438th All Black Test
1159th All Black Game

8 September 2010

New Zealand vs Samoa at Yarrow Stadium
New Plymouth, New Zealand
Wednesday, 3 September 2008

Reserves:

New Zealand:

Samoa:

 16 K. F. Mealamu (sub 45 min)
 17 N. S. Tialata (sub 51 min)
 18 S. T. Lauaki (sub 45 min)
 19 P. A. T. Weepu (sub 51 min)
 20 S. R. Donald (sub 40 min)
 21 I. Toeava (sub 40 min)
 22 R. N. Wulf (sub 35 min)

 16 L. Aoelua (sub 27 min)
 17 R. Tolufale (sub 77 min)
 18 M. Paulino (sub 57 min)
 19 S. Mikaele (sub 51 min)
 20 J. Polu’uliuligaga (temp sub Tauafao 2-12 min, sub 57 min)
 21 R. Warren (sub 65 min)
 22 R. Ropati (sub 54 min)

Scorers

New Zealand

Samoa

Tries:
Q. J. Cowan,
S. R. Donald,
R. D. Kahui (2),
J. Kaino,
J. M. Muliaina (3),
C. G. Smith (2),
A. J. Thomson,
I. Toeava,
Penalty try,
P. A. T. Weepu,
A. J. Williams
Conversions:
D. W. Carter (6),
S. R. Donald (7)

Tries:
A. Faosiliva,
U. Mai
Conversions:
U. Mai,
R. Warren

Match Report:

The All Blacks did not disappoint their Taranaki fans when blowing Samoa off Yarrow Stadium 101-14 in New Plymouth's first All Blacks Test match.

Running in 15 tries to two the All Blacks made the most of their last chance to prepare for next week's Tri Nations decider against Australia in Brisbane.

It didn't take long for the All Blacks to score in this historic game as fullback Mils Muliaina ghosted through some poor defence to dot down beneath the posts allowing Dan Carter to easily nail the extra two.

Samoa missed an opportunity to points on the board when first five-eighths Uale Mai missed an easy penalty which soon resulted in a full-on All Black counter-attack allowing openside Adam Thomson to score his first try in the black jersey.

After a sustained Samoa attack, New Zealand soon found itself back down the other field and some slick back line passing again eventuated in Muliaina scoring his second of the night.

Carter's successful conversion boosted the score out to 19-0 after just 14 minutes of play, it seemed every time the All Blacks got the ball they would score.

And one minute later New Zealand did just that once more when a Carter kick landed in wing Anthony Tuitavake's grasp who then flicked an inside ball to centre Conrad Smith who scored.

Samoa was able to get a bit of its own back in the 28th minute when Mai ducked under a tackle on New Zealand's line and scored a well-deserved try that he converted.

For the second time in the night hooker Andrew Hore gave away possession when he threw a wayward ball into the lineout in a strong attacking position, something he will definitely have to work on before the Australian game where mistakes like that will be punished.

Smith was soon picked up his double when a scrappy lineout was flicked through the backline and allowed him to score beneath the posts.

Carter nailed the conversion, the score now sitting at 33-7 with five minutes left in the first half although Tuitavake was forced from the field after suffering a knock to the head.

Halfback Jimmy Cowan was then able to contribute to the score when a huge All Black scrum forced Samoa back toward the line allowing No. 8 Rodney So'oialo to peel off the back and flick the Southlander a try-scoring pass.

Carter's conversion lifted the score to 40-7 moments before Muliaina picked up his hat-trick on the back of some excellent Kiwi play from the kick-off.

Another successful Carter conversion saw the score reach 47-7 at the half-time siren.

The All Blacks ran on in the second half with an unchanged forward pack although Isaia Toeava had taken Muliaina's place at fullback and Steven Donald claimed Carter's spot.

New Zealand right wing Richard Kahui was able to score in the corner five minutes into the second half as the home side looked to repeat its first half try-scoring fest.

No.8 Sione Lauaki's influence was felt with a strong run down the touchline and a nifty flick pass allowed Donald to score the second of the half.

Donald's successful conversion took the score to 59-7 after nine minutes in the second half with New Zealand then emptied its reserve bench.

Some scrappy Samoan passing gifted the All Blacks with some more points when Smith collected then passed inside to Ma'a Nonu who then passed to lock Ali Williams who scored the All Black's 10th of the night.

Blindside flanker Jerome Kaino was able to add some points of his own when he scored in the left corner, followed by another Donald conversion before Samoa then interfered with a very dangerous looking rolling maul and gifted the All Blacks a penalty try, effectively ballooning the score out to 73-7.

What followed was the longest scoreless stretch of the night, about seven minutes, although it was then broken by Toeava whose pace and strength was too much for the Samoan defence.

Toeava showed his brilliant class minutes later when he sprinted 70 metres down the field, bumping off tackle after tackle before passing to halfback Piri Weepu who scored.

Donald then had a rare miss as the All Blacks edged closer to a ton with 94 points and just minutes remaining in the game.

However, Samoa definitely weren't finished and a huge run down the touchline and some slick passing saw number seven Alafoti Faosiliva dot down for the visitors second try of the night.

Replacement first five-eighths Roger Warren was able to add the extra two and take a tiny bit of sting of the crushing defeat as Samoa reached 14 points.

The All Blacks had the final say of the night however as Kahui found his way back over the line to score his second, Donald then kicked New Zealand to 101 points as the conversion sailed over to end the historic match in front of the 22,518 strong crowd.

Note:
Positions displayed show the current player numbering system.
The past has seen players wear letters, Props wearing the Number 15 through to Fullbacks wearing Number 1.