Barrett brothers star as All Blacks maul Canada; France beat US
New Zealand’s Jordie Barrett (right) scores a try against Canada during their World Cup Pool B game in Oita on Wednesday. Associated Press
In another clash, France ran in three late tries against the US to earn a vital bonus point in the ‘group of death’ with an erratic 33-9 win.
Les Bleus were just 12-9 ahead with 13 minutes to go before Gael Fickou, Baptiste Serin and Jefferson Poirot dotted down to secure victory against the underdogs.
The All Blacks defied the humid conditions to cross four times in the first half and added five more after the break to move into second place behind Italy in Pool B with matches against Namibia and the Italians to come. The New Zealanders recorded the biggest win on the 2019 tournament to date despite missing a string of near-certain scores in the slippery conditions.
Inside centre Sonny Bill Williams was also a huge problem for Canada centres Conor Trainor and Ciaran Hearn, constantly making ground and drawing more than one defender but still able to get his characteristic passes away out of contact.
He also provided a deft kick-through for Beauden Barrett to secure the bonus point shortly before halftime to give the All Blacks a 28-0 lead at the break.
All Blacks flicked the switch after the break, however, and doubled their score inside the first 10 minutes with tries to Rieko Ioane, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell and Weber as they opened up the tiring Canadian defence at will.
Weber grabbed his second in the 56th minute to give his side a 63-0 lead and they looked like they could threaten a century of points.
France looked sharp at the outset, an incisive break by fly-half Camille Lopez slicing open the US midfield after just two minutes.
And Les Bleus were on the scoreboard four minutes later, a counter-attacking move ending in a sublime Lopez chip for winger Yoann Huget to dot down for a scintillating try.
US coach Gary Gold had called on his team to improve “every aspect” of their game after they went down to England 45-7 and the Eagles held their own for the first quarter, as AJ MacGinty scored a penalty after some pressure on the French line.
But France extended their advantage after 24 minutes when Lopez’s perfectly judged cross-field kick found Alivereti Raka in space on the right-hand touchline for a simple try.
Agencies
