EU preparing 'further countermeasures' to protect its interest, von der Leyen says    911 emergency centers handle over 2.8 million calls in March    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Saudi Arabia posts SR49.8 billion travel surplus in 2024 as visitor spending hits SR153.6 billion    Saudi Arabia urges stronger global action to protect children in cyberspace at UN    Israel announces expansion of military operation in Gaza to seize 'large areas' of land    US cancels visa of Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias    Danish prime minister refutes US claim on Greenland on visit to the Arctic territory    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Cristiano Ronaldo joins Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves    Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



All Blacks cruise to win over Tonga
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 10 - 09 - 2011

try Kahui impressive on wingAUCKLAND — The All Blacks failed to calm the nerves of their supporters as they seek to exorcise their World Cup demons, lurching to a 41-10 victory over Tonga in the first game of the tournament Friday.
The host has entered every tournament since 1991 as the hot favorites to win the Webb Ellis trophy only to fail every four years. It has not won the World Cup since the inaugural tournament, also in New Zealand, in 1987.
Their error-ridden performance against a game, but hardly threatening Tonga side, however, would have done little to allay any fears they could leave the tournament empty handed again.
“I'd say six or seven out of 10,” coach Graham Henry told reporters of how he marked the opening performance. “It's early in the tournament, there's a bit of tension, we've been waiting a long time for this.
“Scored some good tries, defended well, made too many mistakes, gave away too many penalties. Bit of work to be done.”
As is so often the case the All Blacks produced crowd pleasing, running attacking rugby with man of the match Richard Kahui, who scored two tries and had a hand in two others, particularly prominent.
Inside center Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Dagg were also sublime in the first half, with Williams' ability to offload in the tackle and find runners of his shoulder bringing the 60,214 people in the revamped Eden Park into full voice.
Both Dagg and Williams had been given a opportunity to show what they could do on the big stage and their first-half performances at least would have made Henry's future selection meetings difficult.
The All Blacks, however, made too many handling errors that would be punished by stronger sides, while they failed to hammer home their territorial advantage in the first 20 minutes of the second half when they needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Auckland had been in party mood all day with thousands of people flooding into the central city to special “Fan Zones” to celebrate the start of the tournament.
The Eden Park crowd were also treated to a scintillating opening ceremony and television pictures of a spectacular fireworks display in central Auckland but the game failed to live up to the pre-match expectations.
The All Blacks scored four tries by halftime with fullback Dagg and winger Kahui crossing twice each and the scene was set for a rout reminiscent of previous tests between the two sides.
Flyhalf Daniel Carter slotted three conversions and a penalty, while Tonga's flyhalf Kurt Morath got his side on the board on the stroke of halftime to go into the break 29-3 down.
The All Blacks, however, failed to capitalize on their dominance after the break, with the loudest cheer coming when Williams had to strip off his torn jersey for a new one.
The crowd also embarked on several Mexican waves as their attention turned away from the field to trying to amuse themselves.


Clic here to read the story from its source.