Slow start irks McCaw

FIRST, something we expected — a New Zealand win.

Second, something unexpected — a few creaks in the favourites’ armoury.

After a rousing opening ceremony and passionate pre-match challenges, the All Blacks scored four tries in the first 33 minutes, and found the Tongans wanting out wide. But after taking a 29-3 lead into half time, New Zealand failed to capitalise on long periods in Tonga’s half by giving away penalties against the prideful Pacific neighbours and dropping crucial passes.

While there wasn’t a signature moment to kick-start the tournament like John Kirwan’s 80-metre try against the Italians the last time New Zealand opened the cup on home soil in 1987, a host nation starved of a cup triumph could feel satisfied to move one win closer to a second title.

“It was a start, I think that’s all we can look at it as,” All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.

“There were definitely some good patches. Perhaps in the second half, we spent a bit of time in their 22 and we didn’t actually capitalise.

“I thought we brought physicality, our defence was reasonably good. It was a bit disappointing to let them score but we had to defend for a while.”

It did take them 10 minutes to cross the whitewash though, as, following a Dan Carter penalty five minutes before, Richard Kahui busted two tacklers before recycled ball found Ma’a Nonu, who handed to Israel Dagg for the simplest of scores. Carter missed the extras from wide on the left touchline.

Nine minutes later, the impressive Sonny Bill Williams turned provider with a lovely inside offload to Isaia Toeava, which led to Kahui getting over.

New Zealand turned the screw as both scorers repeated the trick. But McCaw could not escape the fact his side hadn’t pushed on and, after that frantic start, he believes they let themselves down.

“It’s easy to get a bit loose,” he said. “Perhaps we just expected it to happen, especially as we made breaks and weren’t ruthless. That’s a bit disappointing.”

“We’re just excited about getting under way tonight, it’s a long time coming.”

Tonga’s renowned physical threat was negated by a more aggressive New Zealand defence which didn’t concede a try until near the end, and only after a long, sustained assault when Tonga replacement prop Alisona Taumalolo burrowed under the All Blacks forwards.

Either side of that came New Zealand’s second-half tries from Jerome Kaino and Nonu.

“I think the ABs started very well. Every time we made mistakes they scored points,” Tonga skipper Finau Maka said.

“The boys came out in the second half firing, and I thought we defended well. We showed we can defend well and score a try against the best team.

“With the World Cup, I think momentum is important and we take a lot of positives from this game and look forward to the next game against Canada on Wednesday.”

NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg, R Kahui, M Nonu, SB Williams, I Toeava, D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks, B Thorn, A Williams, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), V Vito.

Replacements: C Flynn, B Franks, A Boric, S Whitelock, P Weepu, C Slade, C Jane.

TONGA: V Lilo, V Iongi, S Hufanga, A Ma’ilei, S Piutau, K Morath, T Moa; S Tonga’uiha, A Lutui, T Filise, P Hehea, J Tu’ineau, S Kalamafoni, F Maka (capt), V Ma’afu.

Replacements: E Taukafa, A Taumalolo, K Pulu, S Timani, S Vahafolau, S Fisilau, A Fatafehi.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).