Live updates: Test match rugby - All Blacks vs Manu Samoa

All Blacks: 78  Manu Samoa: 0

That's it folks - I couldn't keep up in the last few minutes. Lost track of the score too, but I can confirm it was 78-0. Just brilliant second 40 from the ABs - Manu Samoa just outclassed tonight after starting strong. Thanks for dropping by tonight - Will have some highlights up for you in about 10 mins.

80mins: TRY ALL BLACKS – Lima Sopoaga – I don't really know what happened as I was still writing! I looked up and Peranara was in the clear again and he gets the ball away to Sopoaga who scores. SBW plays his part again..Wait it's been ruled no try by the TMO! SBW's pass to TJ is ruled forward. Guts.

78mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Sam Cane – I am literally in awe. Take the opposition out of this for a sec. This was just magnificent. Barrett collects his own up and under – wonderful play, gets the ball away from a storming Retallick – the ball goes out through the backline – Liennart-Brown bursts through the last line of defence and unselfishly passes to Cane who scores. Conversion no good.

75mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Ardie Savea – All Black magic folks. Brilliant again. Jordie Barrett sneaks away down the blindside – gets the ball away to Juliian Savea who gets a wonderful pass away to TK whom pops a cheeky kick over the fullback and Ardie Savea collects and scores. Lima adds the two.

72mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: TJ Peranara - Brilliant back play again – Peranara ends up with ball on halfway after Sopaoga made a wonderful break from inside his own half. TJ runs away from the defenders to score in the corner Lima can't add the two.

71mins: Game getting a little messy now – always amazes me how this happens when the changes are rung. All Blacks looking to shift the ball again from inside their own 22.

67mins: Point of interest - SBW and ALB look phenomenal as a midfield pair – SBW started slowly but has come into the game well and ALB is the find of the last 12 months for the national side.

66mins: Penalty relief for Manu Samoa. All Blacks on attack again but Sam Cane is pinged for holding on at the ruck. Lineout Samoa on halfway.

62mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Vaea Fifita - Quick hands from the ABs with Ben Smith and SBW in the action again – Smith out to Dagg who draws' and passes' on the fullback and it's the debutant who scores. Great stuff and the Lions must be watching this interplay between forwards and back and quite frankly shivering with fear. Lima adds the two…Jordie Barrett on for his debut. Ben Smith makes way - Brodie Retallick is the new skipper!!

60mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: BEAUDEN BARRETT – SBW offload strikes again. SBW creates havoc with a wonderful offload in the midfield – Lienart-Brown collects and he sends Beauden away into the corner. He converts and Sopoaga will replace him.

58mins: TJ Peranara is also on for Aaron Smith - Lima Sopoaga will be on shortly aswell.

57mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Codie Taylor – Ben Smith brilliance opens up the visitors.Quick lineout throw from Julian Savea – Ben Smith collects and bursts through would be defenders – offload to Taylor who strolls over under the posts – Barrett adds the two. Vaea Fifita on for his debut Test replacing Jerome Kaino.

56mins: Scott Barrett with a sweet offload to Beauden who kicks ahead - Ah See Tuala cleans up well but the All Blacks win the ball – Aaron Smith flings the ball outwide but the pass is too high for Lienart-Brown. Lineout Samoa on their own 5m line.

54mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Julian Savea – Clinical play from the world champions.Well that was a team try if I have ever seen one. Retallick makes a nice 20m break down the touchline but he can't get his pass away – the ABs play through five phases with the whole forward pack playing part – Smith clears from the ruck and goes through the hands of the back – eventually makes its way out to the 'Bus' who goes over in the corner. Barrett can't add the extras.

51mins: Turnover from Codie Taylor and Whitelock head off upfield but his passed is spilled by the following up Taylor but it's a penalty on the 22 for the ABs for holding on at ruck time. Scott Barrett, Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina are on the park for the hosts now.

49mins: Samoa rucking the ball well – some big hits coming in from All Black defenders. Samoa shift the ball outwide – Barrett for the intercept but he has knocked it on. Scrum 25m out for Samoa.

