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The All Blacks coasted to a record 61-10 test rugby roasting of France in Wellington tonight but the result may have come at a significant injury cost.
A nine-try performance carried New Zealand to their expected win over the understrength tourists in the second test at Westpac Stadium but news that lock Ali Williams had been taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw put a dampener on the evening.
Such an injury would almost certainly rule 41-test veteran Williams out of the upcoming Tri-Nations and, potentially, the World Cup this year.
It would be another blow to New Zealand's locking depth, with James Ryan and Jason Eaton already injured and out of World Cup contention.
On top of that, injury-prone lock Keith Robinson was a last-minute omission from tonight's test after suffering a a calf muscle injury during the warmups. He was replaced by Chris Jack.
The injuries mattered little tonight as the All Blacks dominated the decimated French in a test that bore many of the hallmarks of last week's 42-11 first test victory at Auckland.
France struggled to foot it with the All Blacks scrum, and could not match the speed or power of the home pack at the tackle and breakdown.
It allowed the star studded New Zealand backline to run amok, with winger Joe Rokocoko the beneficiary with two tries.
While it was an improved All Blacks performance on last week's rusty opener, they were guilty again of some over-elaborate play and basic handling errors.
The scoreline could have been greater had Luke McAlister not endured a mixed match with his goalkicking, although he created a number of tries with his sleight of hand.
It was the All Blacks highest score and greatest winning margin in 45 tests against France. Both records were previously contained in the 54-7 win of eight years ago, at Wellington's Athletic Park.
The All Blacks also produced their 23rd consecutive win on home soil since 2003, surpassing the previous world record set by England from 1999 to 2003.
French first five-eighth Benjamin Boyet opened the scoring with a penalty but the rest of the first spell was almost entirely one-way traffic.
In the 11th minute hooker Anton Oliver burrowed low and forced the ball on to the goalpost padding for the All Blacks' first try.
McAlister landed the conversion and added two penalties for a 13-3 lead before tries in the space of two minutes to halfback Byron Kelleher and Rokocoko made the result a formality.
Kelleher, who was playing his 50th test along with captain Richie McCaw, powered over close to a ruck before Rokocoko brilliantly intercepted a short pass from French halfback Nicolas Durand and strode 60m to score.
Rokocoko had his second try 2min before halftime, set up by slicing runs from himself and cousin Sitiveni Sivivatu on the other wing.
Fullback Leon MacDonald scored New Zealand's best try soon after the break, at the end of sweeping 60m counter attack.
A dropped All Blacks pass on attack opened the door for France's only try, a 75m counter in which Durand set up winger Julien Laharrague.
Normal order was restored when centre Isaia Toeava burst over from 40m, while flanker Jerry Collins capped a muscular game by barging over soon afterwards.
Hooker Keven Mealamu scored from a slick front-of-lineout move while the rout was completed in the final minute when first five-eighth Nick Evans darted over from another tricky McAlister pass.
Evans ran the game well in place of the injured Daniel Carter, while New Zealand's best were Collins, Rokocoko and prop Tony Woodcock.
The All Blacks host Canada in Hamilton next Saturday while France do not play again until a test against Wales in Cardiff, a week out from the World Cup they host starting in early September.
New Zealand 61 (Joe Rokocoko 2, Anton Oliver, Byron Kelleher, Leon MacDonald, Isaia Toeava, Jerry Collins, Keven Mealamu, Nick Evans tries; Luke McAlister 2 pen, 5 con) France 10 (Julien Laharrague try; Benjamin Boyet pen, con). Halftime: 30-3.
- NZPA
