New Zealand score record win over France

New Zealand 61 France 10

Joe Rokocoko’s first-half double set New Zealand on their way to a record victory in the second Test against France in Wellington.

The winger’s brace, adding to Byron Kelleher and Anton Oliver’s close-range touchdowns, gave the All Blacks an insurmountable half-time lead of 30-3.

Leon MacDonald, Isaia Toeava, Jerry Collins and Nick Evans added to the scoreline after the break, with Julien Laharrague scoring a consolation try.

The All Blacks suffered a pre-game setback when lock Keith Robinson was ruled out with a calf strain sustained in the warm-up, joining Daniel Carter and Aaron Mauger on the sidelines.

Chris Jack returned to the starting XV, while Troy Flavell came on to the bench.

The second row has been a problem position for the Kiwis in recent years, and that was exacerbated when Ali Williams broke his jaw in a 30th-minute clash with Sebastien Chabal.

Benjamin Boyet kicked the visitors ahead after four minutes, but the hosts grabbed the ascendancy by the quarter-hour stage.

Oliver slid the ball onto the foot of the post to put the Kiwis in charge after 10 minutes.

Luke McAlister, who had missed the chance to equalise, converted, then made amends with a successful penalty.

Kelleher followed suit, twisting away from a five-metre scrum to elude the porous French defence.

Rokocoko then intercepted a weak pass on the right, before a more straightforward score out wide from Flavell’s drive.

MacDonald outsprinted the French after a cross-field play to open the second-half scoring.

Nicolas Durand’s break set up Laharrague, but Toeava broke through the line with devastating effect two minutes later.

Collins plunged over in the 63rd minute, followed 10 minutes later by replacement hooker Keven Mealamu.

McAlister converted Evans’ last-minute try to extend the record margin and complete a series whitewash.

New Zealand move on to play Canada before their Tri-Nations defence starts later this month.