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 7-3 Italy, 14 minutes
New Zealand win the kicking battle, turning Italy and asking them to play from deep. Italy oblige and run into the All Blacks trap, hands on the ball at the breakdown with Garbisi isolated and Jordie Barrett locked on. Penalty, and up the right New Zealand advance.
New Zealand 7-3 Italy, 13 minutes
New Zealand’s lineout drill is efficient and they punt long. Monty Ioane swallows it up and sets off on a charge, though the All Blacks have him well handled. Mark Telea is a little bit narrow defensively on the left and Paolo Garbisi spots it, but can’t get the execution right to put Ange Capuozzo into the space apparent, the crossfield kick sailing out on the full.
New Zealand 7-3 Italy, 12 minutes
Delightful from Stephen Varney. The young Gloucester nine has come into his own in recent weeks, and shows intelligence to kick quick ball into space before a lack of carriers stalls his side. The Italy scrum half pivots back on to his left boot and produces a lovely angled box kick into the corner.
New Zealand 7-3 Italy, 11 minutes
That’s not ideal from Beauden Barrett, floating his restart a little too far as he aims for the chasing Will Jordan on the right. Italy’s scrum on halfway.
PENALTY! New Zealand 7-3 ITALY (Tommaso Allan penalty, 10 minutes)
And Tommaso Allan, who hasn’t missed a kick all tournament, collects a simple three points from a central position 40 metres out.
New Zealand 7-0 Italy, 9 minutes
That’s a good response from Italy, a crunching midfield collision drawing a penalty.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 7-0 Italy (Will Jordan try, 7 minutes)
Cross-kick, catch, score! The try machine has another!
Clinical from the All Blacks. This is the problem that having three playmakers causes, Italy focussing in on Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett and gifting Jordie Barrett space and time. Dalton Papali’i flicks it back to him and the youngest Barrett brother lifts the sort of pitching wedge Jon Rahm might be proud of out to the right wing, where Will Jordan grabs, gathers and gallops to the corner for the score. A leap and a lunge and test try number 24 is his - with J. Barrett adding an excellent touchline conversion.
New Zealand 0-0 Italy, 5 minutes
New Zealand work something clever down the right but an extended arm from Juan Ignacio Brex denies a looping Richie Mo’unga. Deliberate? The officials seem content the knock on was just in the tackle for now.
The All Blacks spread it left, where Brodie Retallick thumps over the gainline. Italy then infringe - advantage coming...
New Zealand 0-0 Italy, 4 minutes
Federico Ruzza just about claws back the lineout to Stephen Varney, but the slight malfunction throws off the timing. The runner is ahead of Varney as he tosses a forward pass. An excellent chance for New Zealand, this, a scrum just right of centre, 15 metres out - after th obligatroy reset...
New Zealand 0-0 Italy, 2 minutes
But Italy are turned over on the All Blacks ten-metre, ending a promising attack. New Zealand immediately show their stuff, first Ardie Savea on the left and then Rieko Ioane on the right carrying strongly.
Italy’s defensive line spreads so Aaron Smith finds the spac, dropping a well directed box kick into the left corner, from where Giacomo Nicotera will throw.
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