Well, the All Blacks (Who were without prop forward Karl Tu'inukuafe (Shoulder) & his Blues teammate & open side flanker Dalton Papali'i (Calf), through injuries) have won a test series 2 - 0 against Fiji (Who had lost stand-in skipper Leone Nakarawa (Who is filling in for the injured Levani Botia) after being yellow carded for 10 minutes by Australian referee Damon Murphy in the 38th minute for repeated infringements) 2 days ago at FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton with another comprehensive thrashing in the 2nd test with Sevu Reece (Attended St Bede's College during his secondary school days then used to play for Waikato & is now playing for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC as well as the Crusaders in Super Rugby) getting a hat trick of tries against his country of birth during the 1st half as well as the memorable debut for Chiefs & Waikato player Samisoni Taukei'aho (Called in as Dane Coles had been withdrawn from the match day 23 with an injury before the match & he hardly spoke any English when he 1st arrived to New Zealand because he was a native Tongan speaker which was an incredible story) as he gets a double during the 2nd half as the AB's outscored the Fijians 9 tries to 1 so here is the live updates coming to you from Newshub:
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the second test between the All Blacks v Fiji from FMG Stadium in the city of the future, Hamilton.
Both sides have a fresh feel about them this weekend, after last week's intensely physical showdown under the Glad Wrap in Dunedin, where the Fijians pushed their highly vaunted opponents much closer than the 57 - 23 scoreline suggests.
The tourists will have to work even harder to match the Kiwis on Saturday, with the loss of talismanic captain Levani Botia to injury a huge blow for Fiji to negotiate, although the arrival of first-string halfback Frank Lomani mitigates the skipper's absence.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have reverted to a line-up that seems to closer resembles their first XV, with Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown's return from long injury layoffs sure to add even more impetus to their performance.
Join us for all the action from 7pm.
6:54 PM: The rain has eased considerably at FMG Stadium, and the ground's exceptional drainage should ensure we get some classic, open running rugby between these two.
6:56 PM: Huge ovation for the Fijian side, as they take the park. Clearly no shortage of supporters for the Drua in the Tron tonight. The All Blacks and their fans follow suit. Anthems underway.
7:02 PM: Respective challenges on the way form both teams. Who'll lead the All Blacks' haka in the absence of Dane Coles, who was a late injury scratch? Aaron Smith does the honours, as they lay down Ka Mate.
We're underway...
1ST MINUTE: Fiji kick off and we're into business. Reece receives and nails a monster punt right back to the Fijian 22m.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: High tackle from Reece is penalised (Dangerous tackle), Fiji's Volavola finds touch at halfway.
3RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Break from Fiji! Buliruarua into a big gap from a slick setpiece move, wide they go and the movement breaks down, as McKenzie taps a pass into touch. Fiji lineout, and they move within 10m....
4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL FIJI: Fiji penalty advantage cashed in, penalty right in the shadow of the posts. A gift three points for Volavola caps a superb start for the visitors. (Fiji 3 - 0)
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Scrum Fiji at their own 22m, after NZ knock on at the restart.
7TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: McKenzie takes the clearing kick, hands to Havili who is hammered in the centre of FMG. Savea carries powerfully, NZ nab a penalty for offside. NZ will throw a line out at the Fiji 22m.
9TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Taylor overthrows at the line out and Fiji claim the ball and clear. McKenzie cleans up at the back but sends the return punt out on the full. Fiji line out at the NZ 22m and here comes the drive...All Blacks do well to keep the ball off the deck and secure a turnover.
11TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Mo'unga takes the ball form the scrum and peels off a good 40m with a low, searing kick. Line out at the Fiji 10m, stolen by the All Blacks. NZ penalized for going off their feet at the ruck (Player leaving feet), Volavola takes Fiji to a line out near the NZ 22m.
13TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Buliruarua met hard in midfield by Savea. Defensive penalty (Not releasing ball) goes NZ's way & they clear back to halfway.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Hands in the ruck gives NZ a penalty. They turn down a straightforward shot at goal to set up a 22m line out.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Beautifully worked move form the lineout sees David Havili cut inside the Fijian defence, before finding a streaking Reece with a deft backhand flick to go under the crossbar. (NZ 7 - 3)
17TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Ioane offside from the restart, Fiji will have another crack at the goalposts. 22m on the angle...down the middle it goes. (NZ 7 - 6)
19TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY & SCRUM: Fiji win an immediate penalty from the restart (Kicking through ruck). Superb work by Barrett at the line out to steal the throw and go to ground while keeping it safe. Wins an NZ scrum at the Fiji 10m. Clever box kick by Smith pins Fiji inside their own 5m.
21ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Pays off for NZ, but their line out ball is stolen yet again. Fiji clear to halfway, McKenzie brave under the high ball and NZ win a penalty. Another poor lineout and Fiji win it back quickly.
24TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks scrum at their own 22m, penalty goes their way for not pushing straight (Front row angling in). Mo'unga sets up a line out near the Fiji 10m.
25TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: NZ drive from the line out. ALB crash ball, bet that felt good. Fiji offside, and again, they turn down a handy shot at goal for a 5m line out. Taylor with a crooked throw, and the attacking lineout woes continue for NZ.
27TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY GOAL: NZ line out at the Fijian 22m, this time it's clean. Audacious effort at the ruck hands NZ a penalty, and they finally decide to point to the posts. That's a nod of respect to the Fijians. Mo'unga slots it. (NZ 10 - 6)
30TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Mo'unga clears from the restart and Murimurivalu drops it stone cold. Scrum NZ at the Fijian 22m, great attacking opportunity.
31ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Simple blindside play from the scrum, well read by Smith, who hits Mo'unga at pace, and Reece is on hand to finish in the corner. Mo'unga sends it over the black dot from the sideline. (NZ 17 - 6)
34TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Fiji do well to regain possession from the restart. Breakdown infringement lets the All Blacks off, Mo'unga with another screamer touch finder, and NZ are back on attack at the Fiji 22m.
36TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Mo'unga under duress, hot steps past three defenders and finds Reece, 5m out now. Penalty advantage blown up for NZ. Referee wants a card-related chat with Fiji skipper Nakarawa.
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Mo'unga with a cheeky quick tap from the penalty. Smith's wide pass from the ruck doesn't find its mark but bounces fortuitously for Reece, who strolls in out wide unmarked for a first-half hat-trick. Mo'unga can't convert. (NZ 22 - 6)
38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), YELLOW CARD: Yellow card for Fiji captain Leone Nakarawa for repeated infringements in the lead up to that try.
40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ drive an effective maul from the restart, clever kick over the top from Smith forces Fiji to make a play and they're into touch. one final shot here from NZ, as the hooter sounds...
41ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Quick pick and go play by the All Blacks heavyweights and the Fijians can't scramble in defence, as Ardie Savea powers his way over the line to mark his 50th test with a try. Mo'unga converts to sends us to the sheds. (NZ 29 - 6)
HALF TIME
Second half underway...
41ST MINUTE, SCRUM - Oh no, Nadolo drops the restart cold. Fiji under immense pressure early in the half, as the All Blacks pack the scrum...
42ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: A strong crash ball from Havili puts NZ on the front foot, and Mo'unga puts Will Jordan into a gaping hole to dot down untouched. Mo'unga converts (NZ 36 - 6).
44TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SUBSTITUTION & PENALTY: Jordan hobbles off after that try, clutching at his hamstring. Rieko Ioane takes the field. Fiji suddenly on attack from a penalty for a side entry (Joining ruck incorrectly)...
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY FIJI: They set the maul from the 5m lineout and just as the it looks to be going to ground, prop Peni Ravai peels off the opposite direction and crashes over the line. Volavola converts, and we're off to a flyer in this second 40. (NZ 36 - 13)
47TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Ball taken into touch from the restart by Fiji, a failed attempt at claiming it out on the full. Penalty NZ, scrum from 5m out and alarm bells ringing.
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Another perfectly execute setpiece, Jacobson off the back of the scrum to Mo'unga down the blindside, who puts a pinpoint pass on Rieko Ioane's chest for an easy try. (NZ 43 - 13)
52ND MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Fiji work through the phases near midfield. Penalty goes their way, line out at the NZ 22m.
54TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ steal the line out throw, look to attack through McKenzie, whose grubber for Reece is too strong and into touch.
55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Samisoni Taukei'aho enters the fray for his first All Blacks cap, as Taylor - who won't remember this match too fondly - heads to the sideline.
56TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Mo'unga creates something out of nothing, dancing through defenders to peel off 20m and link with Jacobson, whose tough pass inside is knocked on. That was full touch mode from Mo'unga.
58TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Intentional knock on (Deliberate knock down) goes against Fiji, somewhat harshly. All Blacks drive it it from 5m out...
59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION MISS: Textbook driving maul from the line out lead by substitute Brodie Retallick and finished off by the debutant himself - Samisoni Taukei'aho. Ya love to see it. Beauden Barrett - on for Mo'unga - can't convert. (NZ 48 - 13)
62ND MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Volavola intercept! The first-five has 40m in front of him but McKenzie hits the afterburners, drags him down inches short, then springs to his feet to win the penalty (Holding on). What a play by the local hero.
66TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER), SUBSTITUTION & PENALTY: The All Blacks ring the changes from the bench, as they build towards the Fiji 10m. McKenzie can't handle a low pass, Fiji will feed the scrum at the NZ 10m. No, they've had another look at this, penalty to NZ (No arms tackle).
67TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Shannon Frizell raises the 50, burrowing over from a metre out to capitalise on a barnstorming midfield bust by Taukei'aho. Barrett converts (NZ 55 - 13)
74TH MINUTE (7 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: All Blacks on the attack, Reece dancing around defenders. 10m short. Knock-on sees the movement breakdown.
78TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Getting a bit sloppy out here as the game draws to a close. Perhaps one final crack from a midfield scrum for the All Blacks.
82ND MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION MISS: A double for the debutant! Taukei'aho sent over in the corner by Ardie Savea from a 5m lineout maul to put the icing on the cake. Barrett can't convert (NZ 60 - 13).
FULL TIME: A much improved effort by the All Blacks against the plucky Fijians.
ALL BLACKS 60 (Sevu Reece 3, Samisoni Taukei'aho 2, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Shannon Frizell tries; Richie Mo'unga 5 con, pen, Beauden Barrett con)
FIJI 13 (Peni Ravai try; Ben Volavola con, 2 pen).
So that is my 439th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 59th of this year.
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