The All Blacks coasted to a 60-14 romp over Fiji in Dunedin on Friday night as they kicked off their Tri Nations preparations. Despite the scoreline, and managing to double their half time score, they were fairly rusty in the second half.
The Fijians weren’t as bad as the scoreline suggests, but New Zealand were clinical and calculated, as ever, and managed to convert chances into points as they piled on the points at the last ever Test in Carisbrook’s old stadium.
Leading 32-0 at half time, the All Blacks seemed to have already played their best rugby and at times looked stuttery in the second half. There were however plenty of positives to be taken from it, namely the convincing win over a decent Fijian side, the form of Sitiveni Sivivatu, and the performance of Dan Carter understudy, Colin Slade.
Slade picked up a personal tally of 19 points, scoring a try, four conversions, and two penalties.
“A lot of individuals played well but I think we’ve got a lot of work to do as a team, which is understandable,” said All Blacks coach Graham Henry.
“There is plenty to work on but to score 60 points is pleasing. We just have to work on our teamwork and that’s obvious when you haven’t played together for nine months.”
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