New Zealand triumphed over Fiji with a decisive 47-5 victory in their one-off Test match in San Diego, scoring seven tries to secure the win.
The All Blacks, fresh off a hard-fought 2-0 series victory against England at home, introduced six debutants in the match.
Centre Billy Proctor started, while scrum-half Noah Hotham, and forwards Wallace Sititi, Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi, and George Bell made their first appearances from the bench.
“Fiji certainly showed up tonight in the physical areas,” said captain Scott Barrett. “It wasn’t fully polished; we have pretty high standards in this team. They were able to get their hands on the ball to turn it over at times, but we created enough opportunities to turn into points.”
Winger Caleb Clarke and scrum-half Cortez Ratima, making his first Test start, scored converted tries within the opening 15 minutes. Fiji responded with a try from Vilimoni Botitu. Proctor added a try after a half-break from Damian McKenzie, and Ardie Savea scored another just before halftime.
In the second half, New Zealand’s Fiji-born winger Sevu Reece opened the scoring, followed by tries from front-rowers Ethan de Groot and George Bell. Fly-half Damian McKenzie converted six of his seven attempts.
Both teams faced injuries to their scrum halves in the first half – Fiji’s Frank Lomani with a shoulder injury, and Ratima with a head knock. This adds to the All Blacks’ scrum-half injury challenges, with leading candidate Cam Roigard out for the season and veteran TJ Perenara sidelined by a knee injury sustained against England.
New Zealand’s next Test is against Argentina in Wellington on 10 August, marking the start of the Rugby Championship.
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