Rugby: Evans relishes rare start

Nick Evans scored 33 points against Portugal. Photo / Brett Phibbs

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LYON - Not starting a game of rugby for more than three months seems to have done wonders for All Blacks first five-eighth Nick Evans.

The man now established as the backup to Daniel Carter has become used to sporadic opportunities and certainly made the most in the 108-13 eclipsing of Portugal.

Evans controlled play tidily, crossed for a second-half try and kicked 14 conversions for a 33-point haul, the third-equal best in New Zealand test history alongside three other playmakers of note - Carter, Andrew Mehrtens and Carlos Spencer.

"I spoke to Mehrts afterwards, he was adding it up," Evans smiled.

He also phoned his father soon after the game, anxious to get a definitive performance assessment.

"The old man's your biggest critic so it was good to get a pass mark from him," Evans said.

"He was actually still up watching the Welsh game (against Australia) as well. I told him to go to bed, he's had enough rugby for the day."

Not since the June 9 test against France in Wellington has Evans been present for the opening whistle of any first class match.

His only further test contributions were two late cameos off the reserve bench.

The 27-year-old wasn't picked by Otago for any of their Air NZ Cup fixtures, a snubbing prompted by his decision to shift to Auckland next year.

"It's been a while, it was good to get 80 minutes," he said.

"We were our own worst enemies for a while there with a few too many errors, especially in that first 10-15 minutes.

"We got into it and started playing the rugby we can play. It was a good day in the end."

Evans didn't run with the ball a lot as the plan was to play an all-purpose team game which allowed the outside backs ample opportunities.

"I put it on myself to be more of a distributor in this game," he said.

"Depending on how much more game time I get, that running game will come in a bit more, I think."

Evans agreed that Carter was sure to start the key game against Scotland this Monday (NZ time) but was hoping for another start in the final pool test against Romania in Toulouse, "and there are spots on the bench up for grabs".

Evans' personal highlight was watching former Otago teammate and prop Carl Hayman adjust to the unfamiliar role of lock over the last half hour. His lineout leaping caught the eye in particular.

"He's good isn't he? How awesome was it too see him get up in the air?"

- NZPA