48mins: Samoa going backwards at a fast rate – but a head-high tackle from Retallick earns them a reprieve. Lineout Samoa on the ABs 22.

45mins: Samoa trying to just hold onto the ball for a bit after the barrage of the last 15 mins or so. Have moved the ball nicely up field and earn a penalty just inside halfway. Sam Cane offside at the ruck. Pisi finds touch 30m out.

43mins: The legend that is Grant Nisbett just informed us that Barrett is 12 from 12 in his last three-Tests with the boot.

42mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: ISRAEL DAGG – Take a bow Anton Lienart-Brown who draws in three players with magnificent hesitation – very short blindside to work with and with no-one to beat, Dagg is the benefactor of Lienart-Browns brilliance. Barrett is on target tonight. 35-0 ABs

Second-half - Beauden Barrett will get us underway for he second 40.....Samoa added so much to the first-half -- but you can't make mistakes against the world champions.

Halftime: All Blacks lead Manu Samoa 28-0

39mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Sonny Bill Williams – Another set-move. Smith from the scrum base – draws a tackler, gets the ball away to Barrett who puts SBW in under the posts. Nice. Barrett adds the two and that's halftime. Be back here live in 10 minutes.

38mins: Penalty All Blacks 5m out for hands in the ruck – Ben Smith says 'Scrum please'. Danger time for Manu Samoa here.

35mins: Try goes begging for the ABs – moving the ball beautifully through the backline. SBW with a little grubber that Retallick collects – he offloads to Dagg who flings it back infield but Retallick can't re-gather, knocks it on and we have a defensive scrum for the visitors.

Ardie Savea runs away from the Samoan defence (Getty)
Ardie Savea runs away from the Samoan defence (Getty)

31mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: ARDIE SAVEA – Set piece at its best. Brilliant – Lineout off the top – Barrett ghosts through a small gap – gets the ball away to Lienart-brown who draws the fullback and Savea goes in untouched from 30m. Awesome to watch. Barrett adds the two.

29mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: BEAUDEN BARRETT - End to end – Lienart-Brown picked the ball up in space – got the ball away to Ben Smith who gassed it – SBW gets the offload and he in turn gets a sand shoe crusher away to Barrett who toes it ahead, regathers and scores. Wow! And he adds the extras..Bet Marshy was given it the old Go Beauden! 

28mins: Alapati Leiua ghosts through the All Blacks midfield but he can't link up. Huge chance outwide for Samoa – 5 on 2 but hooker Maatulimanu Leiataua squanders the chance and goes himself. Samoa hot on attack still but it's turned over and here go the ABs.

27mins: Another midfield penalty from the visitors in the same spot as before – Barrett holding on at the ruck – looks like my old mate Albert has been put on the back burner – Pisi kicks for touch and Samoa have a lineout on the ABs 10m line. Not a great kick there.

24mins: Nikoro crushes it but it's just wide and Dagg bangs it down into the Samoan 22 - who reply with a nice touch finder from Pisi.

23mins: Penalty midfield and halfway for Samoa – Sam Cane pinned for killing the ball at ruck time – the visitors opt for another shot at goal. Nikoro steps up again.

22mins: Nanai-Williams carves the ABs up through the middle of the park – made SBW look pretty foolish but Alapati Leiua can't draw and pass and throws the ball out on the full….big chance there for the Samoans. Should have scored.

21mins: Samoa rucking the ball well just outside the All Blacks 22 – Pisi with a  terrible chip kick that Dagg collects with ease and he smashes the ball deep into Samoan territory but Ah See Tuala replies with a beaut of his own and it's a lineout for the AB's on their own 22.

20mins: Beauden Barrett just proved he is human - punting the ball out on the full from just outside his 22. Lineout Samoa.

19mins: On a side note - Ardie Savea clearly knocked the ball on at the scrum base in the ABs try-scoring movement.

