All Blacks wash away the Sharks 54-0 in rain-soaked Durban as McKenzie limps off

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — New Zealand comfortably handled the Sharks 54-0 and a sodden Kings Park to go two for two on its South Africa tour on Tuesday.

Test fullback Damian McKenzie limped off after scoring a 28th-minute try. His exit was precautionary 11 days before the Greatest Rivalry test series against the Springboks. He twisted his left ankle early while landing to take a mark.

“It’s not too bad but we just felt he was hobbling around less than 100%,” All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said. “He will be fine.”

The All Blacks started half of their test XV against the weakest of the four provincial sides they face, and were too slick for the heavily depleted Sharks on a pitch soaked by heavy rain right up until kickoff.

They fixed the issues that were shown up while beating the Stormers 38-21 in Cape Town last Friday. The maul defense stopped two early lineout drives by the Sharks from five meters out, the scrum was solid, and discipline much improved. No yellow cards were conceded and the penalty count was half of the 16 conceded to the Stormers.

They scored eight tries, seven converted by standout Ruben Love — four from the sideline and one in off the post.

Love led the All Blacks' pre-match haka, which was uniquely met by a solo haka from Ma'a Nonu, the 44-year-old rugby great who played for New Zealand 104 times from 2003-15 and was signed by the Sharks only a week ago.

“It was such a privilege and an honor, and to do the haka, showing my respect on behalf of my family to the team I love,” he told broadcaster SuperSport.

Nonu, who hasn't retired, opposed New Zealand for the first time but too late to have an impact. The Sharks were 42-0 down when he came off the bench with a quarter to go.

After containing a rousing start by the Sharks, the All Blacks got their first try in the 19th from winger Fehi Fineanganofo after a Jordie Barrett bomb.

McKenzie slid over the tryline moments later but the try was ruled out by a knock on. Five minutes later, McKenzie was over again in another splash beside the right corner flag after a Barrett kickpass to Fineanganofo. Then the fullback limped off.

New Zealand turned around 14-0 ahead and gradually washed away the Sharks like an incoming tide.

The other wing, Caleb Clarke, scored from a huge miss-out pass by No. 8 Wallace Sititi, then Clarke gave the final offload for Fineanganofo's second try.

First-time captain Luke Jacobson put Barrett away for a score, and a Quinn Tupaea break was finished by scrumhalf Kyle Preston.

Closing tries by Timoci Tavatavanawai and Sam Darry brought up the All Blacks' half-century.

They face the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday. Yet to appear on tour because of “niggles” were hooker Codie Taylor, wing Will Jordan, prop Tyrel Lomax and scrumhalf Cam Roigard, who was a late withdrawal from Tuesday's game because of a tight calf.

The All Blacks still haven't named a replacement for center Billy Proctor, who broke a shoulder blade against the Stormers. There's heavy speculation about the return of flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, who last played for New Zealand at the 2023 World Cup.

“We are going to make a decision (on a replacement) around what we need as a whole (in) the next couple of days,” Rennie said.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Sharks' Nick Hatton, right, tackles All Blacks' Quinn Tupaea during a friendly rugby match between Sharks and All Blacks, in Durban, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

All Blacks' Ethan de Groot, left, with his teammate Josh Lord, right, tackle Sharks' Hendrè Stassen, during a friendly rugby match between Sharks and All Blacks, in Durban, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Sharks' Nick Hatton, right, tackles All Blacks' Quinn Tupaea during a friendly rugby match between Sharks and All Blacks, in Durban, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

All Blacks' Quinn Tupaea, right, breaks away from Sharks' Jurenzo Julius during a friendly rugby match between Sharks and All Blacks, in Durban, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

WEST KELOWNA, British Columbia (AP) — A deadly wildfire in Western Canada that's forced some 20,000 people to flee grew overnight even without strong winds, challenging efforts to contain it and fully assess the damage, authorities said Tuesday.

About 100 firefighters from Mexico were on the way to help fight the blaze that's destroyed homes and other properties near Okanagan Lake in British Columbia. The fire has killed an 80-year-old woman and burned toward Summerland, a community of about 12,000 people roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Vancouver.

The fire showed “quite significant growth” in some areas overnight even without strong winds, said Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for the British Columbia Wildfire Service. He added crews were working around the clock to establish control lines and make it safe for evacuated residents to return home.

“We recognized and we heard even last night that people obviously would like to go home. They would like to see the extent of the damage,” Chapman said.

Kevin Dunbar, British Columbia’s executive director for emergency response and recovery operations, called it one of the largest evacuations in recent British Columbia history.

British Columbia officials said they had secured 1,600 hotel rooms and 1,000 group-lodging spaces for evacuees in Okanagan after some residents faced delays getting emergency assistance during the weekend evacuation.

Beyond those already forced to flee, another 10,000 people have been told to be ready to leave on short notice. More than 100 wildfires were burning across the province, and officials warned that dry lightning could spark new fires in the Central Interior and Okanagan. The province also asked the federal government for help expanding lodging for evacuees.

RCMP are investigating whether criminal activity played a role in the fire. Chapman said about 4% of wildfires in British Columbia over the past decade were suspected of having been deliberately set, but officials have not said the Bald Range fire was intentionally started.

Lucille and Gordon Beach of Summerland were in Vancouver for the weekend wedding of a granddaughter when they heard the fire had started. “We didn't feel too celebratory,” Lucille Beach said Tuesday.

The couple, staying for now in West Kelowna with their dog, haven't seen their home since leaving Friday but believed it was OK. It took a few days to adjust to the reality of what was happening, Lucille Beach said.

Carmen Bodzasy evacuated from Summerland, where she and her husband moved recently. She had to navigate evacuating on unfamiliar roads while he was away for work.

Before leaving, “I cried my eyes out for a minute, and I thought, you know what, if I had to restart over, what would I take with me?” She took photos of her parents' wedding, of her children's families and of her and her husband. “I thought if I didn’t have walls to go home to, at least I have memories to put up on my new one,” she said.

Holding her small dog Tuesday, she was not sure of the status of their home but said whatever happens, she intends to stay in Summerland, a place where people wave at passing motorists and stop to ask how you're doing.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help that town rebuild because everybody’s so kind there,” she said.

In the U.S., firefighters in California on Tuesday were fighting a blaze that’s burned roughly 3 square miles (8 square kilometers) in the Big Sur region of the state’s rugged central coast. Area state parks have closed and evacuation orders have been issued, including for a roughly 7-mile (11-kilometer) stretch of Highway 1, the state’s iconic coastal route. The highway was open as of Tuesday morning, California Highway Patrol spokesperson Ryan Moore said.

The Timber Fire has held east of the highway, authorities said.

Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Claire Rush contributed from Portland, Oregon.

A firefighter cuts brush to stop the Timber Fire from burning above Deetjen's Inn in Big Sur, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

People float on the Channel Pathway that connects Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake as smoke from wildfires burning in the region fills the air, in Penticton, British Columbia, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

People float on the Channel Pathway that connects Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake as smoke from wildfires burning in the region fills the air, in Penticton, British Columbia, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Bald Range wildfire, that has forced people out of their homes in the south Okanagan region, burns in Summerland, B.C., late Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Bald Range wildfire, that has forced people out of their homes in the south Okanagan region, burns in Summerland, B.C., late Saturday, Aug.8, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)