Scrum-half Aaron Smith scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand laid down an announcement of intent with a 96-17 blitzing of a hapless Italy on the Rugby World Cup on Saturday (AEDT).
Captain Ardie Savea, wing Will Jordan and alternative hooker Dane Coles scored two every within the 14-try Pool A rout in Lyon as New Zealand, for whom Sam Whitelock earned a file 149th cap, stayed on track for a possible quarter-final in opposition to Ireland.
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Mark Telea, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali’i, Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown scored the opposite tries whereas Richie Mo’unga kicked 9 conversions and McKenzie one other 4.
“We have got talent across the board, we played some free rugby and that is how I want my boys to play. We put a lot into this week and we got the reward tonight,” stated Savea.
Outclassed Italy crossed the whitewash twice by way of wingers Ange Capuozzo and Monty Ioane however this was a one-way demolition job.
“It did not go our way, sometimes you have to focus on your basics and we did not perform in the scrums or line-outs,” stated Italy captain Michele Lamaro.
“It is a big lesson for us.”
It was New Zealand’s second largest win over Italy after a 101-3 pummelling within the 1999 World Cup.
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Having misplaced to France of their opening Pool A match, New Zealand have now racked up 25 tries and 167 factors in victories over Namibia and Italy, with Uruguay to come back subsequent week.
It was clear which approach the wind was blowing from all sides’s first passage of possession.
Italy crept ahead earlier than they have been turned over.
New Zealand wolfed up metres, pinned Italy again and took the lead after a chic crossfield kick from Jordie Barrett picked out Jordan to dive over acrobatically within the nook.
Italy full-back Tommaso Allan minimize the deficit with a penalty however any suspense was quickly crushed by a rampant All Blacks.
First, their pack drove over a maul from brief vary with Smith dotting down on the again after which they scored one of many tries of the match, going virtually the complete size of the sphere.
Savea broke the defensive position from a deft Retallick offload and though he was caught, New Zealand recycled the ball in opposition to a scrambling defence and Beauden Barrett popped it off to Telea to spin, step and twist previous 4 defenders to attain.
New Zealand have been ruthless and after kicking one other penalty to the nook a easy line-out transfer noticed Savea cost over in opposition to an impotent defence.
Just 22 minutes into the match and New Zealand already had the strive bonus whereas Italy have been shellshocked, punished for each mistake and each missed deal with.
Dominating up entrance and scintillating within the three-quarters, it was already trying like a New Zealand efficiency for the ages.
New Zealand had gained all 15 of the earlier Tests between the 2 groups and by a median rating of greater than 50 factors.
It was all too straightforward and so they virtually received that by half-time.
New Zealand kicked one other penalty to the nook and from the line-out catch-and-drive, Smith darted down the blindside to attain.
The stress was relentless and a perfectly-timed move from fly-half Mo’unga despatched Jordie Barrett by way of with Smith, as ever, on his shoulder to finish his hat-trick beneath the posts.
The All Blacks have been cruel, even enjoying on past the 40 minutes, kicking a sequence of penalties to the touch till Savea barged over for a seventh strive of an totally one-sided first half that ended 49-3.
Italy confirmed some satisfaction after the break and a nice transfer off a line-out noticed Capuozzo dive over into the nook.
But then the rout continued.
New Zealand replied immediately as Scott Barrett charged down a clearance and Retallick was available to burrow over.
From one in every of quite a few line-outs Italy misplaced, flanker Papali’i stormed over. New Zealand confirmed Italy the best way to safe a line-out, and despatched Coles down the blindside to attain.
Italy have been completely demoralised and New Zealand appeared to attain with each possession.
McKenzie got here on to repace Mo’unga and received himself on the scoreboard, with Jordan and Coles going over once more quickly earlier than Lienert-Brown rounded off the All Blacks scoring.
There was nonetheless time, nevertheless, for Monty Ioane to get his title on the scoresheet for a bruised and battered Italy.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
