New Zealand captain Scott Barrett insists improvements will be made despite the All Blacks easing to a 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego. 

Scott Robertson's men scored seven tries at the Snapdragon Stadium in a side that included six debutants from their 2–0 series win over England last week. 

The All Blacks led 26-5 at half-time, but Fiji still managed to restrict their opponents to the lowest score of their eight Test encounters.

"Fiji certainly showed up tonight in the physical areas," said captain Barrett. "It wasn't fully polished, we have pretty high standards in this team.

"They were able to get their hands on the ball to turn it over at times but we created enough opportunities to turn into points."

Caleb Clarke and Cortez Ratima scored converted tries in the opening exchanges, before Vilimoni Botitu notched Fiji's only try of the contest. 

Sevu Reece would increase the All Blacks' advantage in the second half, before George Bell, on his debut, went over for the final try of the encounter. 

The result maintains New Zealand's eight-game winning run, with head coach Scott Robertson nodding to the future following impressive performances from his debutants.

“Keeping them to five points is pretty special," Robertson said. "We scored some great tries, we left a lot out there.

"I’m really proud of a lot of efforts and the six debutants who really stood up.

“It was exciting to see how that talent went. They showed why we picked them. We’ve had seven debutants over the three games.

"It’s been intense with the travel coming over here. I’m pleased everyone has learnt quickly and been incredibly professional off the field.”

England will have to wait at least another week to end their 21-year run without a victory in New Zealand after a 16-15 defeat on Saturday.

The All Blacks, in their first Test under new coach Scott Robertson, held on in Dunedin to start the series with a victory.

England's last win against the All Blacks in New Zealand came in 2003, but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's try early in the second half gave them a fantastic chance of ending that run.

Sevu Reece and Ardie Savea had scored either side of a Maro Itoje try in the first half, with the teams level at the interval.

But it was not to be, with Marcus Smith's misses with the boot compounded by the accuracy of New Zealand kicker Damian McKenzie, who nailed two penalties to complete the turnaround.

"I am proud of the group to come together in 10 days and play a sharp England side," New Zealand captain Scott Barrett told Sky Sports after his team's first Test since they lost the 2023 World Cup final to South Africa.

"That was a reminder of what Test rugby is all about. There were arm wrestles everywhere and different levels of pressure.

"We adapted pretty well to drive back into it and just get our noses in front."

Itoje says while England can be proud of their efforts, they simply need to be better in the next Test.

"It was a good effort but we need to be better," he said.

"We raised the intensity at the start of the second half but a few inaccuracies slipped into our game and allowed the All Blacks back into it.

"Every game is something to learn from. We'll lick our wounds and learn from our mistakes. This will be an invaluable experience. We'll relish the opportunity to go again next week."

The second Test takes place in Auckland on July 13.

Data Debrief: New Zealand's home comforts

New Zealand were winless across their previous two Test matches against England (D1 L1) after winning six in a row against them before that.

But the All Blacks kept up their run of never going three successive Tests against England without a win, and made it eight in a row against the Red Rose on home soil.

Indeed, New Zealand have now won each of their last five home Test matches.

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