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NZ put 100 past Manu Samoa

Mils Muliaina - New Zealand play Australia in a Tri-Nations decider next week
Mils Muliaina - New Zealand play Australia in a Tri-Nations decider next week

Rampant New Zealand ran in 15 tries against a depleted Manu Samoa to make the most of their last chance to prepare for next week's Tri-Nations decider against Australia in Brisbane.

The All Blacks had organised the match in a bid to provide their players with some much-needed match practice, having not played since their 19-0 win against South Africa on August 16.

And the game served its purpose with full-back Mils Muliaina running in a hat-trick of tries, despite only playing a half, while centre Conrad Smith and wing Richard Kahui each crossed the whitewash twice.

The inexperience of the Samoan side, shorn of their European-based players and therefore consisting mainly of players who have only been playing club rugby in Samoa, was borne out with the All Blacks winning at a canter.

However, the visitors made their own contribution with fly-half Uale Mai scoring a deserved try during the first half and flanker Alafoti Faosiliva crossing for one of the tries of the evening just before full-time.

The All Blacks had the final say with replacement half-back Piri Weepu crossing for the try that allowed replacement fly-half Stephen Donald to land his seventh conversion, one more than Dan Carter had kicked during the first 40 minutes, and move the score over 100.

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