KEY POINTS:
It was another romp in the French afternoon warmth but not all the All Blacks sported sunny smiles after their 108-13 rugby World Cup defeat of Portugal here today.
The match was expected to be a giant mismatch and proved to be exactly that but it wasn't all
plain sailing for New Zealand against feisty amateur opponents, while two key players in their campaign also hobbled from the field.
Experienced fullback Mils Muliaina exited in just the seventh minute, favouring what appeared to be his hamstring, which was immediately iced. The extent of the injury was unclear.
Lock Ali Williams went down in pain midway through the second half and left holding his midsection. However, he didn't require subsequent medical attention and cut a relaxed figure on the sideline.
Not so relaxed would have been coach Graham Henry, who has been without two locking options so far in France - injured pair Keith Robinson and Reuben Thorne.
Henry would have also been disappointed with his mostly second-choice team's error-ridden start to both halves, punctuated by handling mistakes, rusty combinations and a lack of ball security at the breakdown.
The biggest difference between the teams was New Zealand's superior fitness, cantering through flailing tacklers for the bulk of their 16 tries in the latter stages of both halves.
There were eight tries in each half from 13 different tryscorers, with winger Joe Rokocoko and midfield backs Aaron Mauger and Conrad Smith all bagging doubles.
It was the second biggest score New Zealand have tallied in tests, behind the 145-17 rout of Japan at the 1995 World Cup, and the fourth-biggest winning margin.
The 14 conversions to first five-eighth Nick Evans was the second-most by an All Black in a test, bettered only by Simon Culhane's 20 against Japan.
The Japan score was never threatened as some had predicted, courtesy of the sluggish start.
New Zealand led just 12-3 after 25 minutes, with two tries to Rokocoko the bright points of a muddled opening that contrasted starkly with their initial burst in downing Italy 76-14 a week ago in Marseille.
The Portuguese feasted on the early uncertainty of their opponents, throwing themselves into defensive duties and twice threatening long-range tries off New Zealand backline breakdowns.
Lock Marcello d'Orey intercepted a Brendon Leonard pass but didn't back his 127kg frame to run the required 75m. His kick ahead sailed out on the full.
Soon afterwards halfback Leonard slid in soccer-style to clear for touch 2m from his tryline, just beating winger Antonio Aguilar in a race for the ball.
In the 22nd minute Portugal first five-eighth Goncalo Malheiro landed a slick dropped goal from 40m to the backdrop of an enormous roar from the packed 46,000-strong crowd.
Malheiro and his teammates punched the air in joy as they returned to halfway.
However, the fizz suddenly disappeared, as did New Zealand's error rate.
The tournament favourites rattled off six tries in the 15 minutes before halftime to winger Isaia Toeava, lock Ali Williams, Mauger, flankers Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe and hooker Andrew Hore.
Portugal made a succession of replacements at halftime and one of them, prop Rui Cordeiro secured a place in their rugby history when he burrowed over from a ruck in the 48th minute.
The All Blacks procession was restored over the final quarter, with tries going to halfback Brendon Leonard, his replacement Andrew Ellis, Evans, Mauger, reserve fullback Leon MacDonald, reserve lock Carl Hayman and Smith's double.
Regular prop Hayman, playing out of position, had the pleasure of bringing up the ton with a swan dive under the crossbar with 4min remaining.
The All Blacks' third pool match is against Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday next week.
Portugal, who opened with a 10-56 loss to Scotland last weekend, next face Italy in Paris on Wednesday.
- NZPA
