New Zealand Words, Deeds

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Posted: Thursday October 28, 1999 04:06 PM

LONDON (Reuters) -- World Cup words and deeds from favorites New Zealand on the way to its semifinal against France at Twickenham on Sunday.

Group B Matches

Not until the last quarter did the All Blacks make their superiority pay with four tries in 10 minutes and, for the opening hour, they were frustrated by the determined tackling and never-say-die running of the Tongans.

Flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens, after a shaky start, contributed 20 points with the boot.

Tries: Jonah Lomu (2), Josh Kronfeld, Norm Maxwell, Byron Kelleher.
Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens (4).
Penalties: Andrew Mehrtens (4)

Team: 15-Jeff Wilson, 14-Tana Umaga, 13-Christian Cullen, 12-Alama Ieremia (16-Daryl Gibson 67), 11-Jonah Lomu; 10-Andrew Mehrtens, 9-Justin Marshall (18-Byron Kelleher 65), 8-Taine Randell (captain), 7- Josh Kronfeld, 6- Reuben Thorne, 5-Robin Brooke, 4-Norm Maxwell (20-Royce Willis 72) 17-Carlos Spencer, 19-Andrew Blowers, 3-Kees Meeuws,(21-Craig Dowd 12th), 2-Anton Oliver, 1-Carl Hoeft.

Quote: "We didn't settle down, we let them get in, they were very physical -- we just made mistakes. We will have to improve a considerable amount to compete with England." -- New Zealand coach John Hart.

Venue: Twickenham, London
Date: October 9
Result: New Zealand 30-England 16

Lomu broke England hearts once again with a rampaging second half try to inspire New Zealand to victory in the crucial group clash.

With the match tied 16-16 midway through the second period and England enjoying their best period, Lomu received the ball inside his own half with space to move on the left.

In a carbon copy of his one-man destruction of England four years ago, Lomu handed off Jeremy Guscott and burst into overdrive. Winger Austin Healey was swept aside as were two other would-be tacklers and Lomu scored in the corner.

Replacement scrumhalf Byron Kelleher, who also scored in the opening victory over Tonga, sealed victory by scampering over in the corner 13 minutes later.

Flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens kicked three penalties and three conversions.

Tries: Jeff Wilson, Jonah Lomu, Byron Kelleher.
Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens (3).
Penalties: Andrew Mehrtens (3)

Team: 15-Jeff Wilson, 14-Tana Umaga, 13-Christian Cullen, 12- Alama Ieremia (16-Darryl Gibson 70), 11-Jonah Lomu; 10-Andrew Mehrtens (17-Tony Brown 80), 9-Justin Marshall (18-Byron Kelleher 65); 8-Taine Randall, 7-Josh Kronfeld, 6-Reuben Thorne, 5-Robin Brooke (20- Royce Willis 65), 4-Norm Maxwell, 3-Craig Dowd (21-Greg Feek 30-32 39- 40), 2-Anton Oliver, 1-Carl Hoeft.

Quote: "He's a big man to stop. We said before we were not going to focus on him because they have so many quality players in the backs. Unfortunately when the moment came we were stretched and when he is one on one it is pretty hard to stop him." -- England center Phil de Glanville of Lomu.

Venue: McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Date: October 14
Result: New Zealand 101-Italy 3

Jeff Wilson scored a hat trick of tries to break the New Zealand try scoring record and winger Jonah Lomu also achieved a World Cup best as the All Blacks romped to a 101-3 victory.

Wilson scored twice in the first half of the All Blacks' final group match to first equal then break John Kirwan's national record of 35. He added another after the break to bring his tally for the tournament to four.

Lomu crossed the line twice to break the all-time Cup try record of 11, previously held by England's Rory Underwood. He notched up 12 tries in two tournaments while Underwood scored his 11 over three Cups.

Tries: Jeff Wilson (3), Tony Brown, Dylan Mika, Jonah Lomu (2), Glen Osborne (2), Taine Randell, Daryl Gibson, Scott Robinson, Christian Cullen, Mark Hammett.
Conversions: Tony Brown (11).
Penalties: Tony Brown (3).

Team: 15-Jeff Wilson; 14-Glen Osborne, 13-Pita Alatini, 12-Daryl Gibson, 11-Jonah Lomu; 10-Tony Brown, 9-Byron Kelleher; 8-Taine Randell (captain) (16-Christian Cullen, 73), 7-Andrew Blowers (19-Scott Robertson, 58), 6-Dylan Mika, 5-Royce Willis (20-Robin Brooke, 75), 4-Ian Jones, 3-Craig Dowd, 2-Mark Hammett, 1-Greg Feek (21-Kees Meeuws, 64).

Quote: "When I got the ball I knew I was going to score." -- Wilson on his record-breaking try.

Quarterfinal

New Zealand shrugged off a spirited challenge from Scotland for a 30-18 win at Murrayfield. Gusty winds and driving rain did not stop the All Blacks from running in four tries in an efficient, if not flamboyant display.

The Kiwis committed a few handling errors and conceded two tries by their courageous hosts in the second half. But they still won with ease.

They were hampered by the loss of influential flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens, who kicked 10 points for them but limped off with a knee injury at halftime.

Tries: Tana Umaga (2), Jeff Wilson, Jonah Lomu.
Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens (2).
Penalties: Mehrtens (2).

Team: 15-Jeff Wilson; 14-Tana Umaga, 13-Christian Cullen, 12-Alama Ieremia, 11-Jonah Lomu (16-Daryl Gibson 76); 10-Andrew Mehrtens (17-Tony Brown 41), 9-Justin Marshall; 8-Taine Randell (captain), 7-Josh Kronfeld, 6-Reuben Thorne, 5-Robin Brooke, 4-Norm Maxwell (20-Ian Jones 61), 3-Craig Dowd, 2-Anton Oliver (22-Mark Hammett 59), 1-Carl Hoeft (21-Kees Meeuws 73).

Quote: "We wouldn't win the World Cup if we played like we did in the second half." -- Hart

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