AARON MAUGER and Sitiveni Sivivatu scored two tries each as New Zealand ran up a comfortable 42-11 victory over a weakened France side at Auckland's Eden Park yesterday. Les Bleus held their try-line for half an hour but once it had been breached, the All Blacks piled on the points courtesy of their threequarter duo and replacement number eight Rodney So'oialo. Winger Jean Francois Coux scored on his debut in the second half for the French side.

It was just the start to their World Cup build-up that New Zealand needed and they were never seriously troubled by a French side missing most of their leading players because of championship play-offs back home. New Zealand, who were turned over a handful of times during a rusty first 40 minutes, also got the benefit of the doubt in most of referee Stuart Dickinson's decisions.

The Australian twice missed knock-ons before awarding penalties which Dan Carter and Piri Weepu, close to the touchline while Carter was nursing an ankle problem, kicked over. France battled and tackled hard but were starved of possession and struggled at the scrum, with Sebastien Chabal particularly error-ridden, but Boyet cut the deficit when a fussy Dickinson penalised the All Blacks for not rolling away.

Gradually, the All Blacks took a grip of the game and a delightful short pass from Carter in the 29th minute set up Rokocoko to power away and the ball was worked via Isaia Toeava to Mauger, who crossed under the posts.

The visitors were stunned four minutes before the break when Carter chipped forward and Sivivatu just beat Thomas Castaignede to the ball. He did not appear to get enough downward pressure but the try was given anyway. Carter and captain Richie McCaw, suffering from a bruised hip, did not appear for the second half but, if anything, the All Blacks grew in confidence.

Carter's replacement Nick Evans extended the lead early in the second period, and Sivivatu claimed his second try after the Kiwi pack won a fivemetre scrum against the head.

Despite Boyet's temporary exclusion for persistent offside 25 minutes after the interval, Olivier Magne's clever kick put in Coux for his first international points.

But the hosts responded within minutes through a breakaway by Mauger that restored the cushion, with Evans converting.

Then So'oialo, McCaw's substitute, drove over from short range to bring up 40 points for his team eight minutes from time.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said neither Carter nor McCaw's injuries were serious and expects more from his team in the coming months.

"I thought the French played with a lot of spirit. They showed a lot of guts and a lot of heart, " he said. "As individuals, I thought our guys played pretty well and as a team, we got better as the game went on. We've got a lot to work on as a team, it was our first run together for six months, but it was an improving performance."

Opposite number Bernard Laporte admitted his team had been outgunned. "It's obvious the All Blacks are favourites for the World Cup, " he said. "But just because you start a Grand Prix in pole position doesn't mean you are going to win."

NEW ZEALAND L MacDonald; J Rokocoko, I Toeava, A Mauger, S Sivivatu; D Carter, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, C Jack, A Williams, R Thorne, R McCaw, C Masoe FRANCE T Castaignede; JF Coux, A Mignardi, JP Grandclaude, B Thierry; B Boyet, N Durand; C Califano, S Bruno, N Mas, P Pape, J Pierre, G Le Corvec, O Magne, S Chabal