Nine-try romp just what All Black doctor ordered

Wilson leads the charge as Hart's heroes go on the rampage against Samoa. Wynne Gray reports

The All Blacks stopped their losing rot in emphatic fashion last night with a 71-13 win, the best they have managed in their three internationals against Samoa.

Almost a year since they last tasted victory, the All Blacks built on the basics from their match with NZA to defeat the optimistic visitors and put more worry lines into their World Cup season.

As the first official test step in their campaign, though, there was a spark and energetic adventure about the All Blacks which had been missing for most of last season as they sagged under the weight of five successive losses.

Top of the scoring chart was fullback Jeff Wilson who crossed for four tries and with 32 test tries he is now closing fast on John Kirwan's record of 35.

While Wilson got the rewards, there was much to admire about other back standouts like Tana Umaga and Tony Brown. Umaga grabbed two tries but he was involved in several others while his cover defence workrate was an eye-catching part of the All Blacks' back three armoury.

Brown brought his A-game to the park - his kicking composure, tackling solidity and decisions were first-class on a difficult evening.

The All Black scrum had too much muscle for Samoa and, a couple of clearance messups apart, gave them a solid platform while the lineout worked clinically as well.

In his debut, lock Norm Maxwell was a prominent part of a pack which started scratchily but built into a better rhythm as the game wore on.

It was the All Blacks who cut loose in the second spell to add six tries to the three they had in the opening half. It was some of the style the country yearned for, the record 25,000 crowd appreciated and the All Blacks wanted.

It came after a slow start and it was past the first quarter before the All Blacks scored their first try but it opened the scoring floodgates which gave them a 31-3 lead at the break.

After Brown bagged three penalties the All Blacks asked the first five- eighths to kick for the corner from a 24th minute penalty. That aggressive approach was rewarded when Maxwell grabbed the lineout throw and was then driven over the line for a try in his first test.

Maxwell grazed the grass with the ball but it was enough for referee Wayne Erickson to rule in his favour. Then Wilson, who rarely leaves Albany without a swag of tries, scored twice before the interval.

Umaga then Wilson used their soccer skills to hack ahead from halfway for the first and then the fullback finished off a chain passing movement.

The margin at the break was a bonus after a scrappy start from the All Blacks where they failed to control possession well enough in the damp conditions.

But once they eliminated those errors they showed some of the potential which offers Tri-Nations salvation and World Cup promise.

All Blacks: 71 (J Wilson 4, T Umaga 2, T Randell, J Lomu, N Maxwell, tries; T Brown 7 con, 4 pen)

Samoa: 13 (T Fuga, try; E Va'a, pen, con; S Bachop, pen). HT 31-3.