Eight-try New Zealand cruise to tour victory over Sharks

Wing Fehi Fineanganofo scored a try in each half as New Zealand cruised to an eight-try 54-0 victory over the Sharks on Tuesday in the second match of a South Africa tour.

Severely depleted by Springbok call-ups and injuries, the Durban franchise were competitive in the opening half and restricted the All Blacks to a 14-0 lead at half-time.

But the gulf in class showed after the break before a small crowd at a cold, wet Kings Park stadium and the tourists scored a further six tries.

The other try scorers were full-back Damian McKenzie, winger Caleb Clarke, centre Jordie Barrett, scrum-half Kyle Preston, substitute flanker Timoci Tavatavanawai and lock Sam Darry.

Ruben Love, the likely starting fly-half for the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on August 22, slotted seven of eight conversions, many from difficult angles.

"It was an awesome game to be part of. We broke them down pretty well in the first half and then reaped the fruits in the second half," said first-time New Zealand captain, flanker Luke Jacobsen.

"In the last game we were not where we wanted to be in terms of our mauling and the scrum, but we took a step forward in that tonight.

"We did not start so well, but in the wet it is about your skills execution, about trusting in your skills and your mate, and being patient. We have some awesome leaders out there."

Sharks captain and No 8 Nick Hatton said: "It was an awesome opportunity to play against the All Blacks, but we are pretty disappointed with how the second half unfolded.

"But credit to the All Blacks, that was a proper performance. We knew they wanted to play with a lot of tempo. Give them quick ball and they are deadly."

Ma'a Nonu, a double Rugby World Cup winner with New Zealand, came off the bench in the second half for the Sharks, but was unable to halt the dominance of the tourists.

Before the kick-off, he responded to the traditional Haka performed by the All Blacks with one of his own.

The centre joined the Durban outfit from Toulon as a player mentor last month after, at 44, becoming the oldest player to compete in the French Top 14 championship.

A possible concern for All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie will be the forced retirement of McKenzie with a knee injury before half-time.

New Zealand have already lost two of the original 44-man squad with hooker George Bell and centre Billy Proctor returning home.

Bell strained a calf during training in Cape Town ahead of a tour-opening 38-21 victory over the Stormers last Friday. He was replaced by Bradley Slater, who came off the bench in Durban.

Proctor suffered a fractured shoulder blade during the Stormers match. No replacement has been named.

Next up for the All Blacks is a potentially much tougher match against the Bulls franchise in Pretoria on Saturday.