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08/11 14:14 CDT All Blacks crush the Sharks 54-0 in rain-soaked Durban as
McKenzie limps off
All Blacks crush the Sharks 54-0 in rain-soaked Durban as McKenzie limps off
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) --- New Zealand comfortably handled the Sharks 54-0
and a sodden Kings Park to go two for two on its South Africa tour on Tuesday.
Test fullback Damian McKenzie hobbled off after scoring a 28th-minute try. He'd
been playing on a heavily strapped left ankle he hurt early while landing to
take a mark, and his exit appeared precautionary 11 days before the test series.
The All Blacks started half of their test XV against the weakest of the four
provincial sides they face, and were too slick for the Sharks on a pitch soaked
by heavy rain right up until kickoff.
They fixed the issues that were shown up while beating the Stormers 38-21 in
Cape Town last Friday. The maul defense stopped two early lineout drives by the
Sharks from five meters out, the scrum was solid, and discipline much improved.
No yellow cards were conceded and the penalty count was reduced on a damp night
in which the All Blacks were too slick.
They scored eight tries, seven converted by Ruben Love --- four from the
sideline and one in off the post.
Love led the All Blacks' pre-match haka, which was uniquely met by a solo haka
from Ma'a Nonu, the 44-year-old rugby great who played for New Zealand 104
times from 2003-15 and was signed by the Sharks only a week ago.
Nonu faced his old team for the first time but by the time he cameoed off the
bench, the All Blacks were leading 42-0 with a quarter to go.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
