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Hello and welcome to live coverage of New Zealand's final Pool C game, against Tonga in Newcastle. The All Blacks need another two points to sew up top spot in the group, while the Tongans still have an outside chance of sealing automatic qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. To do that though they will need to beat the defending champions. It promises to be an intense encounter, not least in the moments after the anthems when fans will be treated to two hakas.
The players are making their way out of the tunnel and we are moments away from the big event. And once the two hakas are out of the way, we have the not insignificant matter of a World Cup match. The All Blacks still need two points to secure Pool C bragging rights.
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| 1 |
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Dan Carter booms the kick off deep into Tongan territory and the men in red hint at their intent by taking the game to the All Blacks. Fetu'u Vainikolo sniffs a gap as Tonga put the pressure on but Kieran Read forces a penalty to allow Carter to clear.
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| 2 |
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New Zealand's turn to threaten the 22 as Sam Whitelock makes good ground.
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| 3 |
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A promising All Blacks attack comes to an end as hooker Dane Coles is isolated on the right wing and Tonga snaffle a turnover.
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| 4 |
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Another nervy moment for the All Blacks as Tane Takulua's charge down sees Vainikolo chasing through but Ben Smith does well to mop up the danger.
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| 5 |
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| 6 |
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Waisake Naholo stretches his legs for the first time this evening, breaking the first tackle but Tonga hold firm and Carter kicks possession away.
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| 7 |
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That was not so good from Takulua. With Tonga going through the phases towards halfway he hoists an up and under that goes out on the full. Lineout for New Zealand.
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| 8 |
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| 9 |
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Tonga have a scrum deep in their own half, but it wheels and will have to be reset.
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| 11 |
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Second time lucky for Tonga as referee John Lacey blows for a penalty. Kurt Morath boots the ball downfield.
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| 12 |
5 - 0 |
Try for New Zealand! The All Blacks steal the lineout, though, and launch an attack down the right wing. Great hands from Aaron and Ben Smith and Nehe Milner-Skudder before Conrad Smith tips it back inside and Ben Smith shows pace and power to finish.
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| 13 |
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| 14 |
7 - 0 |
Dan Carter makes no mistake from the tee, and the All Blacks have a seven-point lead.
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| 15 |
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Tonga have a lineout in the New Zealand half and they try to attack but the All Blacks defence stands firm.
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| 16 |
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That defence ultimately ensures New Zealand win a scrum.
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| 17 |
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Nili Latu cannot resist going for the ball despite lying on the floor and New Zealand have a penalty.
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| 18 |
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The All Blacks launch an attack from their lineout but Ma'a Nonu knocks on as he is tackled by two Tongans.
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| 19 |
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Tonga win the ball from the scrum and Morath clears downfield but Milner-Skudder runs the ball back.
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| 20 |
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The Tongans have another scrum on halfway after Jerome Kaino knocks on just as their attack looked like it was clicking into gear.
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| 21 |
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| 22 |
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Now Tonga build from a scrum as Latiume Fosita and Telusa Veainu both get over the gain line.
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| 23 |
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Tonga are camped around seven metres from the try line but with the ball slowed down, Lacey blows for a penalty to the men in red.
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| 25 |
7 - 3 |
Morath had an off day with the boot on Sunday but he lines this one up and sends it through the posts.
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| 26 |
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The All Blacks mount a stunning counter after Read knocks the ball backwards, just, however they are denied a try as Naholo takes his eye off the ball and knocks on.
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| 27 |
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| 28 |
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Once the scrum is set, Tonga manage to win the ball and clear. But that only invites a new All Blacks attack with Carter sending Ben Smith through a gap after a good break from Milner-Skudder.
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| 29 |
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More errors from New Zealand ensure the move breaks down, but they have a scrum.
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| 30 |
12 - 3 |
Try for New Zealand! Aaron Smith gets the ball out quickly and Naholo arrives onto a fine inside pass from Carter to scythe through a gap. As the ball is recycled Smith feeds Tony Woodcock who dives over.
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| 31 |
14 - 3 |
Carter kicks the extras and the All Blacks are well in control now.
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| 32 |
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Nonu spots a gap but is hauled to the ground by Elvis Taione, the Tonga hooker.
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| 34 |
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Scrum to Tonga, who win the penalty as the All Blacks collapse it.
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| 35 |
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Morath clears the ball into the New Zealand half to give Tonga something of an attacking platform. Tonga win the lineout cleanly but just as they spread the play, fullback Vunga Lilo passes forward.
