Colin Slade stakes his claim in All Blacks win

In only his second Test and in his first starting appearance for the All Blacks, Slade produced a competent 60-minute performance to enhance his chances of being chosen as back-up to Daniel Carter at the World Cup in September and October.

New Zealand took three minutes to score their first points - a penalty to Slade which were also his first points in tests - and nine minutes to score their first try, the 28th in test matches for Fiji-born winger Sitiveni Sivivatu.

The All Blacks notched four tries, including Slade's, to take a 32-0 half-time lead but were outplayed after the break, with Fiji scoring brilliant tries through scrum-half Nemia Serelevu and winger Vereniki Goneva.

Although the All Blacks were far from their ruthless, rampaging best, there was never any prospect of the kind of upset Australia suffered against Samoa last Sunday.

"I think it's a start, there's some good things there, we may not have got all the detail dead right but you can see it's going to come," All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.

Scorers: New Zealand: Tries: Sivivatu, Slade, Hore, Thomson, C Smith, Weepu, Penalty, Muliaina. Cons: Slade 4, Carter 3. Pens: Slade 2. Fiji: Tries: Serelevu, Goneva. Cons: Bai 2.

New Zealand: Muliaina, Guildford, C Smith, Nonu, Sivivatu, Slade, Cowan, Crockett, Hore, B Franks, Hoeata, A Williams, Thomson, McCaw, Messam. Replacements: B Smith for Sivivatu (50), Carter for Slade (64), Weepu for Cowan (53), Flynn for Crockett (66), Afoa for Hore (66), Whitelock for Hoeata (53), Kaino for Messam (65).

Fiji: Keresoni, T Nagusa, Vulivuli, Fatiaki, Nalaga, Bai, Serelevu, Ma'afu, Koto Koto, Manu, Kalou, Nasiga, Waqaniburotu, Qera, Matadigo. Replacements: Goneva for T Nagusa (55), Buatava for Serelevu (64), Somoca for Ma'afu (70), Veikoso for Koto Koto (78), Domolailai for Nasiga (70), Ravulo for Qera (61).