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.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 49-3 Italy (Ardie Savea try, 45 minutes)
That’ll please the All Blacks rather more - a magnificent seven-try first half!
Codie Taylor finds Shannon Frizell at the tail, and from there, it’s inevitable. The maul makes four of the required five metres and, when it grinds to a halt, Ardie Savea the remaining one.
New Zealand 42-3 Italy, 43 minutes
Italy infringe again. Lorenzo Cannone is off his feet before jackaling. New Zealand seem to have plenty of routes to a score regardless, though Richie Mo’unga picks the wrong one, Codie Taylor trying gamely to get to a cross kick but ending up belly flopping about a yard shy of the bouncing ball. Not one the hooker will want to see on the Monday morning review.
New Zealand 42-3 Italy, 41 minutes
The All Blacks play with advantage and a delicious flick out the back from Jordie Barrett finds Richie Mo’unga, but the fly half can’t quite clutch it. Back for the penalty. Mo’unga prods it into the left corner.
New Zealand 42-3 Italy, 40 minutes
It’s just relentless from New Zealand. Italy are trying to play wide but such a strategy leaves them short of breakdown numbers. Uruguay’s Manuel Ardao feasted last week and you can almost see the All Blacks licking their lips, Jordie Barrett and Savea again to the fore to win a penalty out of Ange Capuozzo. One more before half-time?
New Zealand 42-3 Italy, 39 minutes
Cr-runch! Nepo Laulala and Brodie Retallick combine to crumple Dino Lamb as he carries in midfield. Ardie Savea soon snares breakdown ball and Will Jordan’s chip ahead has three All Blacks after it, but Retallick is deemed illegal as he contests at the ruck and Italy are reprieved.
New Zealand 42-3 Italy, 38 minutes
A peep of the whistle at scrum-time from Matthew Carley gives Italy a free kick, which is punted long to Mark Telea. Telea tosses to Beauden Barrett, who produces a good touchfinder from the safe embrace of his own 22.
New Zealand 42-3 Italy, 37 minutes
Italy coach Kieran Crowley shares an almost perverse chuckle with the rest of his coaching box. What can you say? Italy arrived tonight with genuine optimism but they’ve ceded eight metres per carry and the All Blacks have cut them completely to pieces.
Crowley’s clarity in his team talk against Uruguay was said afterwards to have been key to instigating a turnaround - you fear there might just be slightly too much to do tonight.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 42-3 Italy (Aaron Smith try, 34 minutes)
A hat-trick for Aaron Smith!
This has just been glorious from the All Blacks. It’s a beautifully conceived score, Jordie Barrett roaming out the back and assessing when best to insert himself, popping up on Richie Mo’unga’s shoulder as the fly half attacks the line. Barrett sashays into space and draws the last defender to give Smith a run-in under the posts to complete a triplet of tries - 122 All Black caps and counting and that’s his first hat-trick.
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