Slade stars for All Blacks

Fly-half Colin Slade marked his first Test start with a 19-point haul as New Zealand kicked off their World Cup preparations with an untidy but convincing 60-14 win over Fiji in Dunedin.

Graham Henry's side were 32-0 to the good at the break as Sitiveni Sivivatu, Slade, Andrew Hore and Adam Thomson all crossed, with Slade also adding two penalties and three conversions in a composed first-half display.

The All Blacks failed to add to their tally during a poor third quarter but scores from Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu and Mils Muliaina, plus a penalty try, rounded off the win.

But Henry will know his side have plenty of work to do, particularly at the line-out, ahead of next weekend's Tri-Nations meeting against South Africa.

Fiji battled gamely throughout and got deserved reward through two excellent tries from Nemia Serelevu and replacement Vereniki Goneva.