MELBOURNE - The All Blacks may not have delivered emphatic performances in pool play, but they continue to set the benchmark in the tournament's scoring statistics.
Their 42 tries and 282 points in four pool games are tournament records.
It is the fourth time in five World Cups that the All Blackshave led the way in tries and points in the preliminary rounds, the exception being 1991 when they were third.
The previous points-scoring record of 222 points was also held by New Zealand, from just three games at the 1995 tournament. It has also been surpassed here by Australia (273) and England (255).
The All Blacks and France are the only two nations with a perfect winning record in pool matches here.
A potentially ominous statistic is that Australia have conceded just 32 points, the least of any team. They based their victory four years ago on having the stingiest defence.
Leading the tournament try-scoring list are Doug Howlett and Mils Muliaina on six each, just two short of the tournament record of eight set by Jonah Lomu in 1999.
Howlett's two tries against Wales means he is the fifth All Black to reach 30 test tries after Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson, Lomu and John Kirwan.
An indication of the All Blacks' expansive style is that fellow wingers Joe Rokocoko and Caleb Ralph are also among the tournament leaders, with four tries each.
Goalkicking centre Leon MacDonald was successful with his first 16 conversion attempts, beating the former record of 12 held by Simon Culhane.
The All Blacks' 16th straight win over Wales extends New Zealand's longest winning run against any test opponent.
Their winning streak against all teams has reached 12, the equal second-best in All Black history.
They also won 12 in a row in 1988-90, but the record is 17, set by the 1965-70 All Blacks.
