Winger Charles Piutau scored a double as the All Blacks defeated Japan 54-6 in Tokyo.

by Brendan Bradford –

The All Blacks proved inexperience is no obstacle to class by running out 54-6 winners over Japan in Tokyo on Saturday. In the sides’ first meeting outside a World Cup, the visitors overcame a patchy start to score eight tries while limiting Japan to a couple of penalties.

Playing for coach Eddie Jones, who suffered a stroke two-and-a-half weeks ago, Japan displayed glimpses of early promise, but were ultimately shown to be several notches below a rampant All Blacks outfit.

Playing with a virtual B-side against a team that defeated an admittedly depleted Welsh squad earlier in the year, the All Blacks were dominant and entertaining, if slightly erratic from pillar to post. With 14-changes to the line-up that defeated the Wallabies in Dunedin last month, that was always going to be the case.

Intent on playing an expansive game from the outset, the ABs shifted the ball wide for captain Richie McCaw who was barrelled into touch before Francis Saili executed a deft chip into the deep in-goal area which rolled harmlessly over the deadball line.

The Japanese were energetic in the opening phases, earning a tighthead scrum and smashing more than a couple of breakdowns, but they could only watch as Charles Piutau ran 50-meters for his first Test-match try.

Former NSW Origin star Craig Wing
played in the centres for Japan

Flyhalf Ayumu Goromaru kept Japan in touch with two penalties as the Brave Blossoms forced the issue at the breakdown and challenged every lineout, but their resistance was finally broken after half-an-hour when Sam Cane and Ben Smith dotted down in quick succession for a 21-6 lead.

McCaw – playing in the unfamiliar number eight jersey – broke off the back of a scrum for the Kiwis’ fourth try and a 28-6 lead at halftime while Dan Carter had a hand in most of the All Blacks’ attack, proving he’s still the magician even after a stint on the sideline with injury.

Halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow darted off the back of a dominant scrum to set up Frank Halai in the right corner in the 48thminute while Carter kicked his fifth conversion and was replaced by Crusaders teammate Tom Taylor.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was seen giving his forwards a spray at halftime and the pack came out of the sheds firing. Lock Jeremy Thrush joined Piutau in opening his Test try-scoring account by finishing off a pick-and-drive as the men in black started to dominate the smaller Japanese forwards.

Japan’s back-row had done a good job hassling Kerr-Barlow at the base of the ruck all game, but when the Chiefs number nine found a bit of space on the short side, a clever grubber in goal saw Beauden Barrett dot down for ABs’ seventh.

Another chip kick and a clever follow up from Saili created a second for Piutau who was one of the All Blacks’ best the whole afternoon.

Backed by a passionate crowd of over 27, 000, the Japanese went in search of a try in the last minute and pounded the line with consecutive phases and a couple of penalties until Sam Cane was sin-binned for cynical play under the posts. Winger Kenki Fukuoka scrambled over in the left corner and was adamant he’d scored a Japanese five-pointer, but McCaw and Steven Luatua combined to put the diminutive flyer into touch.

With the fulltime siren sounded and the game long won, the desperate cover tackle displayed the ceaseless dedication to perfection the All Blacks strive for. The tourists continue on to Europe where their Spring Tour will see them take on England, France and Ireland.

New Zealand 54 (Charles Piutau 2, Sam Cane, Ben Smith, Richie McCaw, Jeremy Thrush, Frank Halai, Beauden Barrett tries; Dan Carter 5, Beauden Barrett 2 cons) bt Japan 6 (Ayumu Goromaru 2 pens)