All Blacks down defiant Italy
14 Nov 2009
Luke McAlister kicked five penalties as New Zealand held on for a 20-6 victory over Italy in Milan.
In what was hardly a vintage All Blacks performance the visitors were forced to work very hard for victory over a gutsy Italian side that were outstanding on defence and at scrum time.
The pride with which the Italian players and fans alike sang their anthem, Il Canto degli Italiani, would have given the Kiwis an early indication that the Azzurri were up for a fight.
Predictably, the All Blacks looked the more threatening of the two teams with ball in hand, but at scrum time it was a different story as a formidable Italian pack piled pressure on the inexperienced All Blacks front row.
Martin Castrogiovanni, who destroyed the midweek Springboks’ front row for his club Leicester last week, once again showcased his incredible scrummaging prowess by forcing Wyatt Crockett to drop his bind in the first scrum of the game and Craig Gower nailed the resulting penalty to give the hosts the lead after just five minutes.
The Italians were playing with a great deal of passion and commitment, but their enthusiasm was getting the better of them and persistent infringements at the breakdown gave McAlister plenty of opportunities to kick his team into the lead, which he gladly accepted.
New Zealand showed a real willingness to spread it wide whenever the opportunity presented itself despite, the lack of width offered by the San Siro pitch.
The Italians’ defence was exemplary in the opening stages of the game but it was only a matter of time before the All Blacks were able to break them down, and in the end it was hooker Corey Flynn who went over in the corner after some patient build up play. McAlister missed the conversion but slotted yet another penalty to give his team a 14-3 half-time lead.
With just a couple of minutes gone in the second stanza, Nick Mallett’s men were dealt a blow when Gonzalo Garcia was sent to the bin for a dangerous challenge. However, while the resultant penalty was successful, the All Blacks failed to take advantage of their extra man as Italy stood firm even with a numerical disadvantage.
But while the Italians were doing a good a job at keeping the score line respectable, they offered little on attack and the result was never in doubt for the Kiwis.
In the final quarter of the game the All Blacks turned to the bench, bringing on the likes of John Afoa, Jimmy Cowan and Stephen Donald as they looked to finally open up the stubborn defence, but the changes failed to have the desired affect.
McAlister nailed his fifth penalty of the game with less than 10 minutes to play and from the restart the Italians put together their longest period of sustained pressure on the All Blacks defence.
But the Azzurri’s deficiencies on attack ultimately meant they were unable to find an opening and the All Blacks hung on for victory.
By Andrew Worling
93 Comments
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14 Nov 2009, 18:25 pm
#50 WakaNathan: Big Canoe. Well spoken.
I think the AB France game will be a cracker, and I have to say that I would take France to win. Other than kicking I saw few glaring weaknesses in any position.
On the other game, I think Ireland will beat us too.
And yes I was unpatriotic and predicted we would lose last night.
The B&IL showed how to beat us. Job one is pick very big, very fast, very straight runners in all positions. Job 2 is match us blow for blow. Job 3 is win the collisions.
We are extremely poor at protecting the pill, and as the intensity increases we see more and more lost turnovers.
Our scrum is rubbish, and all rationale against that position is pure obfuscation.
14 Nov 2009, 18:27 pm
Oh yes. Congratulations Kiwis for qualifying for soccer WC. And beating Italy.
14 Nov 2009, 18:28 pm
Lucky win for the Kiwi’s
14 Nov 2009, 18:30 pm
Wish we could play this French side next year at their home for 3 tests. Or Ireland. I miss the old tours. Fixtures have become too predictable
14 Nov 2009, 18:33 pm
Ordinary win from the dirt trackers but credit due to Azzuri who played their typical forward dominated game. Dickenson’s ruling of offside was pathetic and both sides ended up camped in the other’s backline. Were he to police that more effectively the score would have blown out for the trackers to be sure – they showed far more enterprise than Italy.
