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TOKYO - A team of former New Zealand All Blacks overpowered Japan 36-6 on Saturday to end their two-game trip to the country in style.
New Zealand's "Classic All Blacks" stuttered to a 10-6 halftime lead before running in four tries after the restart.
The Kiwis, who brought a squad including Jonah Lomu, Carlos Spencer and captain Andrew Mehrtens, had struggled to impress in a 35-26 win over the Japanese in Kobe in midweek.
Japan, coached by former New Zealand great John Kirwan, invited the former All Blacks to help prepare the Japanese for the Pacific Six Nations tournament and the World Cup.
"I was very happy at halftime. I think the first half was outstanding in terms of intensity and physicality," Kirwan told reporters. "It was like a real test match.
"But in the second half we lost our rhythm in the first 10 minutes. It was a great learning experience for the team. We put them under pressure."
The two matches were also seen as significant for Japan's hopes of hosting the 2015 World Cup after the country lost out to New Zealand in the bidding for the 2011 tournament.
New Zealand pulverised Japan 145-17 in a record victory at the 1995 World Cup.
- REUTERS
