The All Blacks beat the Pacific Islanders 41-26 in a 10-try Test of fast and physical rugby in New Zealand on Saturday which gave deserved credibility to the formation of the composite Polynesian side.
Although heavily favoured to win, the All Blacks were flattered by the final score and aside from tries in the opening minute and right on full-time the result was even for much of the game, with the Islanders twice holding the lead early on.
Playing in ideal conditions, the All Blacks dominated rucks and mauls and enjoyed an overall territorial advantage.
When they applied themselves they looked like they could compile the huge score expected of them, but they suffered from loose passes and numerous turnovers against a tough defence.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry admitted his players were rusty after most hadn’t played for three weeks, but said he did not want to make excuses and was full of praise for the Islanders.
”I think they played superbly,” he said. ”They never gave up, we thought they might as the match went on but they didn’t.”
Islanders captain Inoke Afeaki, who left the field with a leg injury shortly before halftime, said his team had improved in the space of a week since their 15-point loss to Australia.
”We came very close to winning the match,” he said. ”I wouldn’t say the All Blacks were any harder than the Wallabies. We just fine-tuned our performance.”
For a Test match it was more of a local derby, with most of the Islanders — drawn from Tonga, Fiji and Samoa — playing provincial rugby in New Zealand and capitalising on their knowledge of the All Blacks players.
From a 14-27 halftime deficit, they fought back to trail by eight points after a try scoring blitz early in the second half before Tana Umaga scored in the final movement of the game to give some respectability to the All Blacks scoreline. – Sapa-AFP