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 63-10 Italy, 58 minutes
All Blacks captain Sam Cane is going to get 20 minutes or so, on in the back row for Papali’i as he steps up his recovery from injury. Dane Coles, a returning Tyrel Lomax and Tamaiti Williams have joined affairs, too.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 63-10 Italy (Dalton Papali’i try, 57 minutes)
No doubt about this one!
The shaky set-piece costs Italy again. Codie Taylor is quickest to react to Faiva’s over-eager lineout toss, passing on to Mark Telea. Telea brushes off a tackler and offloads to Dalton Papali’i, who rather niftily clings on with the ball at his hamstring, the flanker making sure he’s got a firm grasp of the ball as he keeps the legs churning through Ange Capuozzo’s attempted tackle.
No try! New Zealand 56-10 Italy, 55 minutes
No try! A double movement from Roigard, first rolling and then placing, with referee Matthew Carley not satisified that the first tumble was solely down to momentum, as Ardie Savea tries to argue. Italy’s penalty - though Hame Faiva overthrows the lineout...
New Zealand 56-10 Italy, 55 minutes
Beauden Barrett kicks for Mark Telea, who is denied by a leaping Ange Capuozzo, cutting off the crosskick. Capuozzo tries to run out of danger and is then hit from behind by a chasing Telea as he tries to clear, sending the ball spilling free.
Cam Roigard picks up the pieces - has the scrum half got to the line? Or is he just short?
New Zealand 56-10 Italy, 53 minutes
Changes all over the place. Cam Roigard is on for Aaron Smith, who will not add to his hat-trick, and Hame Faiva, a Hurricans teammate of Roigard’s last season, has replaced Giacomo Nicotera at hooker for Italy.
Manuel Zuliani is on to the flank for Sebasitan Negri, too.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 56-10 Italy (Brodie Retallick try, 51 minutes)
And Whitelock immediately has a try from his long-time second row partner to celebrate!
It’s a lock party! Martin Page-Relo, on at scrum half for Italy, takes an age over a clearance as Scott Barrett and Whitelock approach with limbs aloft, forming a mighty twin-turreted tower which he is unable to clear. Barrett charges the kick down, Whitelock resources the ruck, and Brodie Retallick shunts his way over from short range.
New Zealand 49-10 Italy, 49 minutes
History for New Zealand, with Sam Whitelock on for cap number 149 - he surpasses Richie McCaw as the most capped All Black of all time.
TRY! New Zealand 49-10 ITALY (Ange Capuozzo try, 48 minutes)
But the backs do the job!
Italy have life! New Zealand completely stall the maul, so the Azzurri have to play wide. The All Blacks number up well but Rieko Ioane unwisely goes high on namesake Monty, who fends him away.
Wing Ioane finds full back Tommaso Allan, who sucks in the edge defender and sends Ange Capuozzo scampering into the corner. Allan converts.
New Zealand 49-3 Italy, 47 minutes
He can! Niccolo Cannone at the front. The maul’s going nowheer, though...
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