Well, after the Maori All Blacks had beaten Samoa in the 1st match of the double header, the All Blacks had completely thumped & annihilated the under strength Tongan side by 102 points (With All Blacks winger Will Jordan (Well, Pops told me that I wonder that Jordan will end up being a try scoring machine in the weeks to come) scoring 5 tries in the match (He joins Jeff Wilson as the 2nd All Black to score 5 tries in a test match but is just one short behind the all time record set by Marc Ellis who got a double hat trick against Japan during the pool game of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa) while halfback Brad Weber (Who had left the field injured (But let's hope that it's not serious) during the 2nd half & replaced by new All Black rookie halfback (And Scottish born) Finlay Christie (One of the fellow new rookies for the AB's along with Ethan Blackadder (The son of a famous All Black, Todd), George Bower (The Fijian bulldozer) & Quinn Tupaea (Who had a phenomenal game to remember that Pops told me during his test debut) after copping a bit of friendly fire) got a hat trick as well as open side flanker Dalton Papali'i getting a double) just like 21 years ago (Where the match was played at North Harbour Stadium in Albany with second rower Troy Flavell getting a hat trick on test debut & reserve back Doug Howlett (Who just came on for Christian Cullen at halftime but he is a Kiwi of Tongan origin along with Pita Alatini & the late Jonah Lomu) scoring a try with his first touch of the rugby ball as an All Black while on test debut) in a blowout at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland to begin our campaign of international rugby this year so here is the match commentary provided by Newshub:
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the All Blacks v Tonga test match at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.
This encounter marks the start of New Zealand international campaign for 2021 and realistically Tonga shouldn't provide much opposition beyond the initial 10 minutes, before the adrenaline runs out for the Pacific Islanders.
Coach Ian Foster has named a line-up that combines hardened veterans like forwards Sam Whitelock and Dane Coles with debutants like midfielder Quinn Tupaea, while three more newbies will come off the bench.
Richie Mo'unga will get first use of the No.10 jersey, with Beauden Barrett virtually ruling himself out of a dual-playmaker role at fullback.
Dalton Papali'i will fill in for injured captain Sam Cane at openside flanker, while Tupaea and Rieko Ioane form an inexperienced midfield combination, with incumbents Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown both sidelined.
With many of their front line players in Europe, Tonga have named 13 debutants and reached out to club players around New Zealand, sparking some concern about their readiness to face a full-blooded international team.
All Blacks: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-George Bower, 18-Tyrel Lomax, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Ethan Blackadder, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Beauden Barrett, 23-Jordie Barrett
Tonga: 1-Duke Nginingini, 2-Sam Moli, 3-Sila Puafisi, 4-Don Lolo, 5-Zane Kapeli, 6-Mateaki Kafatolu, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Sione Tuipulotu, 9-Sonatane Takulua, 10-Kalione Hala, 11-Penikolo Latu, 12-Nikolai Foliaki, 13- Fine Inisi, 14-Hosea Saumaki, 15-James Faiva
Reserves: 16-Siua Maile, 17-Jethro Felemi, 18-Tau Koloamatangi, 19-Harrison Mataele, 20-Viliami Taulani, 21-Nasi Manu, 22-Leon Fukofuka, 23-Walter Fifita
6:58 PM: Pretty good crowd turned out at Mt Smart, estimated at 15,000. Many of the Tongan fans might be saving their coin for next week's clash against Manu Samoa, while All Blacks supporters will have a chance to see some closer contests in the weeks to come.
7:02 PM: Tonga perform their pre-game challenge - you can hear a pin drop.
Now the All Blacks haka, led by Dane Coles, with Sam Whitelock at the front. It's Ka Mate and Tonga are walking forward to halfway to receive the challenge.
1ST MINUTE: Ben O'Keeffe to referee this encounter. Conditions cold, but still.
Mo'unga kicks off for the All Blacks and Tonga clears high, back to Mo'unga. Tupaea gets his first touch as an All Black.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to McKenzie
CONVERSION MISS: All Blacks send the ball left, Ioane offloads in a tackle, McKenzie puts Bridge towards the corner and is there to score, when his winger is tackled short. Mo'unga's sideline conversion is just outside the left upright, NZ 5-0
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Tonga kick off and Bridge kicks ahead. Faiva angles a kick towards the 22 and Jordan's momentum carries him into touch.
5TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Papali'i
CONVERSION: All Blacks steal a lineout in their own territory and fantastic interchange between Whitelock and Jacobsen sends Papalii through a gap to score. Mo'unga scores, NZ 12-0
7TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Weber
CONVERSION: From the kickoff and deep in their own half, the All Blacks send the ball left, where the Ioane brothers send Bridge up the sideline and he finds Weber running inside support. Mo'unga converts, NZ 19-0
9TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Jordan
All Blacks have ball in hand inside their own half, but Jordan cuts through the defence, Tupaea carries further, Coles lunges for the line and finds Jordan running support to score.
