All Blacks dish out rugby lesson to USA

The All Blacks went on a romp under the Chicago sun to beat a hapless United States 74-6 in their historic Test at Soldier Field.

In the first rugby international played at an NFL venue, a sold-out crowd of 61,000 witnessed the world champion New Zealanders teach the 18th-ranked Eagles a lesson in all aspects of the game.

Code-hopping inside centre Sonny Bill Williams scored two of the visitors’ 12 unanswered tries and had another ruled out in his first Test appearance for more than two years.

Williams unfurled a standout performance before limping off with an apparent hip problem midway through the second half.

There were also first-half injuries to hooker Nathan Harris (foot) and winger Cory Jane (hamstring), leaving all three under a cloud ahead of three Tests in the United Kingdom with the All Blacks to face England at Twickenham next week.

That Test will be a contrast to the festival football played by the All Blacks, who withstood a staunch opening from the hosts.

The first 15 minutes were marked by regular chants of “USA USA” from the steepling stands as a committed home side tore in the collisions.

That wasn’t to be heard again as New Zealand rattled off six tries in the 25 minutes before halftime, unleashing slick passes, elusiveness and speed to split a naive defensive line.

Harris scored in the third minute while another forward making his first start, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, also crossed.

Other first-half tryscorers were Williams (two), winger Charles Piutau, Jane and his replacement, Julian Savea.

Prop Joe Moody, five-eighth Aaron Cruden, fullback Israel Dagg and flanker Sam Cane notched second-half tries as some impetus went out of the contest.

Savea nabbed his second in the final play, taking his record to 29 tries from 30 Tests.

Cruden, who kicked four from nine conversion attempts, made way for Dan Carter in the 50th minute.

Carter, playing his first Test for nearly a year, looked at ease and slotted his three shots from wide out.

US five-eighth Adam Siddall kicked two penalties while their captain and 60-Test flanker Todd Clever was the standout figure in a toiling pack which won its share of possession.

The All Blacks revelled in bright conditions which were a vast improvement on the snow and biting wind that struck the city on Friday.

It was a performance to match a colourful occasion.

The Test had significant commercial backing and was designed to showcase rugby to a large US television audience.

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