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Flying start All Blacks crush Samoa 50-6 to start season
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- Flyhalf Tony Brown scored three tries as New Zealand beat Samoa 50-6 Saturday in the All Blacks' first rugby union international of the season. Brown opened New Zealand's scoring in the third minute of play, added his second try in the 35th minute and his third in the 25th minute of the second half as the All Blacks outscored Samoa seven tries to nil. Brown added three penalties and three conversions to bolster an inconsistent All Black performance, hampered largely by driving rain. "The ball was slippery and it was hard to do much with it but I felt we did our best with what we had," said All Black halfback Byron Kelleher. "Samoa defended well and our forwards did their best to clear out possession but it was never easy out there. "We have to be pleased with that as a first-up performance." New Zealand wanted a dominating forward performance but never fully stifled the passion of the Samoans whose only points came from penalties to fullback Silao Laeaga before halftime. Lock Troy Flavell scored his fifth try in nine tests and provided contributing passes in two others but the All Black forwards functioned only adequately at set pieces. Their scrum was strong but they risked too many long throws at lineouts. "Overall we got a pass mark," said All Black co-coach Tony Gilbert. "The Samoans played very well and they really came at us. "We defended quite well but we could have done more with our own ball. I think it was a reasonable start." The Samoans attacked the All Black defense with an inadequate supply of possession. The defended with typical vigor but found themselves frequently outflanked. "I'm very proud of my players," said Samoan coach John Boe. "They defended strongly and they tried their best with the ball they had. It was always going to be difficult for us but I thought we played with a lot of spirit." Samoan captain Semo Setiti said his side had risen to the challenge of the game but were beaten by a better side. "It was a good game from the All Blacks," he said. "We tried our best but they provided good defense and we couldn't get through them." Hooker Anton Oliver, who led the All Blacks in a test match for the first time, was seldom seen in open play -- most often buried in the heart of the tight pieces. But he was happy to launch his team's international program with a convincing win. "It was pretty scrappy," he said. "We just tried to produce on defense, to get it down there and force them to give it back to us. For most of the time we did that." Waikato flanker Marty Holah took the field as the All Black's only new cap and New Zealand's 999th rugby international. Otago prop Carl Hayman, lank haired and bearded, became the 1,000th All Black when he took the field as a replacement midway through the second half. Scores: NEW ZEALAND 50 (Tony Brown 3, Norm Maxwell, Doug Howlett, Troy Flavell, Jeff Wilson tries; Brown 3 penalties, 2 conversions) def. SAMOA 6 (Silao Leaega 2 penalties).
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