CONVERSION MISS: Mo'unga pushes his conversion across the face of the uprights, NZ 24-0
11TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): From the kickoff, McKenzie kicks for touch and finds it near halfway.
12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga win the line out, but lose the ball. All Blacks build from their own half again.
13TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Coles and Jacobson find Akira Ioane, who makes metres down the left, but the All Blacks knock on five metres out.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Tonga have a defensive scrum five metres out, but are braced for a massive All Blacks push. They hold and break from the scrum, but Ioane is pinged for a high tackle, so Tonga can clear.
16TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Weber
Tonga's kick doesn't find touch, so All Blacks have a chance to build something again.
CONVERSION: Weber breaks from a midfield breakdown and Ta'avao rumbles a few metres, before finding his halfback running support to score. Mo'unga converts, NZ 31-0
18TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): From the kickoff, Weber kicks high and All Blacks chase hard to regain possession.
19TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga have the ball in hand on halfway and building phases, before they kick.
20TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Jordan
All Blacks send the ball left, Akira Ioane sends Tupaea on a run, before he kicks ahead. Tonga put the ball out, All Blacks take a quick line out, and McKenzie and Mo'unga send Jordan under the posts.
CONVERSION: Mo'unga converts, NZ 38-0
22ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Tonga have a line out on the All Blacks 10, but Jacobson steals the throw. Across field, Tonga have another line out, but can't throw straight.
24TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks scrum feed on halfway and they earn a penalty. Play continues and Bridge kicks into the in-goal, but Tonga force for a dropout.
25TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks penalized, when Tu'inukuafe holds onto the ball in a tackle.
26TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another Tongan line out in All Blacks territory and they manage to retain the ball, despite a messy throw.
27TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Tonga have the ball and build phases in All Blacks territory, but Papali'i manages to knock the ball on, while stealing possession.
28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Tonga feed to the scrum, but All Blacks push, but Tonga retain possession. They earn a penalty in midfield and kick for the corner.
29TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Tonga need to win this close-range lineout and do so. The forwards swarm around, but the All Blacks steal the ball - Bridge knocks on, so Tonga now have a close-range scrum in front of the posts.
31ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Big All Blacks scrum wins a penalty, so Tonga can't capitalise on that opportunity.
32ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: NZ haven't scored for 10 minutes now, so Tonga contesting better. They earn a penalty, when Jacobson enters a breakdown off his feet.
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga barely win an attacking line out and try to mount an attack on the 22.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Kafatolu knocks on for Tonga, so their efforts come to nothing.
35TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Weber feeds to a midfield scrum in All Blacks territory and they boss the Tongans.
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks spread the ball left, where Tu'inukuafe busts the defensive line.
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Papali'i
CONVERSION MISS: Still out left, Rieko Ioane scoops the ball off the deck to Tupaea, who flicks on to Bridge and Papalii scoots down the touchline for a double. Mo'unga hooks his sideline conversion left, NZ 43-0
40TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Tupaea busts over halfway and the ball goes left, where Coles spills a pass with 2-3 men outside him to end the movement.
FREE KICK (SHORT ARM PENALTY): The siren goes and Tonga feed a scrum, but the All Blacks earn a free kick. They tap, Papali'i and Tupaea combine in midfield.
PENALTY: Tu'inukuafe rumbles towards the line, but Tonga earn a penalty, when the prop doesn't release - for a second time - and they find touch to end the half.
FIRST HALF
41ST MINUTE, PENALTY: No change to the line-ups, as Tonga kick off. All Blacks earn a penalty for a head high tackle (High shot) and Mo'unga clears into Tongan half.
Jacobson wins the lineout, but Saumaki steals the ball.
The first 20 minutes did not all go well for Tonga, as they faced a quick 38-0 deficit, but they rallied over the next 20 minutes, conceding just one more try before halftime.
Maybe they have slowed the game down to their speed and dragged the All Blacks back closer to their level. Coach Ian Foster won't be that happy about the fall-off.
42ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Jacobson
From first receiver, McKenzie angles a 50m kick that dribbles into touch a few metres out from the goal-line.
CONVERSION: Somehow, Coles wins the lineout against the throw, he rumbles towards the posts and Jacobson is first receiver from the breakdown to score. Mo'unga converts and the All Blacks have a half tone, NZ 50-0
44TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Another long kick from McKenzie puts the All Blacks in prime position and they steal yet another lineout.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Coles tidies up and untidy Mo'unga pass, scrambles to his feet and kicks ahead, the ball just beats everyone dead, but Coles is the closest All Black. Incredible.
46TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks have a scrum feed on the 22, but their attack is frustrated by the Tonga defenders.
