All Blacks 50 Pacific Barbarians 10
TOKYO - Given extra responsibilities, Carlos Spencer responded as All Blacks coach Wayne Smith expected him to in their opening rugby tour match in Tokyo last night.
In his comeback game for the All Blacks, first five-eighths Spencer controlled play in the first half, called the shots in defence, scored a try, kicked two conversions and helped to spark the All Blacks to a comfortable win over the Pacific Barbarians at Chichibu Stadium.
Their seven tries-to-one victory came before the start of the European leg of the tour, which includes two tests against France.
Smith said Spencer, who switched to fullback in the second half, showed capabilities in the unfamiliar role.
"We were looking for a back-up [fullback] and Carlos had a sound game there," Smith said.
He had surprised Spencer by appointing him vice-captain for the match.
"It was a bit of a shock really, but I didn't have to do any talking this week," Spencer said.
"I thought I would just keep quiet and concentrate on my game first.
"I was reasonably happy with myself."
His ball skills and eagerness to counterattack played a major role in three All Black tries, apart from the one he scored himself.
After leading just 14-7 in the first half against a tenacious opposition, the tourists opened up the game and raced in for five second-half tries to the delight of a 20,000-strong crowd.
The Baabaas, loaded with former All Blacks and other New Zealand players, enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half from their ability to recycle the ball from rucks.
Experienced loose forwards Jamie Joseph and Liam Barry and lock Blair Larsen, all former All Blacks, were adept at retaining possession.
In the second half, however, they appeared to tire and the All Blacks hit back from all parts of the field for a comfortable victory.
It was a disruptive game in which the All Blacks turned over possession on several occasions and lineouts continued to be a major hurdle for them.
But they were without specialist locks for most of the second half, with flanker Reuben Thorne playing the full game in the middle row.
"It was a hard match; we wanted a game like that and they [the Barbarians] gave it to us," Smith said.
"It was physical stuff. We were looking for that sort of hitout because it's what we'll face in France."
Despite the home side making all the play in the first 40 minutes, the All Blacks scored first when fullback Bruce Reihana, in his debut match, squeezed through a gap and stepped past fullback Hayden Taylor to score.
Spencer converted from in front of the posts.
The Barbarians' persistent attacking game paid off four minutes from halftime.
Centre Reuben Parkinson carved open a stubborn All Black defence with an electrifying run on the angle. He made 30m and offloaded to Romi Ropati in Reihana's tackle.
However, All Black wing Doug Howlett sped back and stopped Ropati a couple of metres from the tryline.
The Barbarians grabbed a tighthead from the ensuing scrum and Joseph set up a maul. Former All Black halfback Graeme Bachop scored and Andy Miller converted.
That appeared to sting the All Blacks into action. They played their best rugby of the first half in the final few minutes before the break and centre Pita Alatini slipped through for a try after catching the Barbarians' defence short on the left.
Spencer converted for the All Blacks' 14-7 lead at halftime.
The All Blacks' big defensive effort appeared to take its toll on the Barbarians in the second spell.
After Miller and Andrew Mehrtens, who came on at first five-eighths, exchanged a penalty goal each, Spencer sparked the All Blacks' second-half show.
He raced 55m after Mehrtens cut out the defence with a long pass to the right. When he crossed the tryline Spencer casually handed the ball to Howlett who scored the first of their team's second-half tries.
Daryl Gibson, Justin Marshall and Spencer then scored tries before Reihana returned to the field as a winger for the final quarter and crossed for his second.
Captain for the day Taine Randell was not a conspicuous presence at openside flanker, but the stuttery nature of the match did not allow him to stamp his mark on the game at the breakdowns.
All Blacks 50 (Bruce Reihana 2, Carlos Spencer, Pita Alatini, Doug Howlett, Daryl Gibson, Justin Marshall tries; Andrew Mehrtens pen, 4 con, Spencer 2 con) Pacific Barbarians 10 (Graeme Bachop try; Andy Miller pen, con). Ht:14-7.
- NZPA
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