Ardie Savea in action for the All Blacks v Canada
Ardie Savea in action for the All Blacks v Canada

New Zealand 63-0 Canada: Rugby World Cup match report, highlights and scorers


New Zealand delivered a masterclass as they demolished World Cup opponents Canada 63-0 in their second Pool B game in Oita.

New Zealand 63-0 Canada

New Zealand tries: Penalty try, J Barrett, Williams, B Barrett, Ioane, Frizell, Weber 2
New Zealand conversions: Mo'unga 6

Match highlights

Highlights: New Zealand v Canada - Rugby World Cup 2019

Match report

New Zealand delivered a masterclass as they demolished World Cup opponents Canada 63-0 in their second Pool B game in Oita.

The reigning world champions ran in eight tries and were awarded a penalty try against out-classed Canada, with the All Blacks' Barrett brothers, Beauden, Jordie and Scott, all touching down.

The All Blacks, bidding for a record third-straight World Cup crown, ground out a 23-13 victory over South Africa in their opening match but produced all their dazzling line-breaking skills against the Canadians, who had lost their opening game 48-7 to Italy.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen made 11 changes with Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett becoming the first trio of brothers to appear for the country at a World Cup.

The Barretts also became only the second trio of brothers to start a World Cup match for any nation, following Tongan siblings Elisi, Manu and Fe'ao Vunipola in the 1995 clash with Scotland.

Centres Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue, wing Rieko Ioane and scrum-half TJ Perenara were among the other changes.

The All Blacks powered into a fifth-minute lead when they were awarded a penalty try after skipper Kieran Reid had picked up from a five-metre scrum.

Right-wing Jordie Barrett went over after catching Richie Mo'unga's pin-point cross-field kick and the reigning world champions led 21-0 after Williams burst through a tackle to score their third try from close range.

Scott Barrett let Canada off the hook when he dropped the ball while diving to touch down, but brother Beauden scored New Zealand's fourth try after racing onto Williams' neat kick ahead.

The All Blacks picked up where they left off in the second half, going over for their fifth try inside the first minute when Williams sent Ioane in at the corner and it was soon 42-0 after Scott Barrett charged over.

Flanker Shannon Frizzell was next to touch down as Hansen's side shifted through the gears.

Replacement scrum-half Brad Weber twice raced over for his first New Zealand tries before flanker Ardie Savea became the first player at a World Cup to wear protective goggles when he replaced Matt Todd with 10 minutes left.

New Zealand, for whom Beauden Barrett also dropped the ball when poised to score in the dying moments, maintained their record of never having lost a pool game at a World Cup, which now stretches to 30 matches.

Match reaction

Steve Hansen (New Zealand): "It was a pretty good performance when you break it down, particularly the first part of that second half when they really came together and played good, controlled rugby."

"It was really difficult conditions. The humidity is unbelievable and while people at home will be wondering why they dropped a few balls, it's very, very difficult, so I think they've done well."

The Barrett brothers, Beauden, Jordie and Scott, all touched down on the day they became the first trio of brothers to appear for their country at a World Cup.

After an early penalty try, awarded after skipper Kieran Read had dived over from a five-metre scrum, Jordie Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams and Beauden Barrett all went over in the first half.

Further tries in the second period from Rieko Ioane, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizzell and replacement scrum-half Brad Weber's brace completed the rout, while imperious fly-half Richie Mo'unga was successful with all eight of his conversion attempts.

Centre Williams was central to most of New Zealand's attacking flair after being named as one of 11 changes from the opening 23-13 win against South Africa.

"He's always been pushing," Hansen said. "We're very blessed in the midfield with the talent that we've got and of course (centre) Ngani (Laumape) is at home still. So we're very blessed and it's good to have people in form."

When asked what his side could improve on, Hansen added: "The first 20 minutes of the second half, we've got to turn that into 80 minutes and if we can do that we won't be too far away."

Kingsley Jones (Canada): "I'm really proud of the guys," Jones said. "I thought the way they stuck in there, you know we had big chunks of the game where we were really in it.

"They showed true Canadian grit. Every one of them can look in the mirror and be proud of their performance.

"Other times, I'm admiring the All blacks' accuracy, skill, speed and the bottom line is collisions - the speed and power that they can deliver at times.

"It really causes big problems and after that it's difficult to deal with and difficult to defend."