All Blacks off to a scrappy start
New Zealand started their international season with a comprehensive 60-14 win over Fiji on Friday, in the last ever Test match to be played at the iconic Carisbrook, in Dunedin.
The Fijians, who were not expected to pose a serious threat to the under-strength All Black outfit, will celebrate the fact that it was the smallest margin ever against their Pacific rivals.
The 46-point margin is the first time they had not lost by 50 points or more to the Kiwis.
"It's a start."
That was Richie McCaw's summary of the All Black performance against the Fijians who were willing enough, better in the second half, but not really threatening All Black hegemony. Although they did many things well, the Fijians did not have the hard edge of determination that Samoa had shown against Australia the week before - and the All Blacks were flattered by some iffish tries in the second half.
Oddly, though they were well beaten, the Fijians found more to feel good about in this scrappy, desultory match than did the home side. But it did give both sides a chance to give all their players a run.
It was largely a scrappy match. It was played on a great field on a great evening for rugby, but for one thing the sloppy scrums broke the game down. One midfield New Zealand scrum produced three resets, two collapses, lots of talk and a penalty - hardly a satisfactory process, hardly a component in a flowing, entertaining match. It certainly was neither flowing nor entertaining despite 10 tries.
The All Blacks had much the better of the first half and led 32-0 at the break. Two penalties, a try and a conversion by Colin Slade, starting at flyhalf in a Test for the first time, plus a try by Fijian Sitiveni Sivivatu against the country of his birth gave New Zealand an 18-0 lead and there was no doubt who was going to win the match.
Slade's try was neat. He chipped off his left foot. The ball hit the post's padding and rebounded into him as he swooped and over he went for the try.
Sivivatu's try had come from a scrum, Andrew's Hore's from a line-out on the left. The ball went far right and then came back far left with a great pressurised pass by Sivivatu. Hore stepped inside Timoci Naqusa and scored. For the fourth try, the All Blacks bashed at the Fijian line with Hore, McCaw and Wyatt Crockett close till Adam Thomson shoved the ball over the line.
The Fijians were much better in the second half, starting with a great break by Nemia Serelevu from a turnover off Zac Guildford. Then Slade was forced to save when a kick was charged down and then the Fijians scored.
They won a turnover off Conrad Smith and big Dominiko Waqaniburotu galloped down the left with a broad smile on his face. When Guildford was arriving, he passed infield to Serelevu who had no trouble in scoring. 32-7 after 53 minutes.
The Fijians were much penalised in the first half - eight times to two. It was better in the second half - six to four.
A penalty put the All Blacks on the attack but the Fijians shattered their line-out maul but they were there and Piri Weepu, on for Jimmy Cowan, went right and grubbered into the ingoal where Conrad Smith just beat Ma'a Nonu to the try.
Weepu was instrumental in creating the second try. This time he chipped over the Fijian backs and Mils Muliaina, who was well in front of Weepu when the scrumhalf chipped and so offside, grabbed the ball, passed to Weepu who gave to Ben Smith who passed back inside to Weepu who scored a try which should not have been. 46-7 with 11 minutes to play.
Fiji scored the next try when burly Vereniki Goneva broke through a poor tackle by Conrad Smith and chipped. Goneva chased a and as Weepu tried to grab the bouncing ball he footed it over the line and scored. 46-14 with 9 minutes to play.
New Zealand opted for scrums in place of penalties several times in the match. One five metres from the Fijian line ended in a penalty try as the All Blacks shoved at the goal line - though there was no obvious infringement by the Fijians. 53-14 with 4 minutes to play.
It seemed to the watching eye that the last try started with a knock-on by Muliaina and was made possible by a long forward pass infield from Guildford to Muliaina who scored.
Man of the Match: Ali Williams. His hands may have failed twice in difficult circumstances but his burst down the ,middle, his catching in the air and his tackling makes him our Man of the Match ahead of Fiji's lively, efficient scrumhalf Nemia Serelevu.
Moment of the Match: Collin Slade's try - great vision, a little bit of luck and lot of skill.
Villain of the match: Nobody - unless you count the scrummaging as a villain with seven penalties and a penalty try.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Sivivatu, Slade, Hore, Thomson, Smith, Weepu, Penalty try, Muliaina
Cons: Slade 4, Carter 3
Pens: Slade 2
For Fiji:
Tries: Serelevu, Goneva
Cons: Bai 2
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Zac Guildford, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Daniel Carter, 22 Ben Smith.
Fiji: 15 Iliesa Keresoni, 14 Timoci Naqusa, 13 Albert Vulivuli, 12 Ravai Fatiaki, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Seremaia Baikeinuku, 9 Nemia Serelevu, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Rupeni Nasiga, 4 Sekonaia Kalou, 3 Deacon Manu (captain), 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Setefano Somoca, 18 Josefa Domolailai, 19 Malakai Ravulo, 20 Vitori Buatava, 21 Taniela Rawaqa, 22 Vereniki Goneva.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)