Highlight of the night has to be the All Whites fantastic to be in SA next year god bless old Charlie Dempsey eh isn’t that fantastic he abstained in the 2006 vote else the kiwis would be going somewhere else rather than beautiful South Africa.
14 Nov 2009, 18:42 pm
#52 SodaJoe:
At least we won’t be the worst team now.
14 Nov 2009, 18:42 pm
Any news on Springbok injuries? I’m worried about this Marco scrumming guru!
14 Nov 2009, 18:44 pm
The last 8 minutes of this test match were an absolute joke and was a terrible terrible advertisement for rugby as a whole. Please can someone explain to me how 10% of a rugby game yes 10% (8min) can be played re-setting 1 scrum!
Something needs to be done about the scrums end of story!
The ref has got to grow some b*lls too and make a decision, pathetic weekend of rugby. Lets hope the Aus/Ireland game tomorrow its a better specticle
14 Nov 2009, 18:52 pm
Well this has confirmed my statement that AB rugby is in decline. I doubt wether they will get it right prior to 2011 !!
An AB 2nd side a few years ago would never have struggled against an Italian side. (well done Mallet for making the spaghetti boys competitve)
The AB’s scrum was as embarasing if not worse than the Boks, their backs a fumbling mess. They have no classy scrum half in their squad and no back up to Carter.
If not for Dickinson , the game would have been a lot closer, if I were New Zealander I would be very , very concerned, almost as concerned as I am as a SAffa. !!
14 Nov 2009, 18:53 pm
The last 8 minutes of this test match were an absolute joke and was a terrible terrible advertisement for rugby as a whole. Please can someone explain to me how 10% of a rugby game yes 10% (8min) can be played re-setting 1 scrum!
Something needs to be done about the scrums end of story!
The ref was so so weak, pathetic weekend of rugby. Lets hope the Aus/Ireland game tomorrow its a better specticle
14 Nov 2009, 18:53 pm
#56 Die_Valk: Boet I would not be overconfident. I have watched Bafana Bafana. I suspect the French rugby team might beat them at soccer.
14 Nov 2009, 18:56 pm
#58 justrugby: Bud just my observation, but perhaps SH rugby peaked in 2007 and we see a changing of the guard? Certainly France look excellent. Let’s see what happens with Ireland.
NZ conditions will be closer to NH than SA.
14 Nov 2009, 19:02 pm
#60 SodaJoe:
Yip, we must box clever when picking that WC squad, get it wrong and we on a plane early !!!
S14, 3N’s , CC just too much, I’d like to see the S14 and 3n’s dissapear in WC year!!
14 Nov 2009, 19:16 pm
Rugby has changed…
The IRB should take note of this week / months matches & see what they can do. Every game I have seen has been a dour arm wrestle with the aim just to smash people to pieces! Whatever happened to running rugby, skill & flair?
Teams like Italy & Argentina are becoming more competitive due to their players playing in professional leagues, but there is no sign of them becoming good teams who can win games against teams who can play proper rugby – able to score tries.
It is great for a side like Italy to be overjoyed at dominating the scrum, they are happy to win a battle, but lose the war, that is not doing the game any good.
14 Nov 2009, 21:18 pm
#62 The Bill:
At the moment they just trying to keep the score as low as possible. Remember the high fives in the Italian box when they lost against NZ earlier this year? In a couple of years time they’ll start to believe that they can actually beat the likes of SA, AB’s, Aus, Eng and France. Then it’s all on.
Good for rugby in general it will be.
14 Nov 2009, 21:30 pm
Well, the AB second team might have “won ugly” but they won. Against a test team. And they’re unbeaten on their EOYT. They might be taking some of those famous positives away from this game. Positives taken from an actual win are twice as potent as the near-placebo positives taken from a defeat.
14 Nov 2009, 21:39 pm
What’s up with this advertising ****?
14 Nov 2009, 21:41 pm
#64 TheTackler:
You’re right.
