All Blacks Dominate Fiji with a 47-5 Victory in San Diego

The New Zealand All Blacks showcased their formidable prowess on the rugby field, achieving a resounding 47-5 victory over Fiji in a match held in San Diego. This encounter marks a successful start to Scott Robertson‘s tenure as head coach, as the All Blacks concluded their July test series with an emphatic win.

Among the highlights of the match was the performance of centre Billy Proctor, who was one of several players making their debut. Proctor shone brightly, scoring a try in the first half which contributed to New Zealand’s commanding 26-5 lead at halftime. The All Blacks maintained their unbeaten streak against the Fijian team, demonstrating their dominance throughout the contest.

The second half saw Sevu Reece extend the All Blacks’ lead with an early try, effectively putting the match beyond Fiji’s reach. The scoring did not stop there, as hooker George Bell also marked his debut with a try, sealing the match with a final score of 47-5. The All Blacks, on the eve of the Rugby Championship, displayed their intent and readiness against Argentina in their next outing.

<pDespite significant changes, with 11 players being swapped out from the previous week’s lineup which narrowly defeated England 24-17 at Eden Park, the All Blacks' resilience remained undeterred. Billy Proctor was the only debutant to start, while five others made their first appearances off the bench, including scrum-half Noah Hotham and forwards Wallace Sititi, Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi, and George Bell.

On the other side, Fiji made two alterations from the team that secured a victory against Georgia just two weeks prior. Notably, Viliami Botitu was repositioned from fly-half to fullback in an attempt to bolster their backline against the formidable All Blacks.

New Zealand’s offensive push began early, with winger Caleb Clarke and scrum-half Cortez Ratima both scoring converted tries within the opening moments of the match. Fiji managed to respond with a try from Botitu after he cleverly received an inside pass from Semi Radradra, who had earlier displayed his agility by claiming a cross-kick.

The All Blacks continued to exert pressure as Proctor scored after a well-timed half-break from Damian McKenzie, allowing No. 8 Ardie Savea to add to the tally with a try just before the break. Fiji’s troubles were compounded as they lost both of their scrum-halves to injuries in the first half: Frank Lomani suffered a shoulder injury, while Ratima was forced to exit the match due to a head knock sustained during his Test debut.

This incident highlighted a growing list of injury concerns for the All Blacks in the number nine position, with Cam Roigard ruled out for the entire season and veteran TJ Perenara sidelined following a knee injury earlier against England.

Following the match, attention turns to New Zealand’s upcoming challenge against Argentina on August 10, where they will commence their Rugby Championship campaign in Wellington. The All Blacks’ confidence will be boosted from this performance, having recorded a total of seven tries during the contest against Fiji.

The game was not just a showcase of new talent, but also an affirmation of experience as the All Blacks looked to rebuild their squad ahead of more intense competitions. The impact of the debutants was crucial, highlighting the depth in New Zealand rugby.

Meanwhile, a crowd of approximately 25,000 spectators witnessed the match at Allianz Stadium, signaling a burgeoning interest in rugby, particularly in the international arena. The atmosphere during the clash was electric, driven by the excitement of both the teams vying for supremacy.

As the All Blacks gear up for their next Test against Argentina, along with discussions on injuries and selections, the spotlight remains firmly on their developing squad as they aim to solidify their reputation as one of the sport’s powerhouses.