Brisbane, Oct 25: New Zealand delivered another scintillating display of high-speed, running rugby with 13 tries in a one-sided 91-7 win over Tonga in their World Cup pool D encounter on Friday. Despite constant rain which made handling difficult, the All Black backs turned on the style in a match where they enjoyed more than 70 percent possession. There were nine different scorers plus a penalty try while centre Leon MacDonald was successful with 12 out of 12 conversion attempts, Carlos Spencer landing the other. Left winger Caleb Ralph scored twice in a terrific performance full of pace and verve that will put the pressure on first choice Joe Rokocoko while fellow winger Doug Howlett and fullback Mils Muliaina also scored two tries. The Tongans had promised a physical approach but, apart from one or two high hits early on, they simply ran out of steam trying to keep up with their vastly superior opponents.


New Zealand, who have already beaten Italy 70-7 and Canada 68-6, are the tournament's leading scorers and Friday's win came with several first choice players out through injury,


Although the famed All Black backs did most of the eye-catching work, it was a solid display by the pack, who were totally dominant in scrum and lineout, that earned them the time and space to display their high-speed skills.


The first try, after six minutes, was a pushover with flanker Daniel Braid at the bottom while the second went to centre Daniel Carter helped by textbook hand-offs.


Hooker Corey Flynn, playing his second international, popped up on the left wing to score the third, smashing through fullback Sila Va'enuku in the process. Ralph, who looked the sharpest of the lot on the night, threw a neat dummy to open the way for the fourth after more forward pressure.


Ralph then made up 15 metres on the overworked Va'enuku on a kick and chase, only for Spencer to get the final touch.


With McDonald converting four of the tries and Spencer a fifth the All Blacks were 35-0 ahead at the break. Tongan replacement centre Gus Leger came on for the second half and his first contribution was to hand the ball to Ralph who gratefully sprinted 40 metres to score 45 seconds after the restart.


Kees Meeuws then scored his ninth career try, a world record for a prop. Tonga finally got on the scoreboard after 53 minutes when flyhalf Pierre Hola intercepted a Marshall pass in front of the posts, with Leger converting.


Normal service was quickly resumed with a brilliant carving run by fullback Muliaina and when Va'enuku was sin-binned in the 66th minute for a professional foul Tonga fell apart.


MacDonald scored under the posts, Muliaina ran 70 metres untouched for his second while Howlett got in on the act with two tries in as many minutes.
Teams: New Zealand - 15-Mils Muliaina (22-Ben Atiga 76); 14-Doug Howlett, 13-Leon MacDonald, 12-Daniel Carter, 11-Caleb Ralph; 10-Carlos Spencer, 9-Justin Marshall (21-Ma'a Nonu 76); Rodney So'oialo, 7-Daniel Braid (19-Marty Holah 54 ), 6-Reuben Thorne (captain), (20-Richard McCaw 61 ) 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Greg Somerville (17-Dave Hewett 61), 2-Corey Flynn, 1-Kees Meeuws.


Tonga - 15-Sila Va'enuku; 14-Sione Fonua, 13-Sukanaivalu Hufanga (21-Sateki Tu'ipolotu 41) 12-John Payne, 11-Tevita Tu'ifua (22-Gus Leger 41 ); 10-Pierre Hola, 9-Sililo Martens; 8-Benhur Kivalu (captain), 7-Stanley Afeaki, 6-Ipolito Fenukitau, 5-Viliami Vaki (19-Edward Langi 71) 4-Usaia Latu, (18-Milton Ngauamo 48), 3-Heamani Lavaka (1-Kisi Pulu 74), 2-Viliami Ma'asi (16-Ephram Taukafa 58),1-Kisi Pulu (17-Tonga Lea'aetoa 26). Referee: Pablo Deluca (Argentina)


Bureau Report