14 Nov 2009, 22:01 pm
For the moment rugby union takes a back seat in NZ. The BIG news is that yesterday the New Zealand All Whites qualified for the Football World Cup.
So currently:
- NZ All Blacks #2 ranked rugby union side.
- NZ Kiwis current Rugby League World Champions
- NZ All Whites have qualified for Football (soccer) world cup.
Can any other nation match this prowess in the football codes?
14 Nov 2009, 22:09 pm
I revise my above post. The All Blacks have now overtaken the Springboks in the IRB rankings to claim top spot.
So currently:
- NZ All Blacks #1 ranked rugby union side.
- NZ Kiwis current Rugby League World Champions
- NZ All Whites have qualified for Football (soccer) world cup.
Can any other nation match this prowess in the football codes?
14 Nov 2009, 22:18 pm
#67 Delek:
Currently:
Boks #1 ranked rugby union side in the world;
Boks current rugby union world champions;
Bafana Bafana play in FIFA Soccer World Cup as host team.
(smilie)
14 Nov 2009, 22:21 pm
Hey Nama ABs are now #1 in the rankings.
14 Nov 2009, 22:21 pm
#68 Delek:
Well,lets see:
SA is the current rugby world champions
SA is the current IRB sevens world series champions
SA (Bulls) is the current super 14 champions
SA is hosting the soccer wc next year and the last time they played NZ (confederations cup, 2 months ago) they won easily 2-0
Yeah, I think SA more than just match NZ in the football codes.
14 Nov 2009, 22:22 pm
#69 nama1:
Sorry, I sort of duplicate you but it is the idea that counts
14 Nov 2009, 22:29 pm
#70 Delek:
Yeah, I forgot that they’ll reclaim their position after winning Italy tonight.
Not to worry about the duplication. As you say, it’s the idea that counts.
The ranking thing? What’s going to happen if SA win their next two matches and the AB’s, say lose one.
14 Nov 2009, 22:37 pm
#73 nama1:
Second part of that comment was aimed at Robzim.(72)
14 Nov 2009, 22:50 pm
#56 Die_Valk:
on what basis could you possibly know……which teams did your team have to beat to get there ?
14 Nov 2009, 22:52 pm
#58 justrugby:
Pleased you enjoyed the win.
Victory becomes a habit. So can losing.
15 Nov 2009, 01:52 am
What the hell is Stu Dickinsons problem? What an ANZAC cheat. How can he give a scrum to the All Blacks when the Italians were going forward? How can he say “Use it” when the rolling maul was going forward? How can he blow (his whistle) for obstruction when only for a split second the All Blacks were off the rolling maul? How many times did he allow the All Blacks to dive over and come in from the side of the ruck? I watched the Arg v Eng game at the same time and you’d think the rules were different at ruck time.
Why was it not a penalty try at the end? How many penalties were there right on the AB try line, 20 in 5 minutes?
Stu Dickinson, you are a disease to the game of rugby, the sooner you retire or vanish the better.
15 Nov 2009, 03:30 am
Firstly, well done to the all whites. Not sure the SA govt will let them in with that name though. Nice to think all trinations sides playing in the soccer world cup as well.
No surprises either that the SH teams are struggling on these tours. For these guys it’s the tenth month of top level rugby. It is only going to get worse with a longer super comp.
15 Nov 2009, 04:10 am
Martin Castrogiovanni again show his power. totally destroying this patheticc excuse of an AB front row.
15 Nov 2009, 04:18 am
#77 Kobus Kitty:
totatly agree my friend.
it frustrate me to hear hims ay “use it” when Italians were still moving forward. The game with many rules is tooo complicated IMo.
15 Nov 2009, 04:32 am
#80 greatest13gerber:
Ummm,if they stop for a second he would say use it.A little fast but the rules if he says use it,then use it.Simple really.Like when the ref call a ruck and hands off,you really should get your hands off the ball.
Its good to see that not only do you call a ref a cheat when you guys lose but you also call the ref a cheat when the ABs win,go figure.
