LYON – It was four years ago that the All Blacks’ Pool C fixture against Italy in Japan was canned because of a typhoon. Four years later and it was Italy that got hit by an All Blacks hurricane.
Fast and ferocious, or “crisp and clinical”, as Rassie Erasmus Tweeted, the All Blacks almost racked up a half-century, as the three-time world champions turned a 49-3 lead into a statement delivering 96-17 victory in Lyon to all but seal their place in the quarter-finals. The victory came 24 years after New Zealand’s 101-3 victory over Italy in Huddersfield.
No wonder Matthew Carley and his fellow officials, as well as the Italians, took an age to return after half-time.
If there was a mercy rule, Carley may well have blown his whistle to call it over at half-time after a hat-trick to halfback Aaron Smith and brace of tries to his No.8 Ardie Savea sent the All Blacks on their way.
Will Jordan finished spectacularly to score the All Blacks’ first try against Italy at Parc Olympique on September 29, 2023 in Lyon. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It’s a good thing he didn’t because, even if Italy’s moment of joy to come was short-lived, the sight of seeing international rugby’s wonder kid Ange Capuozzo finish spectacularly in the minutes after half-time was something to behold.
Of course, after that, it was once again one-way traffic as Scott Barrett’s charge down moments later led to an immediate hit back from his second-row partner Brodie Retallick scoring out wide.
While many had hoped Italy would challenge the southern hemisphere giants, they were the latest international side to be on the end of an All Blacks first-half blitz.
As Argentina and South Africa experienced in early July, no side can keep up with the All Blacks when they’re in the type of mood they were on Friday evening.
The All Blacks scored three tries inside the opening 20 minutes and five after 35 minutes to blow Italy away.
The accuracy of Codie Taylor’s throw, the force of Nepo Laulala, brute muscle of Shannon Frizell and power of Savea was the difference between the two sides and allowed the All Blacks’ decision makers to pull the strings.
Jordie Barrett, who missed the All Blacks’ opening World Cup defeat to France in Paris with a knee-injury, was instrumental to their blistering pace and start.
Aaron Smith scored a first-half hat-trick against Italy in lyon. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
After a free-flowing start where the opening passage of play lasted more than two minutes, the inside centre, whose family have a farm next to New Zealand-born Italy coach Kieran Crowley, delivered an inch-perfect cross-field kick from centre field to help send Will Jordan into score after six minutes.
Tommaso Allan narrowed the margin after a long-range penalty in the 10th minute, but it was the only piece of joy for Italy who simply couldn’t match the physicality of the All Blacks.
After some rugby smarts from Smith, the foxy halfback had his first try after he jumped on the back of his side’s rolling maul after 17 minutes.
Two tries quickly became three as Savea burst through from the kick restart and seconds later Mark Telea dived over. With Richie Mo’unga bringing his kicking boots, the All Blacks led 21-3.
The Italians were shellshocked and in disarray three minutes later as the All Blacks kicked for the corner and Savea ran straight through first phase from the lineout to score.
The first-half woes continued to mount up for Italy, as they were pinged for a not straight lineout.
A scrum penalty allowed Barrett’s cannon of a boot to find touch inside the 22 metre line and it wasn’t long before Smith had his second, as he jumped into first-receiver from a maul and scored.
Smith had his hat-trick after 34 minutes when he collected a lovely inside ball from Jordie Barrett, who had been put through a hold from a sublime delayed ball from Mo’unga.
Italy’s first half misery continued when Sevea broke away from a maul in stoppage time and scored.
While Italy scored the first and last points of the second half through Capuozzo and Monty Ioane, the All Blacks scored another seven tries in between to seal an emphatic 79-point victory.
In total there were nine different try-scorers for the All Blacks, with Dalton Papali’i, Dane Coles (2), Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown also scoring five-pointers. Will Jordan also completed a double.
The win meant it was a night to remember for lock Sam Whitelock, who overtook Richie McCaw to become the All Blacks’ most-capped player by taking the field in the second half for his 149th Test.
Brodie Retallick packed down alongside Sam Whitelock in the veteran lock’s record breaking match for the All Blacks at Parc Olympique on September 29, 2023 in Lyon. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Perhaps now Ian Foster will take the moment to celebrate his brilliant second-rower, having tipped his hat to the veteran forward on Friday but said winning the match took priority.
“We will do all our celebration of that achievement after this game. Right now what the team needs to achieve is bigger than the individual,” said Foster, whose side all but qualified for the quarter-finals ahead of next week’s final Pool A clash against Uruguay.
While the All Blacks will appreciate the moment for what it is, they will recognise sterner tests lay ahead.
Indeed, unless Ireland stumble against Scotland in a week’s time in Paris and France slip over against Italy in Lyon, they will meet Andy Farrell’s men at the Stade de France in a blockbuster quarter-final.
Foster’s poignant message ahead of their clash against Italy will also be an important reminder going ahead.
