The All Blacks got the performance and big win they were after in San Diego - scoring seven tries in beating Fiji 47-5 - but it may have come at a cost.
There will be concern in the camp as Cortez Ratima left the field five minutes before halftime with a head injury after being dumped on the extremely hard Snapdragon Stadium surface by a Fijian defender and did not return.
It brought Noah Hotham off the bench for his debut, the Crusader impressing hugely with his confidence and running game, but the downside is the All Blacks may be down another halfback with the start of the Rugby Championship only a fortnight away.
The fitness of TJ Perenara remains in question following his knee injury in Dunedin. The Hurricanes player is said to be progressing well, but the All Blacks will have to dig even deeper into their halfback stocks should Hotham and Finlay Christie be the only fit options for Argentina in Wellington on August 10.
Otherwise, the coaches will likely be satisfied with what they saw this afternoon given their much-changed line-up which included six Test debutants.
There was energy and flow – just what they wanted after the virtual deadlock of the England series win – and all of the debutants contributed positively.
Starting centre Billy Proctor impressed on both sides of the ball and quickly found his rhythm alongside second-five Anton Lienert-Brown. Proctor’s defence was excellent and his decision making just as good; his distribution in particular was a highlight and he was rewarded with a try.
The scrum again was a weapon and the lineout vastly improved.
Ethan Blackadder had his moments at openside flanker and showed some nice touches which may put him in the frame for the next Test, with Caleb Clarke on the left wing another making the most of a rare start. Fullback Beauden Barrett and right wing Sevu Reece were decisive and hungry.
It was the sort of Test made for Damian McKenzie given the dry surface and the potential for broken play running, and he took his chance, suggesting he will retain the No.10 jersey for Argentina.
The Flying Fijians were a little disappointing. Ranked 10th in the world behind New Zealand’s No.3 rating, Fiji beat Australia at the World Cup last year and played outstandingly at times in France but here they were a little tentative and couldn’t get their running game going.
They also fell off more than 20 tackles in the first half – an ideal invitation to an All Black side hoping to find some momentum on attack after constantly coming up against England’s white wall in Dunedin and Auckland.
Fiji, who lost their own halfback, Frank Lomani, in the first half, were constantly under pressure though, and that’s a testament to the All Blacks’ set piece and defence.
One big win for them was their try for fullback Vilimoni Botitu which was the result of a cross kick by first-five Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula. The pin-point kick found left wing Semi Radradra, who passed inside for Botitu.
The method by which Botitu found the line could be a concern for the All Blacks given they gave up two cross-kick tries to England last weekend.
Fijian right wing Jiuta Wainiqolo should also have scored in right corner but dropped ball on the line in McKenzie’s tackle.
All of Scott Robertson’s reserves had at least 20 minutes on the field apart from Jordie Barrett, who replaced brother Beauden for the final eight.
Robertson’s experimental midfield was a bit of a hit – and kudos to Proctor for that. He will now be in the frame for the No.13 jersey ahead of Rieko Ioane in Wellington.
Hotham was a bit of a star, prop Pasilio Tosi showed promise, as did lock Sam Darry and the powerful loose forward Wallace Sititi.
Back-up hooker George Bell’s big day was capped off with a try.
All Blacks 47 (Caleb Clarke, Cortez Ratima, Billy Proctor, Ardie Savea, Sevu Reece, Ethan de Groot, George Bell tries; Damian McKenzie 6 cons)
Fiji 5 (Vilimoni Botitu try)
Halftime: 26-5
SHARE ME