16mins: Nikoro just misses what would have been a monster kick and the ABs look to play the ball out from their own half - keeping possesion nicely here and the earn a penalty which Smith takes quickly. Samoa turn the ball over at the ruck and now they go on attack - penalty Samoa just inside their own half - Joe Moody with hands in the ruck - Phew!

Beauden Barrett in action (Getty)
Beauden Barrett in action (Getty)

15mins: The All Blacks work the ball up the park nicely – but the Samoan defence is brutal..at sixth phase and we get a penalty for Samoa – holding on at the ruck from Retallick. Albert Nikoro with a shot at three from just inside is half.

12mins: TRY ALL BLACKS: Anton Lienart Brown – Ardie Savea looked to have knocked the ball on at the scrum but the referee missed it. 2 phases and Barrrett takes on the line – gets hammered but gets an offload away to the Chiefs centre who scores the easiest try of his life. Beauden adds the extras.

11mins: Another ABs penalty – this time for collapsing the maul. Ben Smith opts for the scrum; 5m out.

9mins: All Blacks go on attack in the Samoan half after a wayward lineout throw. Playing under advantage here for offside – a few big hits coming in from Manu Samoa – Penalty is awarded and Ben Smith asks Beauden to kick to the corner. Lineout ABs 5m out.

7mins: The All Blacks looking to shift the ball inside their own 22 – eventually Aaron Smith clears and the team exchange in a bit of force-back which is won by the visitors. Excellent kick from Nanai-Williams. Lineout ABs on their own 22.

5mins: Huge tackle on Beauden by Alapati Leiua in midfield, knock on against the Hurricanes pivot. Scrum Samoa on halfway.

4mins: Faifili Levave gets pinned for the neck roll back on the 22 – that was weird I have to say..what if it wasn't a penalty? Samoa were hot on attack when the TMO called play back. Lineout ABs on halfway.

3mins: Manu Samoa get within 2m of the tryline – the referee has halted play looking at potential foul play from one of the Samoan player…a neck roll.

2mins: Samoa making good progress into All Black territory – we are at 11 phases -  they are just outside the ABs 22.

Kick-off: Tusi Pisi gets the game underway deep into the ABs half..Aaron Smith clears and we have a Samoan lineout on the All Blacks 10-metre line.

8.01pm: For all you Crusaders fans..your old mate from France is the referee tonight :)

Live updates: Test match rugby - All Blacks vs Manu Samoa
Images thanks to Getty
Images thanks to Getty

7.59pm: The Samoans start us off with the Siva Tau...chills folks...and here goes the ABs..Ben Smith at the front of the 'Flying V' but TJ Peranara will lead the boys in the NZ reply

7.58pm: Tears in the eyes of Jordie Barrett during the anthem..goosebump moment….Ben Smith to lead the Haka.

7.54pm: I would say that the Samoan national anthem would be my second favourite foreign ballad behind the Welsh one.

7.53pm: Stadium just a tad over half-full I would guess. With three Lions games at Eden Park there are a few options for Aucklanders seeking a rugby hit...good Samoan representation though...

7.51pm: Players making their way onto Eden Park for the anthems and the Haka/War dance. Reminder, the ABs haven't lost at Eden Park in 36 matches.

7.43pm: Hello all, thanks for your company – I hope you enjoy the coverage….Conditions update: Bit of rain about but the ground should hold up – it's been very cold in the city of sails today as well. – the rain set in big time at the end of the Wales v Tonga match a half-hour ago which was won by the Red Dragons 24-6.

Hello and welcome to live updates of the All Blacks hosting Manu Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland.

A venue the world champions haven't lost at since 1994 against France; Jonah Lomu's second Test match.

We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action.

Note: VIDEO will be available 15 minutes after the final whistle.

Commentary will start from around 7:50 pm (NZT), with kick-off set for 8pm (NZT).

