Blacks flay Fiji
22 Jul 2011
New Zealand completely overwhelmed a hapless Fiji in a 60-14 victory in Dunedin.
The Springboks, who face the Fijians in the pool stage at the World Cup, have little to be concerned about. The side the islanders fielded this evening is unlikely to differ much from the one that will front in Wellington, and on the evidence of this showing against a weakened Blacks side, that contest is likely to be an even bigger mismatch.
Fiji simply did not have the physicality and tactical intelligence to trouble their hosts. Trailing 32-0 at the break, it had become a damage limitation exercise for them, not that anybody, besides those romantics still drunk on the euphoria from Samoa’s upset of Australia, expected any less.
The Fijians’ physical inferiority on defence ensured uninterrupted service to the Blacks’ back division. They are irresistible when they control the tempo and flow of the game in this manner, which the visitors would discover. Twice in the first half they struck through the same pattern – powerful punches up the right hand side of the field that sucked in defenders, followed by lightning-quick snaps to the left, where Sitiveni Sivivatu and Andrew Hore finished.
Colin Slade and Adam Thomson contributed first half tries as well, the latter acquitting himself well rather than setting the world alight. There would also be workman-like performances from Sivivatu, Ma’a Nonu, Ali Williams and Thomson.
On attack the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers never seriously threatened the Blacks. Certainly the were able to keep possession through numerous phases, but much of their play took place well behind the advantage line, and their reluctance to commit cleaners to the breakdown offered the Blacks opportunities to stifle their momentum. Furthermore, they were massacred at scrum time, conceding six tightheads. Indeed their only tries of the match came thanks their opponents’ lethargy at ruck time and a defensive lapse.
A string of substitutions as well as a loose approach momentarily affected the Blacks’ synergy and potency adversely, but they soon found their groove, tries from Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu and Mils Muliaina ensuring that the scoreboard reflected their sides’ utter dominance.
217 Comments
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22 Jul 2011, 15:34 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-199:
classic
22 Jul 2011, 15:43 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-134:
if god was a fan he’d play jeezuz off the bench every four years,
and then crucify him…
22 Jul 2011, 15:51 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-199:
correction on:
3) mccaw is a moerse cheat.
might as well get the facts right old chap…
22 Jul 2011, 15:52 pm
Hurricane
you’ll put Transie out of a job if you continue to master the craft of cut’n'paste like that.
I just can’t pick exactly which thread you’ve found it on tho as it really could apply to any post-AB victory and, Lord knows, there are enough of those to give us a headache.
22 Jul 2011, 15:59 pm
So much sloppiness in this match. How is Andrew Hore still in a black jersey? His throwing is awful, he’s not mobile around the park, and he’s an average scrummager. Hooker is a position where depth is a real concern for the ABs, I see Mealamu and not much else.
22 Jul 2011, 15:59 pm
I said he is PORTLY not fat.
22 Jul 2011, 16:03 pm
@DAS(DAS)-205: this was 100% fulls strength AB team, you must be smoking your socks
22 Jul 2011, 16:23 pm
@DAS(DAS)-205:
depth problems at:
hooker
scrumhalf
flyhalf
openside
22 Jul 2011, 16:30 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-199:
Well lets see
1) the ref is fat
he is quite portly for an internation ref
2) the ref is a cheat
yes he is
3) McCaw is a cheat
yes he is
4) Game is boring
well it was an easy win as xpected
(ps how did the nz goverment let them in the country after wanting to ban them for the world cup? or are they only allowed to come to new zealand for warm up games when required?)
5) Kiwis chicks are ugly
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
if you want to post some samples we can all make our own minds up.
6) Kiwis are racist
There are racists everywhere. A bit like saying all south africans have aids which is a fairly common refrain from some of your brethren here.
So if you don’t like it…..
22 Jul 2011, 16:52 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-208: depth isn’t a problem at scrumhalf, quality is — there are 3/4 options, but none of them anywhere near the quality of a Genia or FDP. Weepu I thought played far better than Cowan, but good god he was looking fatter than usual, even for him.
Thomson played well, but he’s not a natural openside. Will be interesting to see what Henry does for cover there.
22 Jul 2011, 17:02 pm
@DAS(DAS)-210:
yeah agree with 9.
Thompson is a keegan Daniel type so yeah not an openside in the purest sense.Todd/younger Braid are next best but Henry not keen on new caps in a wc yr
22 Jul 2011, 17:57 pm
When the ABs play their PI counterparts they destroy them. When we play them we struggle to put them away. Bok rugby still stuck in the dark ages.
22 Jul 2011, 18:30 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-199:
thats not correct – kiwi chicks are attractive.
you’ve even got a few that talk more rugby sense then mexted, melanie something..
22 Jul 2011, 18:33 pm
@DAS(DAS)-205:
he’s damn good in the tightloose tho – dont think there’s a fitter hooker in world rugby.
tough call between him and the awesome mealamu, but i go for the latter, whose cleanout rates are unparalleled. pity we dont have this. theyve also got thorn and woodcock, no wonder their ruck contest is so good.
22 Jul 2011, 18:45 pm
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-209: Ref was a cheat? It was Fiji, not SA, cmon.
23 Jul 2011, 06:23 am
Geeez if it was not for S. Dickinsen the ABs would not have won
23 Jul 2011, 06:23 am
@Nils(Nils)-215:
Hey we agree
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