EDINBURGH (Reuters) - New Zealand coach Graham Henry praised the performance of the All Blacks forwards on Sunday after his team romped to a 40-0 World Cup Pool C win over a second-string Scots side.

"We are pretty happy really," Henry told a post-match news conference. "We had a big week on the set pieces and it came through well.

"I think we scrummed the best we have scrummed in the tournament which is a pleasing aspect. Our line-out went pretty well and our defence was okay."

New Zealand's preparations for the World Cup have been meticulous and the team management had been prepared for the Scots' decision to rest key players ahead of next Saturday's game against Italy. The match will decide who accompanies the All Blacks into the quarter-finals.

Accordingly, with victory all but guaranteed on a warm afternoon on Murrayfield, the All Blacks concentrated on working on the set pieces.

The New Zealand props Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock destroyed their opposite numbers Craig Smith and Alasdair Dickinson, and denied primary decent phase ball the Scots never had a chance.

"I thought the scrum was outstanding," said forwards coach Steve Hansen. "We did a lot of work on it during the week. It was a lot more cohesive.

"We scrummed as eight while in the past matches we have probably been scrumming as individuals. I am very happy with it."

New Zealand scored three tries in each half, a tally which could have been doubled had they held on to all their passes.

"We blew a few," Henry said. "So that was a wee bit disappointing. It was obviously frustrating and we'll address that."