Johnson and Luke fire New Zealand to victory

Stephen Kearney’s men were sometimes good, sometimes patchy as they beat Samoa in their Group B opener last weekend, but they were far improved last night as they virtually assured themselves of top spot.

Half-back Johnson and hooker Luke were too hot for Richard Agar’s France to handle, with Johnson scoring 24 points and Luke too quick and creative in and around the ruck.

After slugging it out with the French in a rough opening 30 minutes, New Zealand ran in eight tries for a tournament-high score, achieved even without Sonny Bill Williams. Kieran Foran’s kick from the left fell perfectly into the hands of a rising Krisnan Inu, who duly dotted down his first try in New Zealand colours.

Johnson tagged the goal and then went close to laying on a try with a kick out of hand. His right-to-left chip appeared to be shelled by Cyril Stacul leading to a score for Frank Pritchard, but video referee Shayne Hayne decided Jason Nightingale had committed a knock-on and no try was given.

Kicks were ruining France – even in attack as Andrew Bentley’s apparently good 40-20 was not given – and a second try went against them from another one.

New Zealand had already gone close when Jean-Philippe Baile dumped Nightingale in touch, but when Johnson’s kick found Bryson Goodwin, no one could get across to cover and the centre scored.

So accustomed to fielding kicks France nearly conceded down the middle as half-time approached, but were saved by Hayne again.

Isaac Luke broke through and after his pass went loose, it eventually found New Zealand Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who torched down the middle. Hayne, though, called a knock-on against Kevin Locke.

But Frank-Paul Nu’uausala made it a trio of first-half scores, taking a pass from Luke under the posts, Johnson converting.

Luke nipped away from the ruck and had Johnson on his inside who did the rest, adding the goal for good measure.

The same duo linked up in identical fashion to add another six points, before Greg Eastwood barged his way over for a sixth try which was also converted.

Morgan Escare nearly got a consolation for France as he went the length of the field on an intercept before Locke swept up, and play quickly went back to the other end as Nu’uausala dragged two men over with him for his double.

An eighth score would follow with the last play of the game too, Tuivasa-Sheck reaching out after a scramble, with Johnson completing his 100 per cent kicking record.