Bradley Takairangi, Isaac Liu and Nelson Asofa-Solomona all scored tries on debut as New Zealand made an impressive start to their World Cup campaign with a 38-8 victory over Samoa at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.
New Zealand 38-8 Samoa
New Zealand tries: Rapana (3), Johnson (19), Takairangi (46), Nikorima (52), Liu (55), Tuivasa-Sheck (69), Asofa-Solomona (72)
Conversions: Johnson (21,52,57,70,72)
Samoa tries: Maumalo (36), Paulo (80)
Match report
Bradley Takairangi, Isaac Liu and Nelson Asofa-Solomona all scored tries on debut as New Zealand made an impressive start to their World Cup campaign with a 38-8 victory over Samoa at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.
The Kiwis had endured a difficult build-up to the tournament with the walkout of Jason Taumalolo, which followed the axing of Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor, but they put their troubles behind them to celebrate their first home Test match for three years in fine style.
The only disappointment was the loss of centre Gerard Beale with a broken leg while Samoa lost hooker Pita Godinet with a head knock.
Samoa were competitive throughout the first half, when they trailed 10-4, but New Zealand hit a purple patch in which they scored three tries in 12 minutes to secure an ultimately convincing triumph in the opening match of Group B.
The Kiwis made the ideal start when centre Jordan Rapana took a return pass from Shaun Johnson to touch down after only four minutes.
Johnson's conversion attempt came back off a post but he was on target midway through the first half to convert his own try, which stemmed from a break by former captain Simon Mannering and carried on by Wigan's Thomas Leuluai.
Trailing 10-0, Samoa struck back four minutes before the break when winger Ken Maumalo found space to cross unopposed.
However, Maumalo undid his good work with a fumble as he attempted to gather the ball from Johnson's grubber kick to gift a try to Takairangi.
Stand-off Kodi Nikorima then won the race to touch down another Johnson kick and, as the Samoans tired, Liu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Asofa-Solomona added further tries for the Kiwis, whose next game is against Scotland in Christchurch next Saturday.
Samoa finished a well-beaten side but grabbed a consolation try in the final minute from Joseph Paulo.
