New Zealand 41-10 Tonga
At first glance, it may seem as though this match was sadly predictable: hosts (and 66-point favourites according to Ladbrokes) New Zealand ease to a comfortable win over plucky but outclassed Tonga.
After twenty minutes, it threatened to be even worse for both the men in red and, surely, all neutrals. Israel Dagg and Richard Kahui had both strolled for well-worked tries, but ones that were heavily reliant on Tongan naivety (in their defensive set-up and positional awareness) as well as, of course, the more obvious faults of weak tackling.
The All Blacks headed into the interval at Eden Park 29-3 ahead – Tonga kicked a penalty with the last play of the first half after Dagg and Kahui had grabbed a second try apiece – and there was a feeling that an early score in the second period, coupled with what was likely to be the inevitability of the hosts’ physical advantage becoming more and more clear cut, would open the floodgates.
But, finally, Tonga decided that they had had enough of the script.
New Zealand as a whole, and coach Graham Henry in particular, sought a comfortable opening-day victory to calm the nerves of the team and quell the rising pressure of a desperate, expectant public.
But while the All Blacks were certainly not on top form in the second forty minutes, Tonga were much improved from their first-half showing. It took until the hour mark before they next conceded, Kahui collecting his own beautifully weighted chip and flipping the ball inside for flanker Jerome Kaino to gallop over.
But the wonderful Tongan defence that preceded that score was far more impressive. A break from Ma’a Nonu looked for all the world as if it would produce a try, but aggressive, passionate last-ditch tackles flew in, and somehow the All Blacks were repelled. When Sonny Bill Williams was held up in the corner, and the ball recovered by Tonga, you could imagine the cheers emanating from every neutral’s throat.
Even a 34-3 lead – Dan Carter missing what was, for him, a regulation conversion – was unsatisfactory for New Zealand, but Tonga then marched down the field and closed that margin.
Phase after phase of possession for Tonga, which saw them camped inside the All Blacks’ 22 metre line for ten minutes, eventually resulted in a typical forwards try for replacement prop Taumalolo.
New Zealand were penalised twice at five-metre scrums, and although they fended off the prospect of conceding the tournament’s first penalty try, Tonga kept their discipline in the face of an imperious black-shirted defence, eventually breaching it through Sona Taumalolo for a deserved score.
The All Blacks restored some pride, and took some of the gloss off the Tongans’ heroics with a very well-worked late try for Nonu, who combined well with Williams and replacement halfbacks Piri Weepu and Colin Slade in midfield to completely outfox the Tongan defence.
Even so, the match will worry New Zealand, who – although they admittedly did not have their full team out – must improve significantly if they are to get their hands on the William Webb Ellis trophy at this stadium on 23rd October. Australia et al will hardly be quaking in their boots – but, such is the pressure the All Blacks are under that a big win would probably be criticised in itself for being a sign of peaking too early.
From New Zealand’s perspective, don’t read too much into this result except as providing (another) wake-up call for the hosts.
But this encounter was also a demonstration that the minnows are not only here to make up the numbers; they can play a bit as well. Others will hopefully follow the lead of the Tongans, and in slightly more evenly matched fixtures we may even see an upset or two.
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