New Zealand 101-14 Samoa: New Zealand thrashed Samoa 101-14 today in a lopsided match that once again exposed the ever widening gulf between rugby's rich and poor nations.
The All Blacks ran in 15 tries to chalk up their fifth century in test match rugby and hand the proud South Pacific Island nation their heaviest ever defeat.
New Zealand fullback Mils Muliaina scored three tries before he was taken off at half-time while Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui crossed twice each.
Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino, Isaia Toeava and Piri Weepu also scored tries. The referee awarded a penalty try and Dan Carter and Donald combined to kick 13 conversions.
"We got what we needed to get out of it," said New Zealand forwards coach Steve Hansen. "There were no injuries as well so it was very pleasing."
The All Blacks' acting captain Rodney So'oialoi, who was born in Samoa but has spent most of his life in New Zealand, said the match was the perfect practice game for the Tri-nations decider against Australia in Brisbane on September 13th.
"I think the boys really enjoyed it out there today," So'oialoi said. "The boys haven't played for a couple of weeks so they really needed this game to turn their bodies over and get back on track for next week."
The Samoans were forced to field a depleted team because most of their top players had to New Zealand British clubs but managed two consolation tries through Uale Mai and Alafoti Faosiliva.
"What can you say, one hundred points? But we got two tries," said Samoa captain Filipo Levi.
"It's a big step up from playing club rugby in Samoa but in saying that it was a learning curve and a good experience for the boys."
Samoa made the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 when rugby was still an amateur sport but their success came at a huge price.
When rugby turned professional after the 1995 World Cup their best players moved abroad and they have been steadily falling further and further behind the wealthier rugby nations.
-Reuters
