The All Blacks continue to be a formidable challenge for a strong Italian side, defeating the Azzurri 11-29 at Allianz Stadium in front of over 40,000 fans.
Leading the haka for the last time was TJ Perenara, who will now move to Japan, alongside the returning former captain Sam Cane.
Italy started the match strongly, denying New Zealand quality possession and controlling territory, preventing the visitors from entering their half. Paolo Garbisi put Italy ahead with a penalty in the 12th minute.
Beauden Barrett quickly responded for New Zealand, levelling the score with a penalty from about 40 meters out. However, an unusual mistake from Scott Robertson’s team allowed Garbisi to regain the lead with another penalty, making it 6-3.
In the 19th minute, Italy had the opportunity to capitalise on a yellow card issued to captain Scott Barrett for an illegal cleanout on Danilo Fischetti. Yet it was the All Blacks who seized the moment, scoring their first try in the 24th minute through Cam Roigard. The scrum-half found the gap during New Zealand’s first real incursion into the Italian 22.
The match then became tactical, marked by rough tackles and several errors. New Zealand, demonstrating their clinical nature, scored their second try just before halftime, thanks to another break from Roigard and a subsequent pass to Will Jordan, who broke through the tackle of the returning Ange Capuozzo to dive over the line. With Barrett’s conversion, the teams went into the break with a score of 17-6.
The first dangerous play of the second half came five minutes in, with Mark Tele’a breaking through and finding support from Codie Taylor. The ball slipped forward, but Tele’a recovered it in an offside position.
Italy’s response came from the lively Capuozzo, who evaded defenders and linked up with Monty Ioane. A series of pick-and-go plays thrilled the crowd, resulting in ten phases and a New Zealand infringement that led to a warning for the captain. Italy opted to go for the corner again, forcing another penalty against the visitors, resulting in a yellow card for Anton Lienert-Brown.
Italy chose to throw in at the lineout four times in a row, but their chance to break through the opposition line slipped away with a turnover from a maul, reminiscent of the five-meter scrums at the end of the 2009 match at San Siro. By the hour mark, the score remained unchanged, with no points scored in the second half.In the 66th minute, Gonzalo Quesada’s team found themselves down a player due to a scrum infringement by Simone Ferrari, prompting the Allianz Stadium to rise in tribute to Sam Cane as he left the field.
As the match entered the final ten minutes, New Zealand pushed forward and found their third try through Mark Tele’a, who seemed to thrive under the stadium’s name, having scored a double in the opening round at Twickenham. Following a scrum and broken play, Barrett added the conversion.
It appeared to be the final score, with Italy showing courage and resilience in defence but unable to score. However, from a seemingly innocuous play, Nacho Brex and his teammates managed to score Italy’s only try. A kick to the wing found Tele’a, who failed to gather the ball cleanly due to a challenge from Tommaso Menoncello. The ball bounced loose, recovered by Marco Zanon, who set up Menoncello again. The Treviso centre, one of Italy’s standout players, sprinted down the right flank, igniting cheers from the crowd.In the closing moments, Barrett attempted a kick to the wing, looking for Tele’a but failing to connect. The ball went out for a lineout, quickly taken by Capuozzo, who passed to Menoncello. A skewed kick was recovered by Barrett, who faced no opposition and sealed the match with New Zealand’s fourth try, ending the game at 29-11.
Italy 11
Tries : Tommaso Menoncello (76′)
Penalties : Paolo Garbisi (11′)(16′)
New Zealand 29
Tries: Cameron Roigard (24′), Will Jordan (39′), Mark Tele’a (69′), Beauden Barrett (78′)
Conversions : Beauden Barrett (25′)(40′)(70′)
Penalties : Beauden Barrett (15′)