New Zealand 71-3 Namibia: First All Blacks win of Rugby World Cup marred by late Ethan de Groot red card | Rugby Union News

New Zealand half-backs Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie scored twice every because the All Blacks ran in 11 tries in opposition to Nambia; prop Ethan de Groot’s late red card for a excessive deal with spoilt an in any other case near-perfect response to an opening-game defeat to France

Damian McKenzie scored two tries for New Zealand in opposition to Namibia

New Zealand overcame Namibia 71-3 in Toulouse with a ruthless show of attacking to get off the mark in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup.

The All Blacks started their match with a defeat to hosts France in Paris however had no such hassle of their second outing as Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie every scored two tries to assist Ian Foster’s facet acquire a bonus level and transfer second within the pool.

Namibia stay with out a victory in 23 makes an attempt on the World Cup going again to 1999 and by no means regarded sturdy sufficient to pose issues for New Zealand – for whom Ethan de Groot was red carded within the closing minutes – in a sport performed largely in torrential rain.

The three-time winners drew first blood after solely two minutes. McKenzie kicked on for Leicester Fainga’anuku to gather and he offloaded for Roigard to take over and rating beneath the posts, with McKenzie changing comfortably.

It took solely one other six minutes for the result in lengthen to 12 factors when Roigard obtained the ball from a scrum and went over for his second attempt.

New Zealand ahead Ethan de Groot was despatched off for a excessive deal with

Namibia’s night time took an extra flip for the more serious when centre Le Roux Malan suffered a foul knee damage, leaving the pitch on a stretcher and clutching an oxygen masks, moments after Tiaan Swanepoel had minimize the deficit with a penalty.

Minutes later New Zealand pulled additional forward when McKenzie went over for a transformed attempt, weaving by Namibia’s line to make it 19-3.

The bonus level was secured for the All Blacks with quarter-hour of the primary half nonetheless to play, Fainga’anuku powering over and exhibiting wonderful palms for his workforce’s fourth attempt, earlier than two tries in simply over a minute made the rating unassailable earlier than the break.

First, took full benefit of the slippery situations with two effectively managed kicks alongside the bottom to get in behind Namibia and drop on it because it crossed the attempt line, then McKenzie added his second of the sport when he collected from Roigard off a scrum and crossed the whitewash to make it 38-3 on the interval.

Anton Lienert-Brown scored one of the All Blacks’ 11 tries

De Groot ensured New Zealand started the second half in the identical ruthless useless with which they completed the primary, the prop crashing over simply 30 seconds after coming off the bench regardless of the attentions of two Namibia defenders.

Beauden Barrett made the subsequent attempt for Dalton Papalii, breaking out huge earlier than slipping the ball throughout with a high quality bullet go for Papalii to go over beneath the posts, minutes earlier than David Havili took benefit of an excellent run by the center from Roigard to go over the road and make it 57-3.

Caleb Clarke scored New Zealand’s tenth attempt when he received on the tip of a cross-field kick from Richie Mo’unga to slip over the road.

De Groot was despatched to the sin bin with eight minutes to play – later upgraded to a red card for harmful play – but it surely didn’t halt New Zealand’s cost, alternative Rieko Ioane scoring to make it 71-3 close to the tip.

Roigard: McKenzie type fits my sport

Roigard, who was awarded participant of the match on his first Test begin for the All Blacks, stated he loved his half-back mixture with McKenzie.

“It’s pretty surreal. The atmosphere here is outstanding. I suppose we were quite fortunate that our forwards were dominant, giving me a good platform to play off,” Roigard stated.

“On the other side, credit to Naimbia, they showed a lot of passion and heart.

“I suppose we [Roigard and McKenzie] have had some coaching reps collectively and we’re type of beginning to work out how we wish to play.

“I know that his attacking style suits mine as well, so really enjoyed tonight playing alongside him.”

What’s subsequent?

New Zealand face their hardest remaining pool-stage fixture once they tackle Italy on Friday 29 September in Lyon (8pm kick-off BST).

The match is prone to determine who will end second to France in Pool A, with the hosts having crushed the All Blacks within the match opener.

Namibia’s subsequent match is in opposition to the hosts on the Stade de Marseille on Thursday 21 September (8pm kick-off BST), with the minnows doubtless in for an additional powerful night.