Auckland – Richard Kahui and Israel Dagg both scored two tries each as the All Blacks safely negotiated the opening rugby World Cup match with a solid, if unconvincing, 41-10 victory over Tonga in Pool A on Friday.
Their win would have failed to have sent shudders down the spines of more fancied opponents as the hosts seek to end a 24-year drought for the Webb Ellis trophy.
Auckland had been in party mood all day with thousands of people flooding into the central city to special “Fan Zones” to celebrate the start of the tournament.
The sell-out crowd at Eden Park were also treated to a scintillating opening ceremony and television pictures of a spectacular fireworks display in central Auckland but the game failed to live up to the pre-match expectations.
New Zealand's backline at times cut the Tongans to shreds with their ability to offload in the tackle and run off each other's shoulders, but they were also guilty of too many handling mistakes.
The All Blacks accumulated a bonus point for scoring four tries by halftime with fullback Dagg and winger Kahui crossing twice each.
Flyhalf Daniel Carter slotted three conversions and a penalty, while Tonga's flyhalf Kurt Morath got his side on the board on the stroke of halftime to go into the revamped Eden Park 29-3 down.
The All Blacks dominated territory and possession for much of the first 20 minutes of the second half, but could not score again until blindside flanker Jerome Kaino took a pass from Kahui, who had re-gathered his own chip kick ahead.
The match degenerated after that with Tonga hammering away at the All Blacks line, earning several scrum penalties, before replacement prop Alisona Taumalolo smashed his way over for a consolation try, converted by Morath.
Centre Ma'a Nonu added the All Blacks' sixth try with less than five minutes remaining, which was converted by replacement flyhalf Colin Slade. – Reuters