday night.
It was a magical start to Wayne Smith's international coaching career, as the rejuvenated All Blacks ran in 15 tries and produced a quality of rugby which electrified the fans and devastated the opposition.
The defeat was the heaviest in Tonga's history, surpassing their defeat at the hands of England during RWC'99, and only the fourth time the Tongans have been shut-out since 1924.
It was a sensational night for debutantes, with lock Troy Flavell picking up three tries before half-time, replacement fullback Doug Howlett scoring twice in the second half and substitute number eight Filo Tiatia also dotting down.
It didn't seem possible that Tony Brown could maintain his test average of 31 points a game, but he sure did, compiling 32 points, including a try.
He was in such vintage form that the All Black management left their top-ranking first-five Andrew Mehrtens untroubled on the reserves bench for the full 80 minutes.
New skipper Todd Blackadder, chuffed with the outcome, said the players had studied the World Cup game against Tonga (when the All Blacks laboured to a 45-9 win) and were determined to get on the front foot from the start.
They sure did. The All Blacks were ahead 29-nil after 19 minutes, 48-nil in front at half-time and hit the century mark with two minutes left on the clock.
"It's only a start," said Blackadder, never one to get too carried away. "We're not kidding ourselves, there are tougher matches ahead. But tonight we'll celebrate because this was a great team effort."
"We wanted to go out and get on the front foot, both with the ball and in defence, and I think we did that. But it was only one step. We've got a long way to go. We respected Tonga but we wanted to play for 80 minutes."
He said the new management and the introduction of new players meant the game felt like everyone had been making their first appearance.
Beleaguered Tongan captain Elisi Vunipola could only admire the All Black effort.
"Their fitness came out on top from the start and they were a yard in front of us, that was the game," he said.
Flavell was the toast of the North Harbour crowd in the first half, marking his All Black debut in sensational style with the team's first try in the sixth minute and two more in the 34th and 38th minutes.
His second was an absolute knockout. Suddenly operating in midfield, he burst between two startled defenders and nonchalantly ran around the fullback to dive across beside the posts.
Howlett had an even more stunning entry into the All Black scene. Entering the action at half-time as a replacement for Christian Cullen, who'd twinged a hamstring, Howlett sprinted 50 metres to dot down behind the posts a mere 26 seconds after the restart.
The All Blacks played fabulous rugby. The backs flourished because the forwards kept powering up the middle, committing the Tongans, who must have thought they were caught up in a black tornado.
Out back, it was great to see players like Cullen, Alama Ieremia and Tana Umaga bursting on to passes, something seriously absent from the All Blacks' game throughout the World Cup campaign.
While Flavell probably merited the player of the night trophy because of his three tries, Umaga was no less impressive, shattering the Tongan defence every time he handled the ball.
Centre Ieremia was unrecognisable as the ponderous individual at the World Cup. He was all aggression and thrust and forced countless turnovers with his punishing tackles.
Justin Marshall was mighty at halfback, Brown the perfect general at flyhalf, Pita Alatini dazzling on his feet at second-five, Jonah Lomu dynamic on the wing (committing up to five players every time he handled the ball) and Cullen a dynamo at fullback.
Up front, the Tongans were completely overwhelmed, but a shadow of the side that had held the All Blacks to 16-9 half-time score at the World Cup in Bristol eight months earlier.
Hooker Mark Hammett continued his outstanding form of the Super 12, props Craig Dowd and Greg Somerville created the go-forward that was so important, Blackadder did the hard graft, Reuben Thorne was unrivalled at the back of the lineout and the loosies plus Flavell had a ball.
Only a series of forward passes, which cost probably four tries, marred an otherwise classic performance by the All Blacks.
The Scots, who would have watched the game from New Plymouth, must be wondering what on earth's in store for them at Dunedin next Saturday!
Man of the Match: It could easily go to Tana Umaga for the chaos he caused among the Tongan defence every time he received the ball, but sentimentally it has to go to lock Troy Flavell who in his test debut scored three tries, equalling the New Zealand test record for a forward.
Villain of the match: None of those. It was an amazingly trouble-free match. No yellow or red cards, hardly any penalties at all really.
Moment of the match: Had to be Troy Flavell's second try when he made like a centre, exploding through the Tongan defence and leaving the forlorn fullback stranded as he raced on to the goalposts. Quite a night for the kid from North Harbour, really.
The Teams:
Tonga: 1 Ngalu Taufo'ou, 2 Fe'ao Vunipola, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 4 Isi Fatani, 5 Ben Hur Kivalu, 6 Jonathan Koloi, 7 Henry Saafi, 8 Va'a Toloke, 9 Doug Havea, 10 'Elisi Vunipola, 11 David Tiueti, 12 Siua Taumalolo, 13 Sam Alatini, 14 Semi Taupeaafe, 15 Tauna'holo Taufahema
Reserves: Ta'u Fainga'anuku, Latiume Maka, Loni Manako, Sione Tuipulotu
Unused: Feleti Fakaongo, Fakataha Molitika, 'Epafasi Ta'ufo'ou
New Zealand: 1 Greg Somerville, 2 Mark Hammett, 3 Craig Dowd, 4 Troy Flavell, 5 Todd Blackadder (c), 6 Josh Kronfeld, 7 Reuben Thorne, 8 Taine Randell, 9 Justin Marshall, 10 Tony Brown, 11 Jonah Lomu, 12 Pita Alatini, 13 Alama Ieremia, 14 Tana Umaga, 15 Christian Cullen
Reserves: Doug Howlett, Filo Tiatia, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Scott Robertson
Unused: Byron Kelleher, Andrew Mehrtens
Attendance: 20000
Referee: Lander s.
Points Scorers:
New Zealand
Tries: Troy Flavell 3, Tana Umaga 2, Doug Howlett 2, Alama Ieremia, Christian Cullen, Mark Hammett, Todd Blackadder, Josh Kronfeld, Filo Tiatia, Justin Marshall and Tony Brown
Conv: Tony Brown 12
Pen K.: Tony Brown 1
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