Rugby World Cup 2011 - New Zealand vs Tonga

After an awesome opening ceremony involving fireworks, a giant replica trophy and a mass Haka to mention just a few it was then time for the first game of the tournament. With the teams out on the pitch Tonga performed their version of the Haka, The Sipi Tau, first before the All Blacks did the Haka.
Back to the game and it was Tonga who kicked off but it was New Zealand who had the better of the opening encounters with the attacks coming down one flank then the other, the ease of which they could switch the ball all the way across the field looked ominous for Tonga and the result of the pressure was a lead for New Zealand when Dan Carter kicked an easy penalty. It didn't take long for New Zealand to increase their lead when after just 10 minutes Carter again started the move by feeding his centres and Sonny Bill Williams drove forward, the ball was then spread wide where the Tongans were outnumbered and it left full back Dagg to finish the first try of the 2011 World Cup. Surprisingly Carter missed the conversion so the lead stayed at 8-0. Morath then had the chance to cut the deficit but the Tongan kicker missed out when a difficult kick went just wide.
Another free flowing move from the All Blacks resulted in another try when a number of good passes and offloads in the tackle gave Kahui the chance to cross the line. This time Carter didn't miss the kick and it all looked too easy for the home team. They continued their dominance and had a try ruled out for crossing but the ease of which they cut through the Tongans was ominous.

Sonny Bill Williams stood out as the All Blacks got off
to a winning start against Tonga.

The New Zealand back line then showed their quality again as Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams combined with great offloads and Dagg was there again to go over in the corner to get his second and New Zealand's third try of the game. Carter then converted the hardest of his kicks so far to extend the lead. The next try was just as good from the All Blacks as long passes pulled the ball out to the right this time where Dagg got past one then drew in the tackle and offloaded superbly out the back of his hand to Kahui 30 metres out and the winger sprinted past two defenders to score his second of the game. Carter kicked again to take the lead to 29-0 coming up to half time. The Tongans did however get their first points of the World Cup with the last touch of the first half when Morath kicked a penalty following an error by New Zealand scrum half Cowan to take the score to 29-3.
The start of the second half started a lot tighter than the first but there was still lots to enjoy. Both sides seemed to make a lot more turnovers and a few uncharacteristic errors from the All Blacks meant that the Tongans gained in confidence and their defence did well in holding off wave after wave of All Black attacks until the knock on gifted them back the ball. New Zealand finaly thought they had broken the defence again when substitute scrum half Weepu dived in at the corner but the video replay showed a last ditch Tongan tackle forced him into touch.
The first try of the second half finally came for the All Blacks as Weepu fed Kahui who chipped over the defence and then chased to get on the end of it before flicking a pass inside to Kaino who scored next to the posts. Carter then missed the easiest of easy kicks but the lead still stood at 34-3. Tonga turned the ball over after a great tackle by Taumalolo on Carter and then held on to possession for the next 10 minutes getting closer and closer to the try line with New Zealand conceding a couple of penalties and disrupting a large number of scrums within the last 5m.When the scrums finally ended another series of drives resulted in a a well deserved try for Tonga when a pick an go saw Taumalolo, who had started the move, cross the line. The conversion was kicked and Tonga took the lead in the second half despite still losing 34-10. The try was only the second try Tonga have ever scored against New Zealand and also the first time they've got into double figures but it seemed to raise New Zealand again as another series of offloads and intricate passes created a gap that Nonu ran into and the centre ran in under the posts to seal the win.
While the final score was still emphatic at 41-10 Tonga will be happy with their second half performance and if New Zealand play like they did in the first half then it's hard to see anyone beating them.

New Zealand (29) 41

• Tries: Dagg 2, Kahui 2, Kaino, Nonu
 
• Cons: Carter 3, Slade
 
• Pens: Carter

Tonga (3) 10

• Try: Taumalolo
 
• Con: Morath
 
• Pen: Morath