Lineups

All Blacks

1.Joe Moody, 2.Codie Taylor, 3.Owen Franks, 4.Brodie Retallick, 5.Sam Whitelock, 6.Jerome Kaino, 7.Sam Cane, 8.Ardie Savea, 9.Aaron Smith, 10.Beauden Barrett, 11.Julian Savea, 12.Sonny Bill Williams, 13.Anton Lienart-Brown, 14.Israel Dagg, 15.Ben Smith

Reserves: 16.Nathan Harris, 17.Wyatt Crockett, 18.Charlie Faumuina, 19.Scott Barrett, 20.Vaea Fifita, 21.TJ Perenara, 22.Lima Sopoaga,23. Jordie Barrett.

Manu Samoa

1.Viliamu Afatia, 2.Maatulimanu Leiataua, 3.Census Johnston, 4.Chris Vui, 5.Faatiga Lemalu, 6.Piula Faasalele, 7.Fa'alemiga Selesele, 8.Faifili Levave, 9.Kahn Fotuali'i, 10.Tusiati Pisi, 11.Tim Nanai Williams, 12.Alapati Leiua, 13.Keiron Fonotia, 14.Albert Nikoro, 15.Ah See Tuala.

Substitutes: 16.Seilala Lam, 17.Nephi Leatigaga, 18.Paul Alo-Emile, 19.Taiasina Tuifua, 20.Alafoti Faosiliva, 21.Auvasa Falealii, 22.D'Angelo Leiula, 23.Ken Pisi.

Match officials

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Assistants: Rohan Hoffman (Australia) & Jordan Way (Australia)

TMO : Ian Smith (Australia)

To get you in the mood…..

'Steve Hansen acknowledges Aaron Smith has seen off TJ Perenara for number one All Blacks' halfback spot'

Aaron Smith's bullet pass has seen off TJ Perenara in the most contentious call from All Blacks coach Steve Hansen in naming his first team of the year.

Smith will start at halfback in the team to face Samoa on Friday, led for the first time by his Highlanders team-mate Ben Smith.

Fullback Ben Smith becomes the 68th All Blacks Test skipper, with regular captain Kieran Read sidelined by a thumb injury which is expected to heal before next week's first Test against the British and Irish Lions.

The first New Zealand fullback captain since 2009, 60-Test veteran Ben Smith won the nod over flanker Sam Cane, who has led his country twice.

Hansen said Perenara was unfortunate to drop to the reserves bench, having snared the starting halfback berth from an out-of-sorts Smith on the November tour to Europe.

Smith, with well-documented off-field struggles behind him, has returned to close to his best form in Super Rugby, Hansen said.

"We think that Nugget (Smith) is the best passing halfback in the world. He's probably a little bit ahead of TJ with the box-kicking as well," Hansen said.

"That's what got him the start... his passing's as good as it's ever been."

Read's absence has handed Ardie Savea the start at No.8, a position he has dabbled in this year for the Hurricanes.

Completing the loose forward trio is veteran blindside flanker Jerome Kaino, who hasn't played since injuring a knee seven weeks ago.

The Test will be a special one for the Barrett brothers, after all three were included in the 23, including the uncapped Jordie Barrett.

He and lock Scott Barrett are on the bench while starting first five-eighth Beauden Barrett will play his 50th Test.

Assuming the bench is cleared, it will be the first ever Test involving three All Blacks family members.

A bench debut looms for Hurricanes forward Vaea Fifita, who steps up in the absence of Read and flanker Liam Squire (thumb).

Second five-eighth Sonny Bill Williams will play his first Test since the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, with Hansen noting he links with rising centre Anton Lienert-Brown for the first time.

"A bit of fluidity, a bit of connection, from them would be good," he said.

"That'll depend on the ball we're given, I suppose."

Hansen says there is genuine pressure being applied on experienced wingers Julian Savea and Israel Dagg, with Blues youngster Rieko Ioane and Highlanders flyer Waisake Naholo having both impressed of late.

The starting tight five features four of the Crusaders pack who struggled for authority in the 12-3 loss to the Lions on Saturday.

Codie Taylor starts at hooker, with first-choice Dane Coles still recovering from concussion symptoms.

Hansen remains uncertain about Coles' possible return but was encouraged the world class rake had trained at greater intensity this week before returning home on Wednesday.

Newshub.