The Dominion Post's Marc Hinton reflects on the opening clash of the World Cup.
"There were 60,000 pretty happy souls in the stands as the Rugby World Cup opened in spectacular fashion at Eden Park tonight. And one slightly concerned one.
As the Kiwis, neutrals and even the smattering of Tongans warmed to the quality rugby on display from the All Blacks in the first half and, you have to say, the islanders in the second, pretty much everyone in the sellout crowd had themselves a merry old time.
Except for one. You can only wonder what idle All Black fullback Mils Muliaina would have made of a polished and precise first-half display from the makeshift back three who took the Tongans apart at every opportunity in the tournament's opening game.
Muliaina sits poised on 98 tests but surely his hold on the No 15 jersey is as shaky as it has been pretty much at any time through his long and spectacular career. Even his coach admits his veteran No 15 has gone "a bit flat."
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