Ardie Savea of the All Blacks. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
All Blacks v Fiji
Kick-off: 2.30pm Saturday 20 July (7.30pm Friday local)
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
The All Blacks have managed to get past a tough English side in their first two tests of the year, but now find themselves in San Diego for a match against Fiji. The week has been about selling the All Black brand as much as playing a test, so in between trainings the players have found themselves doing plenty of promotional work and visits. But on Friday night local time, the lights go on and the talking stops as the All Blacks and Fiji go head to head for the eighth time in an official test match.
What do the All Blacks want out of this game? Some fine-tuning of the issues that hampered them in the English series, however the much-changed side will be more providing a blueprint of ideas rather than any sort of final proving session. Fiji come in off a good win over Georgia and were unlucky not to go deeper in last year's World Cup, they are in a consistent patch with the Drua providing the bulk of their players as well as coach Mick Byrne.
Head coach of New Zealand Scott Robertson greets fans and supporters. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Here's a look at the teams:
All Blacks: 1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Asafo Aumua 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Scott Barrett (captain) 5. Tupou Vaa'i 6. Luke Jacobson 7. Ethan Blackadder 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cortez Ratima 10. Damian McKenzie 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Billy Proctor 14. Sevu Reece 15. Beauden Barrett
Bench: 16. 22. Jordie Barrett 23. Emoni Narawa
Fiji: 1. Eroni Mawi 2. Tevita Ikanivere 3. Mesake Doge 4. Isoa Nasilasila 5. Temo Mayanavanua 6. Lekima Tagitagivalu 7. Kitione Salawa 8. Viliame Mata 9. Frank Lomani 10. Isiah Armstrong-Ravula 11. Semi Radradra 12. Inia Tabuavou 13. Waisea Nayacalevu (captain) 14. Jiuta Wainiqolo 15. Vilimoni Botitu
Bench: 16. Zuriel Togiatama 17. Haereiti Hetet 18. Samu Tawake 19. Albert Tuisue 20. Elia Canakaivata 21. Simione Kuruvoli 22. Caleb Muntz 23. Sireli Maqala
All Blacks selections
Hard to know where to start with this team because Scott Robertson has made so many changes, with the tight five only retaining captain Scott Barrett. It's a big game for Tupou Vaa'i, who was very good off the bench in both tests against the English, while Ethan Blackadder has a bit of a point to prove after missing most of the Super Rugby Pacific season with injury.
Cortez Ratima gets his first start in a Chiefs 9-10 combo with Damian McKenzie, while Billy Proctor is the only one of the six potential debutants in the starting line up. George Bell, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Wallace Sititi and Noah Hotham will all presumably join him as All Blacks at some point, with plenty of attention on the Chiefs number eight after his breakout season. That is a very inexperienced bench though, so the onus will be on the starters to put this one away before the changes get made.
Wallace Sititi of the Chiefs during the grand final of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at Eden Park. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
Fiji selections
Byrne has named a Drua-heavy lineup, with six players in the starting team and another six on the bench. Frank Lomani and Isiah Armstrong-Ravula are the inside back pairing, with Armstrong-Ravula impressing in his debut Super Rugby Pacific season. The loose forwards are a strong trio, Bristol's Viliame Mata starts at number eight, 23-year-old Kitione Salawa from the Drua gets a start at openside, while Pau-based Lekima Tagitagivalu will start on the blindside. The big name out wide is former NRL star Semi Radradra, now playing at Lyon in France, he's paired with Jiuta Wainiqolo on the wings.
Fiji's inside centre Semi Radradra runs to evade Wales' full-back Liam Williams during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Fiji at Stade de Bordeaux. Photo: AFP
What they're saying
"We know the challenge ahead against the All Blacks, but we are focused on our strengths and what we can bring to the game. Physicality will be a key aspect of our game plan. We have worked hard to sharpen our set pieces and improve our defensive structure." - Fiji coach Mick Byrne.
"They've earned their opportunity; they've prepared well and they are ready for Test match rugby. We have a lot of respect for Fiji who will be fast and physical and we're looking forward to the contest. It's been a superb week in in San Diego. Our leaders have fed off the younger players energy and our focus is now on performing." - All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.
The last time they met
All Blacks 60 - 14 Fiji
All Blacks 57 - 23 Fiji
While the second test in their 2021 series was a blowout, the first was a real wake-up call for the All Blacks in their first test of the season. The Vern Cotter-coached Fijians played a very direct game plan, very similar to the way his Blues side won Super Rugby Pacific this year, and bashed the All Blacks up front. The Fijians even caused the All Blacks to concede a penalty try off a lineout drive, which was unheard of in test rugby before then. However, despite an incredible game by midfielder Levani Botia, the Fijians just ultimately couldn't keep the foot on the gas for long enough and succumbed to a late All Black surge.
Prediction
Something similar to last time would be the goal for Scott Robertson, because he will be thinking ahead to what sort of role these players will have in the upcoming two home tests against Argentina. It says a lot about the attrition rate in test rugby that Robertson has already been compelled to pick Darry and Hotham despite neither being part of his original 32-man squad, so really any injuries to anyone key will best be avoided. Expect a pretty methodical game plan from the All Blacks, it's clear the new regime has a new style and attacking shape they want to play, which is being built from the ground up. For the Fijians, it's case of taking their opportunities when they get them, whether that be by the traditional long range counterattack or through close range efforts that the Drua found success with in Super Rugby Pacific.