15 Nov 2009, 04:34 am
#79 greatest13gerber:
Yep he played good against our B side front row,and hats of to him. But i think our guys are looking a bit fatigued,or is the fatigue rule applys to SA only?
15 Nov 2009, 04:50 am
#82 Hurricane:
fatiguee is mandatory excuse for a bad performancee my friend.
Used by anyside after a hiding or manhandle at scrumtimee. let alone a lost.
Crockett was well screwwed. theree is lack of depth in Abs at looseheadd. MacIntosh, Crockett. Ben Frankss nott up to testtt standardd.
the Englishh and especially frenchh will back themselvess to win the scrum battle. frogs looking veryy dangerous.
15 Nov 2009, 05:04 am
#51 SodaJoe:
veryy good comment. Our scrum is ideed kak. I too back the frogs to beat the chokerss. BUt then again, teh frogs are veryy unpredictable. But I expect them to win the forwardd battle.
15 Nov 2009, 05:40 am
Well done Dicko for another one sided ANZAC refeering. How long can Paddy defending his gambling mate Dicko for inconsistant mediocre refereeing. What a shame as the Italians played with great passion and should have been closer. The swinging arm tackle should have been a yellow and have seen worse spear tackles get missed by Dicko.
Its great to see the Northern Hemisphere passion so lacking in the trinations.
Its clear that the Boks should dump SAZAR and go north.
15 Nov 2009, 05:49 am
#81 Hurricane:
Why do you pretend to be a New Zealander? Pretty obvious you come from the Cape.
You’d have to be blind as a bat to not see how Dickinson was cheating for his ANZACS. 72 minutes to 80 minutes of penalized scrums, why no penalty try? How close is this old vermin from retirement? To think that he wins “Australia’s best ref” award every year…. disgusting.
15 Nov 2009, 06:32 am
I watched this game yesterday…..and have to say that since 1976 i , when i started my love affair with rugby….i have never seen a kiwi scrum take such a pounding…never. It was / is as bad as the Bok team currently. Mallet has said post game that tyhe SH needs to take this facet of the game more seriously….like they do in the NH….
Now i know it was a kiwi 2 nd string…..but i felt the result flattered the Kiwis …that kissing cousin **** kept them in the game. The last 5 minutes will go down as some of the most poor officiating i have witnessed….and my word the kiwis were really caned….
I guess this is a massive wake up call for kiwis and Boks….just hope we prepared to take heed…or see the WC 2011 head back to the NH….
At this moment France, a full strength Eng and even sides like Italy,Wales and Ireland will fancy the chances of a couple of big scalps…..
and those Argies too….
15 Nov 2009, 07:27 am
Are any of you guys ever happy??
What a negative bunch.
Look Italy took us apart in the scrums but to say they would have pushed us over for a try is a bit harsh,so no penalty try. Italy escaped alot of the times for slowing the ball down and hands in rucks and offsides a mile,even at points where they were on their line and no sign of a yellow card was there?
I am not happy with the way we played and did very well in the last 6 minutes to hold out a very good scrumming unit of Italy,but unlike you i am not going to sit there and say we won cos of a ref that cheated us to victory.
I think you guys should concentrate on finding someone that can sing your Anthem instead of blaming a ref that wasnt even reffing your game
Kia Kaha my friends
15 Nov 2009, 07:30 am
#86 Kobus Kitty:
I am a Kiwi,i havnt once complained about the Weather,Fatigue,Refs,National Anthems at all this week,so therefore its pretty obvious i am not South African
15 Nov 2009, 07:39 am
Hey, winners are grinners.
It might even be in the Quran AND the Bible and the Talmud AND the Bhagavad Gita and all the other stuff.
If it isn’t, it ought to be.
15 Nov 2009, 13:06 pm
#85 KevinRack: Haha Kevin, I’m going to get you a referee’s whistle and a yellow and a red card for christmas.
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