All Blacks switch focus to Fijians

A SLIGHTLY experimental All Blacks will face Fiji in their first test of the year tomorrow as coach Graham Henry fine-tunes the side ahead of the three-test Lions series.

The lead-up to the All Blacks’ first test since their 45-6 demolition of France in November has been low-key amid the razzmatazz of the Lions.

But with only two weeks left to the first test on June 25, they are getting down to business.

A win over Fiji should be fairly straightforward although the visitors are showing more mettle and organisation under former Auckland National Provincial Championship coach Wayne Pivac. New Zealand Maori had to battle hard for a 29-27 victory over Fiji in Suva last week.

Henry, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Wednesday, is using the match to have a closer look at three debutants in the starting line-up and two more in the reserves.

Waikato winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, Otago lock James Ryan and Auckland hooker Derren Witcombe will be playing their first matches in the black jersey, as will be Waikato full-back Soseni Anesi and Canterbury prop Campbell Johnstone on the bench.

Of the new caps, Sivivatu is the most likely to start against the Lions if his form on the left wing continues.

Another talking point is the selection of half-back Byron Kelleher - a standout in the French test - ahead of 77-test veteran Justin Marshall, the dominant scrum-half of the Super 12 competition.

The line-up may be experimental, but the game plan won’t be, Henry said.

“We’re trying to set the foundations for the remainder of the season, which you always try to do in the first test, so it’s no different".

“It’s important the new caps come off the field feeling really positive about their first experience in the All Blacks jersey.”

A pinched sciatic nerve is likely to sideline All Black reserve loose forward Mose Tuiali’i, with Tongan-born Sione Lauaki set to take his place on the bench. A final decision on Tuiali’i was to be made this morning.

Ninth-ranked international team Fiji aim to earn respect from the All Blacks and world rugby.

“One day we’d like to be treated as a tier-one nation. To do that we have to have credible results when we play sides such as the All Blacks,” Pivac said.

“It’s good for us to expose weaknesses in our side. We’d rather expose those now than three months out from a World Cup.”

ALL BLACKS: M Muliaina; D Howlett, T Umaga (capt), A Mauger, S Sivivatu; D Carter, B Kelleher; G Somerville, D Witcombe, T Woodcock; J Ryan, A Williams; J Collins, R McCaw, R So'oialo.

Reserves: S Anesi, C Smith, J Marshall, M Tuiali’i/S Lauaki, C Jack, C Johnstone, K Mealamu.

FIJI: N Ligairi; V Delasau, V Satala, S Bai, S Bobo; N Little, M Rauluni (capt); B Cavulati, V Gadolo, J Bale; A Matanibukaca, I Domolailai; I Rawaqa, A Ratuva, S Koyamaibole.

Reserves: J Rauluni, E Ruivadra/J Tora, S Koto, J Railomo, J Qovu, S Tabua, S Rokobara.