Fiji’s wait goes on
All Blacks take Test match against Flying Fijians to the US
They were the darlings of the World Cup and a Test in Suva or Lautoka rather than the US would have been a fitting reward, writes PATRICK MCKENDRY of TVNZ.
A TEST against the All Blacks in Suva or Lautoka would have been a fitting reward for Fiji’s World Cup and Super Rugby performances.
According to New Zealand Rugby, one of the reasons why we should be excited about the prospect of the All Blacks playing Fiji in San Diego in July is the opportunity for one of the darlings of last year’s World Cup to play in front of their fans on the West Coast of the US.
To that, one could reply: Why not go one better and play Fiji in front of their fans in Fiji?
The All Blacks of course have never played a Test in Fiji. They were there in 1974, 1980 and 1984 for games against the national team but they weren’t considered official Tests.
The last time the All Blacks played a Test in the Pacific Islands was 2015 when they took on Manu Samoa in Apia before the World Cup. The welcome and goodwill showered upon them during their first visit in Samoa was extraordinary.
At first glance the fixture at the Snapdragon Stadium appears a great opportunity for the Flying Fijians in terms of exposure and, presumably a piece of the revenue, but the All Blacks were initially slated to play them home and away last year.
Here’s chief executive Mark Robinson on Sky’s Breakdown show in May last year: “We’re locked in to play one [Test] in July next year at home.
“We’ve got England here for the first two games in the July series, and one against Fiji. And we’re working on the possibility of going back and reciprocating and playing in Fiji which would be an amazing occasion.”
It sure would. Since the Fiji Drua’s introduction into Super Rugby Pacific two years ago they have become extremely difficult to beat in Suva and Lautoka, where fans have flocked with an enthusiasm and passion sorely lacking elsewhere in the competition.
Playing the Flying Fijians at either venue after hosting England in Dunedin and Auckland would have been challenging for the All Blacks, but, alas, Fiji’s wait goes on.
In beating Australia in France last year for the first time in 70 years before coming so close against England in the quarter-final, it would have been fitting for their fans to celebrate by watching skipper Waisea Nayacalevu and Semi Radradra knocking the All Blacks about at home, but, in fairness to Robinson and NZ Rugby, outside influences haven’t helped.
The Fiji Rugby Union has been operating with an interim chief executive since John O’Connor resigned in 2022 and there are questions about its governance. Additionally, the San Diego Test will make money for both NZ Rugby and the Fijian union but a Test in Fiji in July would have likely lost money for an already financially struggling organisation.
NZ Rugby, increasingly focused on the bottom line after selling a percentage of its future earnings to Silver Lake, will hope the US trip will bring increased exposure to the All Blacks brand but a harsh reality for Scott Robertson in his first year in the job is that it will increase the demands on his players.
They will fly over presumably a day after the second Test against England at Eden Park and will be leaving a New Zealand winter for an American summer to play what will presumably be a physical Test on a hard ground.
They will then fly home to New Zealand for two Tests against Argentina before travelling to South Africa to play two Tests against the world champion Springboks.
The All Blacks will play 14 Tests in total this year, including one against Japan in Yokohama on their way to Europe and clashes against England, Ireland, France and Italy.
It is a hugely challenging schedule which will test Robertson’s coaching and ability to juggle what for the All Blacks will be unprecedented commercial pressures.
Meanwhile, Scott Robertson’s first season as All Blacks coach will open with two home Tests against England, as well as a clash with Fiji in San Diego.
The offshore Test against Fiji will be a revenue-generator for New Zealand Rugby. It will also be designed to spread the rugby gospel around North America.
The All Blacks will play Japan, a third Test against England, plus Ireland, France and Italy on the end of year tour.
“Playing England under the roof in Dunedin is a great start for us in a world class stadium, and then we go up to Auckland where we have a great record that we are really proud of,” Robertson said.
“We then fly off to San Diego which is exciting in itself. The Fijians know their way around the world, and they’ll come out from everywhere. I know a lot of Kiwis will make the trip as well.”
All Blacks midfielder Ma’a Nonu, now playing for the San Diego Legion club, said: “You’ve got two of the most amazing teams coming to San Diego.
“There are a lot of Pacific Islanders who have grown up in the United States and there are a lot of kids playing rugby now. They’re going to be seeing the stars like Rieko Ioane and Ardie Savea and then the [Fiji] players like Josua Tuisova and Semi Radrardra coming into the West Coast.”
Another feature of the All Blacks’ season is their two Tests against the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“We are playing up on the highveld at Ellis Park and then down to Cape Town - they are iconic Tests and I know a lot of Kiwis will be excited about that,” Robertson said.
“It is a great chance to find out about ourselves against the world champions.”
The All Blacks’ last Test of 2023 was a painful one-point defeat at the hands of the Boks in the World Cup final in Paris.