What a difference a week can make.
Last week Fiji beat the Māori All Blacks for the first time since 1957, beating them in every aspect in Suva - this week, it was all the Māori All Blacks as they won 26-17 in Rotorua.
The home side started much better than a week ago - making tackles and attempting to take the wind out of the Fijian sail.
But it was the visitors who struck first, hooker Veremalua Vugakoto scored a wonderful try out wide after a flick pass through the legs of Waisea Nayacalevu set up the five-pointer.
Midfielder Alex Nankivell carried on his great Super Rugby season with the Chiefs, setting up the hosts’ first try with an offload to winger Sean Wainui who scored to level the score.
That’s where the scores stayed until the break, both teams going into halftime locked at 7-7.
The Māori All Blacks flew out of the sheds, scoring in the 44th minute, Whetu Douglas made the initial break before offloading to Rob Thompson who sliced through the defence to score.
Fiji cut the gap to four just eight minutes later with a penalty.
But the Māori All Blacks pounced on a mistake in the 60th minute, Otere Black put a cross-field kick up, and it was Alivereti Veitokani who fumbled the ball and Nankivell pounced - scoring his first of the match.
Isaia Walker-Leawere sealed the win for the hosts when he ran through after an offload from Tom Franklin to take the score out to 26-10/
But it was Fiji who got the last laugh - John Dyer scoring off the back of a solid scrum from the visitors.
The score ended in 27-17 resulting in a 1-1 series score as the island nation continue their preparation for the Rugby World Cup.
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