All Blacks defeat Tonga in World Cup opener

Sure he was influential, but I think that was more to do with the Tongan defence rather than Nonu's mastery of the the 13 channel, tbh.

I agree, what a game by Kahui, he like Jane just always looks composed in the Black jersey. Get Kahui to play Japan game, probably off bench with Guildford starting, this will be Guildfords last chance and will need to play a blinder. I think Kahui also has the better of Toeava in last two games. Toeava did well and would be a fine pick if not for Kahui breathing down his neck. He had two poor choices to finish. One off SBW grubber when he went in-field and the disallowed try, carrying ball in wrong hand. This is was actually a fundamental error which is partially fault of playing him on his wrong side. So all in all I feel Kahui should be in the starting 15 based on Guildfords next performance.

Boring scrums are boring . Endless resets etc. Couldnt agree more. Difficult to know what can be done about it though without resorting to Leagues farsical restarts.

NO WAY. First lets see the UK enter a single team into the RWC then...

"And tonga had a bad warm up there now saying on tv now because of opening ceremony." That's interesting to read. During the opening ceremony I was wondering 'what would Tonga & the AB's be doing right now'? Would they have been at the grounds in the sheds or would they still be elsewhere waiting to arrive and try to keep things as normal as posible. In reality part of the coach's & manager's job is to get the best out of their teams by ensuring that everything is done as normal as possible within routines and players don't get too caught up in the emotions of the whole thing and blow it before running out onto the park. But it must have been especially difficult for Tonga in that there are no 'usual' ways of preparing when you're a team that is scattered aroundthe globe and you only comes together for the big events. I saw TV footage of the Tongan team arrive at Auckland airport and they seemed blown away by the amazing reception that they received from the Tongan fans. So they have been on an emotional roller coaster for a few days.

right dingbat the denial with a false smile. A dead giveaway struggling

DAMO, our mate oberst doesnt know the game like you but understands entertainment ,;what the rwc is;;oberst is the kind of guy rugby needs to grow the game.rugby in oz is down the list as winter sports and what AFL has achieved ,with ARU doing well at rwcs,, says a lot about marketing and admin. oberst has a point in that nz wanted to showcase the ABS with a first up WIN with island followers to fill and hype the spectacle. i also found it second rate as a rugby purist.cant get excited about KAHUI THE FIND OF THE ALL BLACKS

Probably not a game for loosies but Richie looked tired and slow.Is he carrying an injury?

A combined pacific island team at a world cup would be a major threat, if they could keep the politics out of it (no chance).

How can the team look settled when he keeps changing it? You're right,a wry grin is slowly creeping up on Deans' face and Henry is juggling his way into an NZ nightmare.

OJfrankly this starting game you can make of it what you want to rationalise. watching a lot of rugby youd feel that somethings are not just right. and starting with the saviors mccaw,carter the fear of failure is exposed and we talk about kahui the brilliant winger now from the chiefs.incredible not real god bless

Exactly Justin, seems most people on this site give little to no credit for the way Tonga played and how much they have improved over the years.

Dingbat he made that comment in reference to the seemingly endless resets that took nearly 5 minutes! Not the fact they were out scrumed as you are saying that is a slight strtech of the truth. Could you not hear the crowd booing both Tongan and AB fans and the rest of the worlds fans who were present. The 2nd 40 was already a tad slow and then that. Tonga picked up their game in the second 40 and played really well, whilst disapointed with the ABs performance in the second stanza I along with most of the crowd were very impressed with the way the Tongans played in that period.

Nonu was influential in many of the tries. I actually thought his passing game was fantastic.

I think everyone has conveniently forgotten how Tonga has evolved in the last several years. In 2003 they were easy beats. Ever since 2007 they have employed their overseas professionals and thus improved their performances. Unfortunately for the Tongan side their best performances are reserved for the world cups and this is when the best Tongans are released to play. These improved performances can be proven with the games they played against South Africa and England in the 2007 world cup. They nearly beat SA and they took England to the wire, so for me this result against the All Blacks is no surprise. Well done ABs you played a fine first up game:)

Oberst nomone is forcing you to watch at all mate. Spend all your trolling time on that other game would suit us just fine. 'Us' being those who understand rugby and this chess game of a tournament. There's nothing wrong with the game of afl but the close mindedness of it's addicts, well it's a bit wierd really.

"Quade cooper has a polynisean heritage" It's true - Maori is indeed classed as Polynesian and it's shameful that Australia has robbed a tiny Island nation such as NZ of its indigenous talent.

Since you ask, it's not intelligent because we're all tired of those that perpetuate the stereotype of the All Blacks being founded on pacific island talent while blatantly ignoring the number of NZ-born players playing for pacific island teams. But hey, it's your choice, do the math or continue to ignorantly describe Tonga and Samoa as the NZ C TEAM, in caps, like that means something.

Henry on the period when the Kiwis got outscrummed by Tonga:"I don't think anyone enjoyed it to be frank, pretty boring part of the game," he said. LOL! Nobody is buying that you twat.

Toeava