 Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. Highlights: New Zealand 48-6 Papua New Guinea
Tries: Ropati, Mannering 2, Perrett, Luke, Fa'alogo, Blair, Eastwood Goals: Inu 5
Papua New Guinea (0) 6
Tries: Perrett Goals: Wilshere
New Zealand got their World Cup campaign back on track with a nine-try victory over Papua New Guinea. The Kiwis were thrashed by Australia last week, but four first-half tries - including a brace for Simon Mannering - put them in total control. David Moore's try salvaged some pride for PNG but the Kiwis quickly re-established their dominance. Greg Eastwood exploited some tired defence for his side's fifth try of the half to seal a comprehensive win. PNG pushed England all the way last week, but they struggled to back up that effort and were never in serious contention at Skilled Park. But the proud Kumuls lacked nothing in effort, putting in some monstrous hits in a ferocious opening quarter before the dam burst with a run-in for Jerome Ropati after a great piece of skill from Benji Marshall.  | 606: DEBATE |
It was not long before Mannering crossed for the first of his tries after running a good line off Thomas Leuluai, and he did not have to wait too much longer for his second as he strolled though some disorganised PNG defence. George Kepa went close out wide for PNG before being stopped by a Manu Vatuvei tackle, but it was only a temporary break from defensive duty as Perrett got on the end of a brilliant Marshall pass to score out wide. PNG were desperately unlucky not to get something on the scoreboard on the stroke of half-time as Keith Peters' chip over the top bounced over the heads of three onrushing Kumuls players.  Fa'alogo scored New Zealand's sixth try of their game |
But they got the try their resolute efforts deserved, and it was worth waiting for as an astonishing Neville Costigan offload opened things up for winger Moore to cut back on the angle and score under the posts. New Zealand put their subsequent kick off out on the full to give PNG every chance of setting up another solid position, but the Kumuls inexcusably missed touch. The Kiwis got their act together again after a sloppy few minutes, with the impressive Luke going 40m with a lightening break from dummy-half for their fifth try. David Fa'aologo took a short pass off Nathan Fien to score their next, quickly followed by Adam Blair, who simply shrugged off two PNG defenders. Perrett's second came after a high kick to the corner bounced kindly for him once Krisnan Inu had gone up for the original challenge, and Eastwood rounded it off with some twinkle-toe footwork fooling the defence. The defeat effectively ends Papua New Guinea's hopes of making the semi-finals, with the Kumuls requiring an unlikely victory over favourites Australia - and by a massive margin - to go through.
New Zealand: Hohaia, Perrett, Inu, Ropati, Vatuvei, Marshall, Leuluai, Cayless, Fien, Blair, Mannering, Sa, Smith. Replacements: Eastwood, Rapira, Luke, Fa'alogo. Papua New Guinea: Wilshere, Kepa, Parker, Maori, Moore, Gene, Peters, Aizue, Aiton, Exton, Costigan, Nightingale, Griffin. Replacements: Pora, Moni, Chan, Wabo. Referee: S Ganson (England)
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