Howlett equals record in All Black win
Howlett is certain to pass Cullen's record later in the tournament
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Saturday, 08, Sep 2007 03:32
Doug Howlett equalled Christian Cullen's try scoring record for New Zealand as the All Blacks eased to a 76-14 victory over Italy in their opening World Cup fixture.
The Munster-bound winger completed a hat-trick to draw level with Cullen on 46 international tries.
Flanker Richie McCaw opened the scoring in the first minute of the match. A simple lineout win followed by two off-loads allowed McCaw to burst through untouched.
He doubled his tally six minutes later as again the Italian line-out crumbled under pressure from the All Blacks. Scrum-half Byron Kelleher broke clear and McCaw finished from short range.
After a Dan Carter penalty Howlett grabbed his first of the game. Sitiveni Sivivatu started on the left wing and Howlett finished on the right following a flowing move.
Mils Muliaina made it 31-0 after 16 minutes when full-back David Bortolussi fumbled and Sivivatu added another try to put his team 38 points clear three minutes later.
The winger added another try in a one-sided first 40 minutes after tremendous work by Leon MacDonald.
The full-back called a mark in his own 22-metre line, took a quick tap which caught Italy off-guard, sprinted 30 metres before passing to Ali Williams; the lock forward then flicked the ball to Sivivatu who broke two tackles to score under the posts.
Marko Stanojevic intercepted a Kelleher pas on the stroke of halftime to make it 43-7 at the break.
At the start of the second period Kiwi prop Carl Hayman was sin-binned for fighting with Italian counterpart Andrea Lo Cicero.
However that did not hold the All Blacks back as Chris Jack was soon on the scoresheet.
Howlett got his second of the afternoon and completed his hat-trick when Muliaina handed the ball off on the goal-line to put New Zealand 62-7 ahead.
Jerry Collins scored the All Blacks' final try before Mirco Bergamasco grabbed a late consolation for the Italians.