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| 36 |
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TMO Graham Hughes steps in to allow Lacey another look at Ben Smith's tackle on Veainu. The fullback is adjudged to have done so dangerously, but that seems a tad harsh. Nonetheless Morath kicks the penalty into the New Zealand 22.
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| 37 |
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Tonga get a drive on and it breaches the five-metre line before they lose the ball. Lacey had long since indicated they would have a penalty though, and the All Blacks are down to 14 men as Read is sin-binned for attempting to bring down the drive. Tonga take the scrum, and win another penalty.
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| 38 |
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| 40 |
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As the clock ticks past 40 minutes, Tonga get another shove on from the scrum and win another penalty. Lacey warns the All Blacks that the next penalty will mean a penalty try.
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| 40+1 |
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Takulua finally gets the ball out of the scrum and passes wide to Siale Piutau but he is stopped metres short.
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| 40+2 |
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Taione is the next to make an assault on the line but he is held up. Sione Kalamafoni gets over the line but after consultation with Hughes upstairs, Lacey is unable to award a try and New Zealand have held on, just.
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ESPN's Tristan Barclay reports from St James' Park:
They're two tries to the good and in no real danger of losing this match, but some of New Zealand's play has been so sloppy. I suppose that tells you something about the individual quality in the side -- Ben Smith's try in particular was the product of lightening-quick hands out wide -- but this isn't World Cup-winning form. Smith himself has offered a rare glimmer of quality in the New Zealand line-up, switching nicely with Dan Carter as first-receiver, but Tonga have bullied them at the breakdown. The All Blacks will be looking for more from openside Sam Cane, the youngster in for injured skipper Richie McCaw, while his stand-in as skipper Kieran Read blotted his copybook with a yellow card just before half-time. Tonga ended the half on the up and were hugely unlucky not to finish with a try. Steve Hansen will want to see a lot of improvements for the second 40.
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| 40 |
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New Zealand start the half on the front foot but again their play is not smooth as Conrad Smith is forced to pick a wayward pass up off the floor. They makes inroads into the Tonga half though.
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| 41 |
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Suddenly they inject some pace and Aaron Smith puts Ben Smith into some space. But they are beaten at the breakdown again and Tonga have a penalty.
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| 43 |
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Although they're in front, this is not going to plan for the All Blacks. Nonu kicks the ball out on the full to sum up their travails in Newcastle.
There's a lengthy stoppage in play as Taione receives treatment after taking a knee to the head. He's up now and cleared to continue though.
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| 44 |
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Lineout to Tonga, which they claim comfortably and launch an attack. Their forwards are heavily involved as they make inroads into the All Blacks defence.
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| 45 |
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Some good hands from some big Tongans and the men in red still have the ball. Joe Tuineau briefly has a sniff on the right wing but instead recycles possession.
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| 46 |
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After 19 phases, though, and some increasingly frantic passing the move breaks down as Piutau knocks on. They had a penalty coming though and Morath will have a kick at goal...
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| 48 |
14 - 6 |
From fairly wide on the right Morath dissects the posts. Where was this boot on Sunday?
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| 49 |
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Penalty to New Zealand as Piutau is caught a long way offside.
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| 50 |
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The All Blacks go for the corner, and Whitelock takes the lineout before Aaron Smith has a dart. Whitelock tajes the ball up further before Read takes it on.
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| 51 |
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Try for New Zealand. Kaino takes it into the five-metre line, but Cane's attempted pass to Milner-Skudder is picked off.
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| 52 |
19 - 6 |
Aaron Smith recovers possession though and with the Tongan defence stretched Milner-Skudder is found with a long pass this time and he finishes well from close range.
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| 53 |
21 - 6 |
Carter makes no mistake with the conversion and New Zealand are now more than two converted tries in front.
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| 54 |
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Ben Smith spots a gap but he is isolated and turned over. Viliami Ma'afu boots the ball downfield but it goes over the goal line and New Zealand will have a 22 drop out.
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| 55 |
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Penalty to Tonga against Cane for obstruction at the breakdown.
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| 56 |
21 - 9 |
Morath will have another pop at the posts. And he is having a fine night with the boot against the country of his birth, nine points now.
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| 57 |
26 - 9 |
Try for the All Blacks! Ben Smith regathers the kick off for New Zealand and they are on the attack. Beauden Barrett shows a light touch to stab the ball through and Milner-Skudder does the rest.
