Fiji demolition no help for All Blacks coach

New Zealand 91 Fiji 0

The old adage states that you can only be as good as the side you’re playing allows you be.

Fifteen tries, no points conceded and 41 missed tackles by the Fijians gives an accurate reflection of the challenge laid down to the All Blacks in their only game before meeting the Lions over three Tests later this month.

Come up short against Clive Woodward’s Lions and the fingers will immediately point to this lone and unsatisfactory warm-up game at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland’s suburbs as one of the reasons.

Which means Henry was forced to warn his players against complacency, and no doubt wish his side had, had a sterner examination of their credentials.

“I don’t think we were tested too much, so don’t get too excited about it,” Henry said, while his assistant Steve Hansen added: “We’re fully aware that our next test match (against the Lions on June 25) is going to be different.”

Henry still said there was plenty to smile about from the All Blacks.

“I thought the guys played well. They played with intensity, skill and a physical presence.

“They expressed themselves and enjoyed their rugby so we can’t complain.

“I would have liked the score to have been a lot less but you have to give them some credit for that. We have to keep our feet on the ground. We know we’re in for a huge contest (against the Lions). We’re well aware of that and there is a lot of respect for the Lions.”

Henry also said he had been impressed by his six debutants while dismissing any suggestion that his captain Tana Umaga would be pronounced doubtful for the Test. The centre suffered an ankle injury in the second half and left the field very gingerly but Henry said: “Tana’s okay. He played on, he rolled his ankle. He’s limping a bit but he’ll be fine.”

There were other concerns for Henry, who stood fly-half Dan Carter down at half-time following a blistering opening period that saw him start and finish a move for the first try as the All Blacks headed into the break 50-0 up.

Henry said he had wanted to see centre Aaron Mauger in action in the fly-half position but three conversions from seven attempts will have convinced the coach he still has not found an adequate replacement kicker for Carter.

Henry fully expected Woodward to have watched the Fiji match and read much into the performance.

“I’m sure he’ll take a lot out of it. We play 10-12 test matches a year. I’m sure Clive’s analysed them and that’s the way it is in international sport.”

Debutant winger Sitiveni Sivivatu was one of the stars of the show for New Zealand.

The Fijian-born player scored four tries on his All Blacks debut and came in for some praise from his coach.

He faces a lot of pressure ahead if he is named tomorrow in the Test squad to play the Lions and Henry added fuel to the fire when he said: “I think he could be a very special player. He has ability with the ball in his hands and he has a good feel for the game.

“He has understanding and good touches. He’s very physical and a good defender.”

NEW ZEALAND: M Muliana, D Howlett, T Umaga - captain (C Smith, 59), A Mauger, S Sivivatu, D Carter (S Anesi), B Kelleher (J Marshall, 58); T Woodcock (C Johnstone), D Whitcombe (K Mealamu, 51), G Somerville, J Ryan, A Williams (C Jack, 62), J Collins, R McCaw (M Tuiali’I, h-t), R So’Oialo.

FIJI: N Ligairi, V Delasau, V Satala (J Railomo, 62), S Bai, S Bobo, N Little, M Rauluni - captain (J Rauluni, 69); J Bale V Gadolo, B Cavubati, A Matanibukaca, I Domolai (S Tabua, 29), I Rawaqa, A Ratuva, S Koyomaible.

Referee: N Whitehouse, Wales.