47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: All Blacks sub off their entire front row, with Lomax, Aumua and debutant Bower coming on.
TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Jordan
CONVERSION MISS: They boss the scrum and the ball goes right, where McKenzie draws the last defender to gift his winger a hat-trick. Mo'unga hooks another sideline conversion, NZ 55-0
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Weber
Akira Ioane rumbles upfield and Lomax dents the line in centre field. When the ball comes left, Bridge makes ground and finds Weber running support - again - for his hat-trick.
CONVERSION: Mo'unga converts, NZ 62-0
52ND MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM & SUBSTITUTION: All Blacks cutting Tonga to ribbons with inside ball, but Rieko Ioane eventually knocks on. Ethan Blackadder replaces Papali'i for his debut.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Tonga run left from a midfield scrum on halfway, but the All Blacks forwards shove their counterparts back over the half, Barrett comes away with the ball and Akira Ioane sends Mo'unga away for a try, which he converts, NZ 69-0.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Beauden Barrett replaces Mo'unga and Finlay Christie replaces Weber, who was injured in the build-up to that try.
55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Try to Jordan
CONVERSION: Another spectacular build-up sees Jacobson feature three times, including the final pass to Jordan for his fourth try. Barrett converts, NZ 76-0
58TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Tonga inside All Blacks half, but the ball goes loose.
59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Nasi Manu comes on for Tonga, but slots into centre, not his specialist loose forward position. Tonga only have two replacement backs.
60TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Tonga win a scrum penalty in midfield and kick for touch.
61ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Rieko Ioane
Tonga lose another lineout and Bridge bursts out of his 22. Barrett chips ahead, Tupaea gathers and sends Ioane away to score.
CONVERSION: Barrett converts, NZ 83-0
63RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks try to mount an attack from the kickoff, but Tonga win a penalty in midfield.
SUBSTITUTION: Tuipulotu replaces Scott Barrett and Jordie Barrett comes on for Tupaea, who has been a revelation.
64TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Christie bustles the Tongan forwards at the scrum, but Tonga retains the ball. Whitelock steals the ball, Aumua rumbles forward, but the All Blacks are penalized.
65TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga kick for an attacking lineout, but they haven't won many tonight. They throw long, but Beauden Barrett can't gather.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: O'Keeffe is playing advantage for an All Blacks knock-on and comes back for the scrum inside the 22.
67TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga try to mount something from the scrum, but they're held up in the maul and All Blacks have a turnover. Credit Beauden Barrett.
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Jordan
From a scrum in their own territory, Jacobson breaks off the back and bounces off a tackler. Christie is with him and the ball moves right, with McKenzie laying on the final pass for Jordan's fifth.
CONVERSION MISS: Barrett misses the conversion, NZ 88-0
71ST MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Tonga have another penalty in All Blacks territory and kick to touch. They're slow learners.
They actually win this one, but Christie comes up with a big tackle.
72ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga inching closer to the line, but Manu is driven back in a tackle. there's no way through the All Blacks defence.
73RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Tonga have a penalty, and set for a tap and run. The ball goes loose, but All Blacks are penalized.
74TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY & SCRUM: Tonga tap again, but Blackadder dominates the breakdown and earns a clearing penalty. The All Blacks break out of their 22 and Jordan kicks ahead, but the pursuers knock on.
75TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Tonga earn a scrum penalty on halfway and kick for touch again.
76TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga win a lineout and try to mount another attack. They lose the ball and Christie hacks downfield.
77TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Try to Patrick Tuipulotu
CONVERSION: Akira Ioane rocks the ball free from the Tongans and Christie finds his Blues captain, who brushes aside a couple of tackles and gallops 30m to the line. Barrett converts from in front, NZ 95-0
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Jordie Barrett chips ahead, but Jordan can't quite gather to score his sixth.
80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Whitelock has now captained the All Blacks to seven wins from his seven games in charge.
PENALTY: From a midfield scrum, Tonga try to mount an attack and earn a penalty after the siren. They tap, but go nowhere.
TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Bridge
Jordan drives Manu back and All Blacks turn the ball over. After several phases, the ball goes left and Rieko Ioane fires a long pass to his winger - that's the ton.
CONVERSION: Barrett converts, NZ 102-0
SECOND HALF
NZ 102 TONGA 0
NZ: McKenzie, Bridge, Tuipulotu, R Ioane, Jacobson, Mo'unga, Weber 3, Jordan 5 & Papali'i 2 tries; Mo'unga 7 conversions; B Barrett 4 conversions
And in other rugby news such as the British & Irish Lions begin their tour to South Africa, thrashing the Sigma Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg with Welsh winger Josh Adams picking up 4 tries for the British & Irish Lions during the match.
So that is my 429th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 49th of this year.
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