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| 58 |
28 - 9 |
Carter is in the groove with the boot too and New Zealand are out of sight now and have a bonus point.
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| 59 |
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| 60 |
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An hour gone and New Zealand are starting to move through the gears. Carter misses touch though.
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| 61 |
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Milner-Skudder's pass to Ben Smith is forward handing Tonga a scrum on halfway.
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| 62 |
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The men in red aren't going to fold and they keep the ball in hand looking for gaps.
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| 63 |
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Tonga end up going sideway, though, and New Zealand win the penalty. This time Carter does find touch and moves the All Blacks back down into Tongan territory.
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| 64 |
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Read rises to collect and New Zealand put a shove on. Eventually Aaron Smith gets the ball out and Carter takes the ball up to the five-metre line before taking a big hit.
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| 65 |
35 - 9 |
Try for New Zealand! And as the ball is recycled it's Sonny Bill Williams who ultimately benefits, taking advantage of a brilliant pass from Aaron Smith. Carter adds the extras and New Zealand are 26 points to the good.
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| 66 |
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Tonga's restart goes out on the full, giving the All Blacks a scrum on halfway. The Tongans are looking increasingly tired out there now. They have taken almost as much punishment as the St James' Park pitch. Milner-Skudder races away down the left off a fine move, but as he flips the ball back inside to Carter, Fosita reads it and picks off the fly-half's pass to Cane.
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| 68 |
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There are holes everywhere now for the All Blacks to exploit and they are doing their best to do just that.
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| 69 |
40 - 9 |
Referee Lacey goes upstairs to look at replacement hooker Paul Ngauamo's tackle on Carter. It doesn't look good and the Tongan is sent to the bin.
Try for New Zealand! To be fair, that was a fairly simple decision for the TMO. Unsurprisingly New Zealand go for the corner and get the drive on. Cane is in possession and when a gap appears, he peels around the back and dives over.
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| 70 |
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TMO recommends Paula Ngauamo goes to the bin for that tackle on Cartre. Tonga (almost) to finish with 14 men #NZLvTGA #RWC2015
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| 71 |
42 - 9 |
Carter takes his time over the conversion, but it's the same outcome - it sails through the posts.
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| 72 |
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Tonga manage to regain possession from kick off and win a penalty at the breakdown. With the game lost they go for the corner.
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| 73 |
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New Zealand manage to get their hands on the ball from the lineout though and clear. Tonga run into traffic as they try to run the ball back but Read knocks on after Nonu has won a turnover, and they have a scrum on halfway.
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| 74 |
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We've got uncontested scrums in Newcastle, so Tonga guaranteed to win it and Piutau makes good ground.
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| 75 |
47 - 9 |
Try for New Zealand! Fosita then makes a break but as the ball is recycled it's knocked on and New Zealand attack. Tonga deal with the first but not the second as Milner-Skudder takes the All Blacks forward before playing in Nonu to score on his 100th cap.
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| 76 |
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| 77 |
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A tight conversion on the left touchline for Carter and he pushes it wide.
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| 78 |
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We're into the last two minutes and Tonga have another scrum. Can they finish off their campaign with a consolation try?
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| 79 |
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It's messy at the breakdown but the Tongans retain possession just. They are extremely tired now though, and with 14 men they begin to go backwards.
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| 80 |
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As the clock ticks past 80 minutes they still have the ball, though, and Fosita keeps them on the front foot.
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| 80+1 |
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New Zealand reclaim possession and as they spin the ball wide, Williams stabs through for the chasing Milner-Skudder but the ball beats him and that's it. The All Blacks may not have been at their best but they scored seven tries.
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ESPN's Tristan Barclay's full-time verdict from Newcastle:
One of the basic requirements of a rugby match is that is lasts 80 minutes. In the opening 40 here at St James' Park, the All Blacks were sloppy and looking sluggish. After half-time, however, they simply took the game away from Tonga. The likes of dangermen Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ben Smith really came to life, the former scything through the Tongan line almost every time the ball was worked out wide to him. He was named man of the match, but Smith must have run him a close second. Tonga were full of effort but seemed to tire after the hour mark, and the introduction of Sonny Bill Williams added a battering ram to the New Zealand line just as Tonga's was softening. On the evidence of the first half, the All Blacks won't be winning the World Cup. In the second 40, however, they looked very dangerous indeed.
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