Caleb Ralph is tackled. (Getty Images)

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Brisbane

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Leon MacDonald turned in a goal-kicking performance of which Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud as the All Blacks turned on their awesome power in a one-sided encounter at the Suncorp stadium.

The All Black centre, filling the void left by the injury to Tana Umaga, kicked a flawless 12 kicks from 12 attempts and weighed in with a try as New Zealand racked up the highest score of the World Cup so far.

It was a performance which should seal MacDonald's place in the full-strength New Zealand team when the pool matches have been successfully negotiated.

With a dramatic outpouring of aggression Tonga did manage to draw the battle of the Hakas before the kick-off - but they lost every other confrontation as New Zealand demonstrated what lies in store for rugby's big guns later in the tournament.

Two tries each from Mils Muliaina and Doug Howlett and 13 touchdowns in all - one a penalty try as the Tongan discipline cracked - were the statistics behind a match played by two teams who have a history of bad blood.

But while the weather was hot, humid and stormy at the Suncorp Stadium, Tonga simply never got enough of the ball to make a fight of this affair.

It was always going to be another night of experimentation for New Zealand who had won their first two matches against Italy and Canada convincingly enough, though not without the odd flake of rust.

Against Tonga they were also determined to practise their rolling maul which will be required when the opposition gets a little tastier.

But it was their third back-line in three games which did much of the damage.

After an early flurry of handling mistakes the All Black tactics were to get the ball wide as much as possible to danger wings Caleb Ralph and Howlett.

And they scythed their way through the Tongan defence with increasing ease as their superior fitness told in a match which was little more than an exercise in working on the combinations New Zealand might use for the rest of the tournament.

But if MacDonald impressed most then it was the gathering teamwork of this All Black outfit which ultimately will prove the biggest threat to Australia and perhaps England if they both get to the Sydney final next month.

It took them a little while to get going but once they had settled any nerves with two tries from Daniel Braid and Daniel Carter midway through the first half they simply cut loose.

By half-time they had steamed into a 35-0 lead with further touchdowns from Corey Flynn, Ralph and Carlos Spencer.

And while Tonga had the consolation of an opportunist second-half try from Pierre Hola, when he intercepted Justin Marshall's pass, the All Blacks just rolled on, scoring just 40 seconds after the restart through Ralph. Prop Kees Meeuws also got in on the try stakes.

Contrary to early fears there was barely a wild tackle or a flash of temper in the match, though Sila Va'enuku was sent to the sin bin by Argentine referee Pablo Deluca for giving away persistent penalties.

Teams

New Zealand: Muliaina, Howlett, MacDonald, Carter, Ralph, Spencer, Marshall, Meeuws, Flynn, Somerville, Thorn, Williams, Thorne, Braid, So'oialo.

Replacements: Hewett for Somerville (61), McCaw for Thorne (61).

Not Used: Mealamu, Jack, Holah, Nonu, Atiga.

Tries: Braid, Carter, Flynn, Ralph 2, Spencer, Meeuws, Penalty, Muliaina 2, MacDonald, Howlett 2.

Cons: MacDonald 12, Spencer.

Tonga: Va'enuku, Fonua, Hufanga, Payne, Tui'fua, Hola, Martens, Pulu, Ma'asi, Lavaka, Latu, Vaki, S. Afeaki, Fenukitau, Kivalu.

Replacements: Leger for Hufanga (40), Tuipulotu for Tui'fua (40), Lea'aetoa for Pulu (26), Taukafa for Ma'asi (58), M. Ngauamo for Latu (48).

Not Used: Palu, I. Afeaki.

Tries: Hola.

Cons: Tuipulotu.

Sin Bin: Va'enuku (65).

Att: 45,000

Ref: Pablo Deluca (Argentina).