New Zealand vs Namibia LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction as All Blacks dominate in Toulouse
New Zealand 71-3 Namibia: All Blacks bounce back from France loss by hammering Namibia
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Your support makes all the difference.New Zealand shook off any lingering negative thoughts from their opening round defeat to France by hammering Namibia in Toulouse to get their first victory of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Ian Foster’s men started as they meant to go on with Cam Roigard, making his World Cup debut, finishing off a wonderfully sharp and slick move to get over the line with one minute gone on the clock. The No. 9 added a second try to his tally five minutes later as New Zealand showed just how they intended to play this match.
They wanted a big total and got one. 11 tries were scored in total with Damian McKenzie (x2), Leicester Fainga’anuku, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan de Groot, Dalton Papali’i, David Havili, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane driving the All Blacks to a comfortable 71-3 victory.
It wasn’t a perfect night for New Zealand though as De Groot was shown a red card with the TMO bunker upgrading his initial yellow after reviewing the incident late in the game.
Relive all the action from the Stadium de Toulouse below.
New Zealand 57 - 3 Namibia 63 mins
The backs join the maul and Namibia are so close to the line but the ball is fumbled as well as a player being offside. It’s the closest they’ve got to the line all game but it wasn’t to be. The French crowd really seem to be getting behind them!
TRY! New Zealand 57 - 3 Namibia 58 mins
After another strong maul from the lineout, Savea goes clear and releases the ball to Roigard who delivers once more for David Havili to score. After scoring twice for himself the scrum half is now gift wrapping passes to set up tries for his All Blacks teammates. McKenzie converts again.
TRY! New Zealand 50 - 3 Namibia 53 mins
Savea with a defence-bursting carry from the base of the scrum to move New Zealand forward and they go the width of the pitch before releasing Dalton Papali'i to score. McKenzie with a comfortable conversion.
TRY! New Zealand 43-3 Namibia 48 mins
Just off the bench and Ethan de Groot opens his scoring account for the evening with a strong drive to the line for New Zealand! McKenzie misses the conversion.
New Zealand 38 - 3 Namibia 47mins
A slightly error-strewn start for both sides. New Zealand make their way back into the match but Caleb Clarke trips over his feet as he struggles to retain his balance on the way to the line.
SECOND HALF New Zealand 38 - 3 Namibia
Namibia’s Tiaan Swanepoel gets the second half underway in Toulouse!
HALF TIME! New Zealand 38 - 3 Namibia
New Zealand looking to be confidently on the way to that record-breaking 50th win with that first half performance that was just too much for Namibia, particularly in defence. A tough blow for Namibia losing Le Roux Malan in such horrific fashion early on in the match.
All Blacks set themselves up well with consistently strong set pieces and excellent link up play to drive them over the line.
TRY! New Zealand 38 -3 Namibia 38 mins
McKenzie gets the next for the All Blacks, his second of the night! He’s set up well by Roigard who gives him the perfect offload after drawing in multiple defenders from a break. The fly-half converts his own score and New Zealand have a comfortable lead approaching half time. The rain looks to have finally stopped too, things are really brightening up for New Zealand and it’s only the first half!
TRY! New Zealand 31 - 3 Namibia 34 mins
Anton Lienert-Brown gets a fifth for New Zealand! After two well-timed kicks and laser focus to eliminate the Namibian defence, Lienert-Brown gathers the ball from chasing his own efforts and scores. McKenzie key in the build-up again and converts.
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