On paper it looked like the most one-sided game of the opening weekend of the World Cup as second favourites for the competition New Zealand took on a Lebanon side who had been given a forty point start on the handicap coupon by the bookies. You could get 200/1 on a Lebanon win but a one hundred pound bet on the Kiwi´s would win you just a quid.
New Zealand are currently ranked as number one in the World, Lebanon in thirteenth place on the international table, but after making the quarter finals last time out they were hopeful that they would be able to achieve the same this time round, starting with limiting the against score.
This is the second time that the two sides have met, New Zealand winning by 64-0 in the only previous encounter.
Just over one minute had elapsed when the Cedars made an extraordinary start and opened the scoring when a Mitchell Moses grubber kick was picked up and then dislodged by the Kiwi defence before bouncing into goal and being grounded by Josh Mansour. Moses added the conversion.
On five minutes New Zealand had their opening try of the game as Kenny Bromwich powered over the line on his back and forced the ball onto the ground above his shoulder. Jordan Rapana added the conversion to level the scores at 6-6.
All the pressure was in one direction as New Zealand pressed the Lebanon line, but some terrific defence kept them at bay until the twenty-fourth minute when Nelson Asofa-Solomona finally found a way under the sticks after taking a Brandon Smith offload five metres out. Rapana was on target again for 12-6.
The half hour heralded the third Kiwi try with Peta Hiku dipping the shoulder as he went from acting half back to score from five metres out. Once again Rapana added the conversion, this one from wide, for 18-6.
It could have been far worse on the score board for Lebanon had their defence not been so exemplary, there was a concern that as they tired in the second half the Kiwis would start to rack up the points.
A Doueihi 40-20 four minutes after the restart earned a penalty on the next play the ball after a ball strip. On the firth tackle from the resulting set Abbas Miski found himself on an overlap to go over in the left-hand corner for a try by the corner flag. Moses added the touchline conversion, and the Cedars were back within six points of the best side in the world.
Inventive play from Lebanon on fifty-three, a cross-field kick towards the posts, almost saw the equalising try but New Zealand scrambled their defence back. Returning the ball Joseph Manu streaked down the centre of the field and found Dylan Brown to go over from thirty metres out. Rapana was on target again, a killer blow against Lebanon.
Three minutes later and Manu scored himself as he collected his own chip kick, span out of the tackle, and sprinted thirty metres to the line to ground under the sticks giving Rapana a simple goal for 30-12, the Kiwis now out of sight.
On fifty-nine Doueihi was sent off apparently for dissent, the first red card of the competition. Tapping the penalty, the thirteen men scored a simple try down the right with Rapana going over in the corner after fast hands. Rapana pulled his conversion across the front of the posts, his first miss of the night.
The game petered out over the remaining twenty minutes, the Kiwis on the offensive for most of the remainder but unable to get over the whitewash for any more points.
All credit to a Lebanon side who frustrated New Zealand throughout the eighty minutes and kept their points difference to a respectable level. They will fancy their chances against Ireland and Jamaica but will likely miss the services of Doueihi after he was dismissed for foul and abusive language. New Zealand will be disappointed with the size of their win, but it will make no difference to their qualification for the knock-out stages, which should be a formality. Michael McGuire will want to see a big improvement in the remainder of the group matches.
New Zealand: Manu (T), Mulitano, Nicoll-Klokdstad, Hiku (T), Rapana (T, 5G), Brown (T), Hughes, Bromwich J, Smith, Fisher-Harris, Papali´I, Bromwich K (T), Tapine. Subs: Foran, Leota, Asofa-Solomona (T), Nikora.
Lebanon: Kiraz, Mansour (T), Morokos, Robinson, Miski (T), Doueihi (SO on 59), Moses (2G), Kalache, Kazzi, Rahme, El-Zakhem, Tasipale, Roumanos. Subs: Tannous, Maree, El-Nachar, Bazzaz.
Half-Time: 18-6.
Full-Time: 34-12.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 10-6, 12-6, 16-6, 18-6 : HT : 18-10, 18-12, 22-12, 24-12, 28-12, 30-12, (SO), 34-12 : FT .
Lead Exchanges: Lebanon – Square – New Zealand.
Referee: Grant Atkins.
Attendance: 5,453 at Halliwell-Jones Stadium, Warrington.
