The old joke about there being no pictures on completed golf scorecards may apply to the All Blacks given their Test series win over England reaped only four tries in total, but there is little doubt New Zealand’s attack will be a focus against Fiji in San Diego.
There is a festival air about the match at the Snapdragon Stadium, which kicks off at 2.30pm tomorrow NZT. The All Blacks are in the United States to sell a vision – and brand in the age of the Silver Lake equity sale – and it’s understood a large group of New Zealand Rugby staff have travelled for the match.
They will have done so in the expectation of a resounding victory and the All Blacks will be doing their best to ignore such sentiments because the home side’s shortcomings in Dunedin and Auckland could, and probably should, have been costly.
As assistant coach Jason Holland said in a media call today, winning is the priority in Tests. But for England — a team working hard to add an attacking balance to their game — to match the All Blacks in terms of tries scored in New Zealand may ring a note of concern.
Chief among the frailties was the All Blacks’ inability to cope with England’s rush defence — a system the home side was expecting and yet still couldn’t consistently unlock.
They should have had two more tries in the first half at Eden Park but for errors in execution — Codie Taylor failing to find Sevu Reece after an excellent break, and Stephen Perofeta passing outside to Mark Tele’a rather than the unmarked Finlay Christie.
But just as relevant for a side which prides itself on its ruthless finishing was the apparent lack of a first-phase strike strategy.
The misfiring lineout in both Tests disrupted the All Blacks’ plans but there appeared to be little attacking variation off set piece beyond kicking the ball away or one of the midfielders — Jordie Barrett or Rieko Ioane — carrying into contact. This is firmly within Holland’s portfolio.
"The English did a really good job defensively of keeping us narrow, as in keeping us within the 15m [lines] with their line speed," Holland said today. "We got it to space sometimes but we need to be better with our skill sets to make sure we can execute under pressure."
Fiji will defend differently to England and may allow the All Blacks a little more breathing room at what is expected to be a warm and dry California evening. But — with 11 changes to the side that took the field at Eden Park last weekend, including six potential debutants in the squad — Scott Robertson’s men must recalibrate with new combinations. Centre Billy Proctor will make his Test debut from the start alongside Anton Lienert-Brown.
"I don’t see it as a hindrance to our performance… everybody has been getting into their detail and the boys are in really good nick so there are no worries and no excuses around the first game in," Holland said.
He added that the All Blacks wanted to find more flow on attack in terms of having multiple options, and to be less predictable with where the ball is going.
Fiji, ranked 10th in the world (just behind the ninth-placed Australia), will have something to say about that. The All Blacks are currently ranked third behind South Africa and Ireland.
"Fiji have their own identity, and nothing will change around how they want to play… they are a really well-organised and coached team around their defence, for example," Holland said.
"We know that if we give them a sniff they will play to their traditional identity and throw the ball around, so we have to be accurate with everything we do."
After the coolness of Dunedin and Auckland, the All Blacks have enjoyed training in the warmth of San Diego, but Fiji will be aiming to bring a different type of heat. With several Drua players in the pack, they may find combinations easier to find than their opponents. Blockbusting wing Semi Radradra will be an ever-present threat near the All Blacks' tryline.
Holland said halfback TJ Perenara was "making good progress" from his knee injury suffered in Dunedin and could be in the frame for the Rugby Championship which starts in a fortnight.
All Blacks v Fiji at Snapdragon Stadium
Kick-off 2.30pm Saturday, (caps in brackets)
1. Tamaiti Williams (7), 2. Asafo Aumua (8), 3. Fletcher Newell (15), 4. Scott Barrett (71), captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i (27), 6. Luke Jacobson (20), 7. Ethan Blackadder (10), 8. Ardie Savea (83) (vice captain), 9. Cortez Ratima (1), 10. Damian McKenzie (49), 11. Caleb Clarke (20), 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (72), 13. Billy Proctor (0)*, 14. Sevu Reece (25), 15. Beauden Barrett (125).
Reserves: 16. George Bell (0)*, 17. Ethan De Groot (24), 18. Pasilio Tosi (0)*, 19. Sam Darry (0)*, 20. Wallace Sititi (0)*, 21. Noah Hotham (0)*, 22. Jordie Barrett (59) (vice captain), 23. Emoni Narawa (1).
Fiji: 15. Vilimoni Botitu, 14. Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), 12. Inia Tabuavou, 11. Semi Radradra, 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9. Frank Lomani; 8. Viliame Mata, 7. Kitione Salawa, 6. Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5. Temo Mayanavanua, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 3. Mesake Doge, 2. Tevita Ikanivere, 1. Eroni Mawi.
Reserves: 16. Zuriel Togiatama, 17. Haireiti Hetet, 18. Samu Tawake, 19. Albert Tuisue, 20. Elia Canikaivata, 21. Simione Kuruvoli, 22. Caleb Muntz, 23. Sireli Maqawa.
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