“History means nothing,” Foster said on Friday. “History is yesterday’s newspaper, isn’t it, not tomorrow’s.”
Pieter
Roar Rookie
Re Foster's comments about the type of game he'd like to watch and Rassie's reply: That's why I enjoy watching France as well as Ireland the past 2 years. Their style lies somewhere in between NZ at full flight (albeit against lesser opposition) and SA's grind out style at times.
CUW
Roar Rookie
not as meaningless as unknown stats :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Fox
Roar Guru
You are a bit of an emoji fanatic CUW to the point where it becomes meaningless
Fox
Roar Guru
"This is test rugby, not SR, and the refs are their to police time wasting." Yes but most don't do a very good job under the new time wasting rules except for one French referee and one Australian referee. The rest are weak at policing time wasting. When teams realize this they just do everything they can to slow down the game against the AB's as they know they are difficvult to stop if they are allowed to play the game at their pace. Every team knows this in the North and that is why they try to get away with it and too often do. Weak refereeing most of the time.
Fox
Roar Guru
As you would know CUW - or perhaps not Blackadder can play all three backrow positions so you last coment does not help your argument.
1eye
Roar Rookie
Most of the ABs points came off the back of italian mistakes or enforced pressure...Points against is more pertinent in a world cup particularly this one with a focus on Defence...If Italy can score two tries what will Ireland south Africa and France do...what theve already done?
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yep true Fox they are. But I’ve always wondered why ‘ firsts Foster ‘ has never really exploited WJ known his overall talents, to their full extent, in the position many know how good he is at. Even this season BB hasn’t performed at his best at fullback, even with the Blues!
Locke
Roar Rookie
True but it also emphasises how complete a team Ireland have become. They were playing on a battlefield not of their choosing but still managed to win.
Locke
Roar Rookie
I think we’re looking for different things. In isolation that was a very good game from the ABs, I’d give it a 8/10. But when you take it context, consider what has preceded it and what is coming up, then there’s been no evolution in strategy that will make Ireland, France or the Boks nervous. Nick Bishop has written a great analysis that points out that the ABs are still using the same game plan from a decade ago, a game plan that has been well and truly deciphered by the top teams.
CheetahBok
Roar Rookie
Yes Marx is a beast! Fine player, and we have indeed lost alot in terms of how we play! It is what it is, and we have to improvise. In Rassie and Nienaber we have very innovative coaches though. Strongs ???????? for the QF’s
CUW
Roar Rookie
SB at 6 experiment went out of the window last world cup - so much so he almost became the scapegoat for England hammering poor guy. as for Akira - how many games has he played well at 6 for all blacks ? forget blues n auckland - the real deal !!! the issue with ab 3rd row is that it is so unbalanced compared to rest of the top teams - its difficult to rescue a game. ardie is too small at 8 - he shud play 7 like Kwagga. other than Frizzell no big 6 who can be a lineout threat just standin there. cane seems out of touch and papalii is not a great 7 of the poaching kind. just wait n see what Robertson does to the selections. BTW last few matches for crusaders before injuries Blackadder was at 7 keeping Christie on the bench !!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
this is why the minnows suffer - coz they are naive and play honest rugger - no faking injuries every time their balls itch !!! Georgia - kept tackling like crazy ( i guess they are !! ) , Italy never went down despite repeated blows , Romania were down to 12 and yet kept on running back at Scots!!! compare that with Saffa Irish match - there were more treatments than scrums n lineouts !!!!
CUW
Roar Rookie
so the TV stats were wrong !! :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:
Fox
Roar Guru
Yes CUW – on that we agree
Fox
Roar Guru
Muzzo BB and Mounga are going overseas after the WC are they not so pretty obvious WJ will go to fullback.
Fox
Roar Guru
That is very true Paulo but if its the AB's a lot of people who have written them off and whether they like it or not, will have to eat some serious crow.
Fox
Roar Guru
It’s is great plan Paulo as it plays to each players strengths. Jordie has a massive boot on him so nearly always takes the long kicks when needed including on goal. BB has always been a very good restart kicker despite the one he kicked out on the full. And clearly they have had DMac and Mounga just consentrate on goal kicking – clever if you ask me. Relieves pressure off the 10 to become a specialist goal kicker and not have to worry about the others except tactical obviously but BB and JB chip in there as well. I like it and the way Mounga and DMac were kicking it is clearly working.
Fox
Roar Guru
Same as you Cheetahbok - we lost! Oh and to use your argument it was a pool match! However I do agree it was a good match to lose...I think the Bok game plan could hurt France who will be under enomous pressure at the knockout stages in France and especilly now you have your best 10 back. Marx was big loss though.
Fox
Roar Guru
Gee Locke I guess this year when they beat the Boks in RC the Boks thought yep well they are flat track bullies and of course we are nobodies in world rugby eh?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah Burey looks ok. Looks like the force might have q spare 10 or two.