After a quarterfinal boilover when these nations met at the 2017 World Cup and a nail-biter at the same stage of the 2022 edition, this shootout for a semifinal spot was expected to be similarly tight and tense.
Fiji’s stirring performance against Australia six days earlier provided further cause for Kiwi caution — but an entirely different Bati outfit turned up on the Gold Coast as a relentless New Zealand side carved out a 76-0 rout.
The match was essentially over after 12 minutes as the Kiwis ran in four tries, while Fiji had already lost Api Koroisau to a broken jaw. By the 32nd minute, the lead had doubled to an eye-watering 48-0.
Mercifully for Fiji, the onslaught slowed late in the first half and early in the second. The contest exploded in the 51st minute when halfback Brandon Wakeham reacted to Ronaldo Mulitalo’s brutal high shot on a Fiji teammate. Both players were sent off.
The Kiwis added five more tries to complete the beatdown, with Casey McLean’s incredible Test spree continuing courtesy of a four-try haul — giving the 20-year-old 15 in just seven Tests.
Meanwhile, Jamayne Isaako slotted a perfect 13 from 13, lifting him to within 10 points of Shaun Johnson’s all-time New Zealand Test pointscoring tally.
The fired-up Kiwis enjoyed 60 percent possession, made 1,726 run metres to just 851 — with Naufahu Whyte the chief runaway train in the pack — and recorded 12 line-breaks to none.
A semifinal against Tonga or Samoa awaits (the Kiwis will play the winner of Sunday night’s clash) but Mulitalo’s impending ban is a significant blow. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is a serviceable wing stopgap, though there may be a temptation to shift the more dynamic McLean out to the flank.
Get around the Kingz Container Crew Kiwis player ratings as New Zealand’s quest for a second World Cup title picks up steam.
1 KEANO KINI: Playing in the shadow of Kalyn Ponga’s potential return, Kini was a standout in the No.1 with a big play in the lead-up to the Kiwis’ first try before slicing through to score the second himself. Dashed away for the last try from broken play and finished with a game-high 260 metres along with eight tackle busts. 8
2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Another marvellous goalkicking display but didn’t have too much else to do in the landslide. Seven runs for 72 metres and sound defensively, including a superb try-saver on his opposite, though made a couple of errors. 6.5
3 DANE GAGAI: Pounced on a Fiji fumble to scamper in for a first-half try and notched a try assists to go with 10 runs for 96 metres, while he racked up 20 tackles. 7
4 CASEY MCLEAN: Can’t stop scoring Test tries and bagged his second haul of four in just seven appearances, running some great lines in the first half and scattering defenders in a magnificent run for his fourth. Racked up 159 metres on 15 runs and a game-high nine tackle-breaks. Elite. 8.5
5 RONALDO MULITALO: Great tap-back for JFH’s try and steamed onto a pass to score under the posts in a strong first half. But a misjudged tackle resulted in a rare send-off and could have ended his tournament. Eight runs for 79 metres along with three errors by the time he got an early shower. 6
6 KODI NIKORIMA: Had the assist for both of McLean’s first-half tries, combining nicely with Hughes, and made a line-break on one of only three runs for the match. Handled the traffic sent his way with 13 tackles (no misses). 7
7 JAHROME HUGHES: Tremendous first half with the opening try and three try assists, before getting an early mark 11 minutes into the second half. 7.5
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Capped a big opening stint with a try from Mulitalo’s handiwork, but sat the last hour of the match out. Had chalked up seven runs for 56 metres by that point. 6.5
9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: Directed traffic nicely from dummy-half and made six runs for 55 metres, along with 25 tackles before hitting the bench with 20 minutes to go. 7
10 MOSES LEOTA: A robust 50-minute display across two stints for the veteran, making 109 metres on 10 carries and 20 tackles — including arguably the hit of the tournament on Caleb Navale inside the last 10 minutes. Looks to have cemented that starting spot in a crowded front-row contingent. 8
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Having a great tournament so far, which continued via 14 runs for 104 metres and a team-high 26 tackles. A couple of errors but shapes as a key figure in the bigger games ahead. 7.5
12 BRITON NIKORA: Latched onto a kick out wide to pick up a second-half try and made 10 runs for 99 metres — including five tackle-breaks — along with 15 tackles. 7.5
13 JOSEPH TAPINE: Eleven runs for 75 metres and 15 tackles in 40 minutes of gametime, while an unnecessary late shot saw him put on report. 6
14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Made the most of his 29-minute stint in the halves, delivering a wonderful floating pass for McLean’s third and a clever kick for Nikora to score. A luxury to have in the No.14 with his ability to cover the halves and hooker — and made a genuine difference in both roles. 7.5
15 NAUFAHU WHYTE: A Payne Haas-like cheat code these days, towering over all other forwards on the field with 208 metres (84 post-contact) from 18 runs, five tackle-breaks and 15 tackles in an unbroken 59-minute stay on the paddock. Wind him up and watch him go against the Tongan or Samoan pack next week. 8.5
16 ERIN CLARK: Eleven runs for 97 metres and 22 tackles, while he marked a return to the Cbus Super Stadium venue he called home for several years with a 20-minute shift in the once-familiar hooker spot and bulldozed over for a dummy-half try. Also offloaded in the lead-up to Kini’s late four-pointer. 7.5
17 XAVIER WILLISON: Another barnstorming performance from the giant, powering through and reaching out for a first-half try, and tallying 15 runs for 138 metres and 21 tackles without a miss in 40 minutes. 8