The All Blacks crushed Canada - as expected - but Beauden Barrett is human after all. That was the verdict of the international press after the All Blacks 63-0 win over Canada at the Rugby World Cup last night.
Beauden Barrett foes in for his try in the Rugby World Cup match against Canada. Photo: AFP
CBC, Canada's national broadcaster, said the Canadians missed 46 tackles against the All Blacks in tough humid conditions in Oita.
"The gulf in class between the defending champion All Blacks and the last team to qualify for the tournament was always going to be measured by a high score, and the New Zealanders poured eight tries and a penalty try through a defence that missed 46 tackles."
But Kyodo News, a Japanese agency, pointed out that while the second-string All Blacks won and won easily they also made a number of errors as the ball was slippery.
"The three-time champions were sloppy at times, squandering multiple try-scoring opportunities as they struggled to hold onto the slippery ball, while also gifting the Canadians a stolen lineout."
The Mail Online carries a full match report but then zeroes in one moment.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... Beauden Barrett is human after all.
"The 28-year-old has long been considered as one of the best players in world, but it appears even he can be prone to a mistake that would be unforgivable at Sunday-league level."
This after Barrett dropped the ball with the tryline wide open.
The Irish Times said that despite some handling errors, the All Blacks were often "crisp, slick and lethal".
The Guardian said the game was somewhat chaotic but fans would not have been disappointed.
"For the All Blacks, it is all about success. It was Steve Hansen's 103rd match in charge, equalling Graham Henry's record, and the 90th time he entered a winning dressing room after a game. The danger for the All Blacks is that, with Namibia and Italy to come, their competitive edge may not be at its sharpest come the quarter-finals."
The Sydney Morning Herald described the All Blacks as running riot in Japan.
And the Independent kept up the running riot theme describing the All Black performance as a "masterclass" and said New Zealand were "rampant".
CNN said the All Blacks never needed to get out of second gear in notching up the highest score of the Rugby World Cup.
"The win, secured with nine tries - one of them a penalty try - means the reigning champion retains its unbeaten record in World Cup rugby stretching back to 2007.
Seven different players dotted down with replacement scrumhalf Brad Weber bagging a brace as he registered his first and second tries for his country.
"Canada never really had a hope coming in to this match and the gulf in quality showed. The North Americans saw just 35 percent of the ball, ran a paltry 228 meters - compared to the 849 meters amassed by the Kiwis - and were asked to make 148 tackles. That they missed 45 of them speaks more to the power and guile of the All Blacks than the ineptitude of the Canadians."
The South African, an online news outlet, pointed out that the All Blacks have strengthened their grip on Pool B at the Cup but made errors.
"Richie Mo'unga in particular starred for the All Blacks, but they have had better days. Both Scott and Beauden Barrett spilled the ball with the try line at their mercy and Steve Hansen will be disappointed that the margin of victory wasn't even more convincing."