New Zealand vs Italy LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction as ruthless All Blacks score 14 tries in rout
New Zealand 96-17 Italy: All Blacks turn on the style to hammer Italy and all but confirm place in World Cup quarter-finals
New Zealand ran in 14 tries to destroy Italy 96-17 for a bonus-point victory in Pool A and take a decisive step towards the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup on Friday.
The All Blacks, with lock Sam Whitelock celebrating a record 149th cap, showed no mercy at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium as Will Jordan (2), Aaron Smith (3), Mark Telea, Ardie Savea (2), Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali’i, Dane Coles (2), Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown scored tries -- all but one converted by Richie Mo’unga (9) or McKenzie (4).
Italy’s hopes of an upset quickly went up in smoke and they only got on the scoreboard thanks to second-half tries by Ange Capuozzo and Montanna Ioane as well as points from the tee by Tommaso Allan and Paolo Garbisi.
The result put New Zealand in second place with 10 points, ahead of the Azzurri on points difference and three points behind group leaders France, who will take on Italy next Friday, one day after the All Blacks face Uruguay.
Follow all the latest from the Pool A match below. Get all the Rugby World Cup odds here, plus the latest tips and free bets on the World Cup here.
New Zealand 89-10 Italy, 75 minutes
It was 101-3 when these two met in Huddersfield during the 1999 World Cup, by the way.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 89-10 Italy (Dane Coles try, 74 minutes)
And then it is simply inevitable!
Beauden Barrett does not believe it worth bothering with the rigamarole of a scrum set-up, tapping and going with space evident on the right. Will Jordan ignores it as he goes in search of a hat-trick score; Rieko Ioane does not a phase later, popping out of the tackle for Dane Coles.
Damian McKenzie converts.
New Zealand 82-10 Italy, 72 minutes
A chip from Beauden Barrett has Anton Lienert-Brown in pursuit but the bounce of the ball is friendlier to Italy this time, with Monty Ioane gathering.
The All Blacks cut Italy open soon enough, though, McKenzie scurrying away. Italy are pinged five metres from their own line...
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 82-10 Italy (Will Jordan try, 70 minutes)
Will Jordan helps himself to a second helping from the buffet!
Italy spill near halfway on the left, and Jordan is swiftest to the loose ball. His chip ahead appears set to be smothered but Paolo Garbisi gets a horrible bounce, left stranded as the ball floats over his head.
Ardie Savea rises to collect, and though Garbisi fells him, Jordan is all alone in support. The All Blacks are into the 80s and accelerating again.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 75-10 Italy (Damian McKenzie try, 68 minutes)
Damian McKenzie forces his way over!
The All Blacks scrum opts for stability, allowing Cam Roigard to whip the ball away. Anton Lienert-Brown darts inwards and flips the ball up for Damian McKenzie darting outward, with Beauden Barrett an outside option holding Juan Ignacio Brex. That leaves McKenzie one-on-one with Paolo Garbisi, who can’t cling on to the dynamic replacement. McKenzie converts his own score.
New Zealand 68-10 Italy, 66 minutes
Another win against the head for the replacement All Blacks scrum row, with Tamaiti (pronounced Ta-mighty) Williams living up to that billing by pushing Simone Ferrari back all of seven yards. New Zealand opt for the scrum option with the penalty theirs.
New Zealand 68-10 Italy, 65 minutes
McKenzie is immediately instigating things in attack, unfurling a delectable pass out to Will Jordan and then working hard to collect his wing’s infield offload. Beauden Barrett is there in good support, too, to keep the ball alive.
McKenzie has hands on ball at first receiver once more as the All Blacks settle into shape, as does Sam Cane - but only briefly. The flanker takes his eyes off it and drops the ball cold.
New Zealand 68-10 Italy, 64 minutes
Martin Page-Relo searches for a runner and finds none. Mark Telea engulfs him, sucking the scrum half into a black hole of waiting teammates from which the ball will not emerge.
The All Blacks empty their bench. Damian McKenzie is on at fly half for Richie Mo’unga and Anton Lienert-Brown replaces Jordie Barrett, outstanding tonight, at 12.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 68-10 Italy (Dane Coles try, 61 minutes)
Ten!
The All Blacks have shown wonderful variation from the lineout tonight, reaching into their bag again for something funky at the front. Italy pour bodies in to batten down the hatches as the maul forms, but Sam Cane loops to the left and into space.
Martin Page-Relo probably has Cane covered but Paolo Odogwu is unaware, stepping in and leaving Dane Coles to trot down the tramlines untouched.
New Zealand 63-10 Italy, 60 minutes
And Tyrel Lomax properly, properly annihilates Ivan Nemer at scrum time. New Zealand return to Italy’s 22 as Paolo Odogwu replaces Tommaso Allan. Ange Capuozzo will go to full back and the former England squad member to the wing.
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