NZL 71-3 NAM: New Zealand score 11 tries to brush aside Namibia
TOULOUSE – New Zealand score 11 tries as they recover from an opening loss to France with a comprehensive Pool A victory over Namibia at Stadium de Toulouse.
New Zealand put their opening Pool A defeat by France behind them to rattle up 11 tries against Namibia at a wet Stadium de Toulouse.
Scrum-half Cam Roigard, starting his first test, grabbed two early tries before Tian Swanepoel kicked a penalty for Namibia, who lost centre Le Roux Malan to a serious leg injury after 17 minutes.
The All Blacks ran in four more scores before the interval, Damian McKenzie darting through a gap, Leicester Fainga’anuku powering over and Anton Lienert-Brown dabbing down his own kick ahead before Roigard laid on a second for McKenzie.
The tries continued to arrive at regular intervals in the second half, prop Ethan de Groot scoring with his first touch, Dalton Papali’i taking Beauden Barrett’s pass to dive over before David Havili, Caleb Clarke – equalling his father Eroni’s test tally of six – and Rieko Ioane added further scores, the only blot on New Zealand’s night a late red card – upgraded from yellow by a bunker review – for De Groot.