New Zealand's All Blacks scored seven tries in their first rugby match in San Diego for 44 years, beating Fiji 47-5.
The players from New Zealand and Fiji acted in part as ambassadors for rugby in the United States, trying to sell American sports fans on a game that, to them, if they know it at all, looks like soccer without protective equipment.
In that respect, the game was a success. 30,000 fans filled Snapdragon Stadium, the largest crowd at a rugby match in San Diego. The last time the All Blacks played in the city in 1980, when they beat the USA 53-6, they attracted 10,000 fans to the former NFL stadium of the San Diego Chargers.
“It was incredible coming to San Diego,” said All Blacks captain Scott Barrett. “We want to thank the rugby community here. We really felt the support and there were fans coming from all over to watch and we really felt that love.”
Fans saw a fast-paced game on Friday with lots of movement and a total of eight tries.
The field, home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team, was harder than usual for a rugby game, resulting in some unusual rebounds from kicks.
Both teams lost a scrum-half who sustained injuries when he was thrown violently to the ground, Fiji's Frank Lomani was forced to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder and the All Blacks' Cortez Ratima suffered an apparent concussion after scoring a try on his debut as a starter.
The All Blacks team featured six new players and 11 changes from the second Test win over England last weekend. It took them a while to settle in, but once they did they were able to score some excellent tries in the back line.
The new midfield combination of Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor worked well and created opportunities for the three-man defense of Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece and Beauden Barrett.
Lienert-Brown was one of the game's standout players and may have secured a place at centre-back in the Rugby Championship.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie had more space than he was allowed in the All Blacks' two recent victories against England and was able to make the most of it, although his kicking game was not ideal at first. Ardie Savea carried the ball powerfully from the back of the scrum.
The game became more relaxed in the second half as both teams used their substitutes and Fiji put the All Blacks defence under pressure at times but were unable to score.
“We talked about finishing them off. It took a while,” said Scott Barrett. “In the end we got rewarded for it. But Fiji definitely showed what they can do physically tonight.”
For Fiji, link-up player Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula showed a calm demeanor on his debut, while winger Kitione Salawa had a strong performance.
New Zealand had four tries and led 26-5 at half-time. Hooker George Bell scored on his debut in the 78th minute and McKenzie scored his sixth try from seven attempts.
Friday's game was part of an effort by New Zealand and World Rugby to establish rugby in the US sports market and raise the sport's profile ahead of the 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's World Cups to be hosted in the United States.