Kieran Read blown away by first-half showing from New Zealand

Kieran Read has claimed that the key to New Zealand's dominant victory over Australia in the Rugby Championship was sticking to the basic tasks.

The back-to-back world champions hammered their opponents 54-34 in Sydney to kick off their campaign in style, bagging eight tries in all.

New Zealand particularly impressed in the first half, storming 40-6 ahead before the interval thanks to three scores in the space of seven minutes.

Speaking after the match, Kiwis skipper Read is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "It was pretty surreal that first half, to be honest. We came here to play our game and it really came off.

"It was a pretty awesome first half. It came about by the doing the simple things. We carried really hard and exploited a few gaps out wide."

South Africa, who face New Zealand next Saturday, picked up a 37-15 win over Argentina in the other match.