An All Blacks side featuring six players on debut cut loose against Fiji with seven tries to win their one-off Test in San Diego on Saturday.

New Zealand led 26-5 at half time before securing a 47-5 victory, appreciating the chance to play with freedom on a warm California evening after two bruising home Test wins over England.

Flyhalf Damian McKenzie landed six off his seven conversion attempts and was a central figure as the All Blacks’ backs feasted on dominance of possession and the forward pack’s ability to win quick breakdown ball.

Fiji nevertheless restricted New Zealand to the lowest score in their eight Test encounters, with the average score in those meetings being 69-12 to the All Blacks.

It was mission accomplished for New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson, who made it three wins from three since taking charge and introducing a host of new faces.

There were 11 changes from the team who beat England 24-17 in last week’s second Test in Auckland, although centre Billy Proctor was the only starting new cap.

Five players debuted off the bench – scrumhalf Noah Hotham and forwards Wallace Sititi, Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi and George Bell.

Fiji made two backline changes from team that beat Georgia 21-12 in Batumi two weeks ago, with Viliami Botitu also shifted from flyhalf to fullback.

Winger Caleb Clarke and scrum-half Cortez Ratima scored converted tries inside the opening 15 minutes before Fiji struck back through Botitu, the Castres back receiving an inside pass from Semi Radradra after the impressive winger claimed a cross-kick.

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Proctor scored following a half-break from McKenzie before No 8 Ardie Savea notched a try from a New Zealand quick tap as the half-time break loomed.

New Zealand’s Fijian-born winger Sevu Reece opened the second-half scoring before front-rowers Ethan De Groot and Bell barrelled over for the last two tries.

Both teams lost their scrum-halves to injury in the first half – Fiji’s Frank Lomani to an apparent shoulder blow and Ratima to a head knock in his first Test start.

It could add to a mounting scrumhalf injury problem for the All Blacks, with leading candidate Cam Roigard out for the season and veteran TJ Perenara sidelined by a knee knock sustained against England.

New Zealand’s next Test is an opening-round Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Wellington on 10 August.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: @AllBlacks/Twitter

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