League: Kiwis outclass Toa Samoa in one-off test

Shaun Kenny-Dowall of the New Zealand Kiwis attacks the line. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand produced some razzle dazzle rugby league in the second half to comprehensively beat Samoa 50-6 in a one-off test match at Auckland tonight.

Having led 16-0 after a scrappy first half, the Kiwis unleashed some slick backline moves to run rampant over Samoa in the first ever test between the two nations.

New Zealand's backs scored nine of their 10 tries, six of which came in the final 30 minutes as the visitors tired after a big defensive effort in the first half.

Centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall and wing Manu Vatuvei both scored doubles while halves Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai, Nathan Fien, wing Jason Nightingale and fullback Lance Hohaia all touched down, as did second rower Frank Pritchard.

Though they piled on the tries, coach Stephen Kearney is generally hard to please and he will not be entirely satisfied with their performance, which understandably showed signs of rustiness.

The match was essentially a warm-up ahead of the Four Nations opener between the Kiwis and England in Wellington next Saturday, and while Kearney can reflect on plenty of positives, there were aspects of the performance he will want to address on the training paddock next week.

The halves combination of Leuluai and captain Marshall, who had a hand in most of the 10 tries, including scoring the fourth just before halftime, impressed while New Zealand's right-sided attack consisting of Kenny-Dowall and Nightingale clicked nicely.

Defensively the Kiwis were solid -- they missed just three tackles in the match -- and they needed to be as Samoa, containing several former Kiwis internationals in their squad, came out firing.

Vatuvei had to produce a try-saving tackle on fullback Quentin Togaga'e to deny Samoa the opening try inside two minutes, and the visitors were always willing to promote the ball, even though their mistake level was high.

But New Zealand were also patchy, mixing good facets of play with poor execution.

They will also have the kicking tees out at training this week as hooker Isaac Luke and Marshall missed five of their first six attempts at goal, though Luke nailed three late conversions handy to the posts after Marshall had bee given a rest with 20 minutes remaining.

But New Zealand will be much better for the hitout, and they should certainly be happier than England, who were held to an 18-18 draw by the New Zealand Maori in the early match at Mt Smart Stadium.

Having led 18-0 at halftime, England's defence could not withstand a second-half onslaught from the Maori.

New Zealand 50 (Shaun Kenny-Dowall 2, Manu Vatuvei 2, Jason Nightingale, Benji Marshall, Nathan Fien, Thomas Leuluai, Lance Hohaia, Frank Pritchard tries; Marshall 2 goals, Isaac Luke 3 goals) Samoa 6 (Pita Godinet try; Joseph Paulo goal).

- NZPA