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, 15:09 pm
South Africans will rejoice that this very evening, the NZ Socer team defeated Bahrain 1 to 0. To qualify for the Soccer WC in SA.
Dragons we are not.
14 Nov 2009, 15:11 pm
this game is a no brainer might be fun to watch though
14 Nov 2009, 15:21 pm
#2 klippies101:
I think Italy are in with a real show.
The NZ Team are seriously lacking any “combinations”.
14 Nov 2009, 15:29 pm
#1 cane:
Fantastic stuff, with only a couple of dozen professional players and no real funding for the game in NZ a great result.
14 Nov 2009, 15:30 pm
#3 cane:
Being half-Italian I hope so. I mean no doubt Italy are on the up but you can’t seriously think they have a chance? But I am keen to see how they do as I don’t expect an all-out raping like last time
14 Nov 2009, 15:41 pm
well make em an offer they cant refuse
14 Nov 2009, 15:52 pm
Congrats to the All Whites on qualifying for the World Cup. Great game, great crowd
14 Nov 2009, 15:58 pm
justin.tv/paleles20
14 Nov 2009, 16:03 pm
does not work Aidoc
14 Nov 2009, 16:18 pm
I saw a bit then they shut me down, saying too many in China watching, and then asked for money.
The radiosport nz commentary is not good. Like listening to radio fifty years ago.
14 Nov 2009, 16:19 pm
I down loaded the French match have seen the first half. Good print.
14 Nov 2009, 16:24 pm
At this moment NZ is on the top of the IRB rankings but must win to stay there.
It is on BBC 1 so you can use the videolan player (VLC) to watch. Just download British TV.exe It won’t work here because the BBC is not popular with the firewall controllers, as they show too many inconvenient stories.
14 Nov 2009, 16:26 pm
I have lost all sound now. Trying the ARC but I think it is not working either. No good last week.
14 Nov 2009, 16:35 pm
TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
14 Nov 2009, 16:39 pm
What a fine rugby player Andy Ellis is
14 Nov 2009, 16:45 pm
#15 kaksioek:
Best in Europe today but for Oz and Scotland.
14 Nov 2009, 16:51 pm
All Blacks are getting monstered in the scrums, in spite of what the Kiwi commentators are saying.
14 Nov 2009, 16:52 pm
Halftime. Think England versus Pumas might be a bit more entertaining …
14 Nov 2009, 16:55 pm
#17 kaksioek:
Your scrums in big trouble then when you play the Italians after the French and the club side thumped you.
14 Nov 2009, 17:01 pm
#17 kaksioek:
what ****. Azzurri have had the push on in a couple of scrums, but ABs had the shove in the last scrums of the half. Id say it was even there, Castro that magnificent beast of a man is giving Davey Crockett a tough time tho. Tialumpa has improved immeasurably his last 3 Tests. Getting about the park too.
Delaney looks handy but AB backs arent in any rhythm yet but Dickenson is allowing ridiculous offsides on both sides, no space anywhere.
Will someone please REPLACE ELLIS immediately. He keeps getting caught with the ball and still hasnt eradicated that 1.5 steps before he passes. Hopeless.
That Aussie leaguie at 10 for Azzurri, Gower, makes Ellis look classy….
Italia forwards are a match for any team now, Castro & Parrise magnificant. If only they had decent backs and the refs enforced a clear offside line.
and someone PLEASE rid our glorious game of rugby, the Game they play in Heaven….someone….anyone…..pleeeeeeease stop this kick-tennis masquerade.
14 Nov 2009, 17:11 pm
#20 WakaNathan: Just got smashed again. Two in a row. Were you watching?
14 Nov 2009, 17:11 pm
Ummmm we are getting monstered in the scrums
14 Nov 2009, 17:13 pm
#21 kaksioek: In the second one, they went straight through the Kiwi scrum and out the other side.
14 Nov 2009, 17:18 pm
#19 NZINCHINA: I agree, the Italians will fancy their chances. We shall see.
14 Nov 2009, 17:23 pm
This from Planet Rugby’s live commentary on 47 minutes: “Again Italy murder NZ in the scrum…Sergio Parisse breaks away and gets oh so close!”
14 Nov 2009, 17:25 pm
Black scrum penalised in 59th minute – three points.
14 Nov 2009, 17:25 pm
What a shame – Ellis is off. Tony says he had a good game!
14 Nov 2009, 17:26 pm
#25 kaksioek:
Yep but we all know scrums is only part of the game of rugby
14 Nov 2009, 17:26 pm
Afoa also on.
14 Nov 2009, 17:28 pm
#27 kaksioek:
Hes had a good game cos he shouldnt be their. Our best half is in Wellington,better passer and kicker and is alot stronger
14 Nov 2009, 17:31 pm
#30 Hurricane:
But not a team man?? Tension with the coaches?
14 Nov 2009, 17:36 pm
#31 AiDoc:
All about the coaches.
He got in trouble for going out one night on tour and really never given a chance since
14 Nov 2009, 17:37 pm
#30 Hurricane: You prefer Big Bum to Cowan?
14 Nov 2009, 17:42 pm
#33 kaksioek:
Yep.
Cowan can be to much of a hot head and can give away a few penalties and plus i come from Wainuiomata where Piri is from so there we go
14 Nov 2009, 17:47 pm
Tialata yellow card for repeatedly collapsing the scrum.
14 Nov 2009, 17:48 pm
Time for a penalty try, surely?
14 Nov 2009, 17:49 pm
Where’s Whacky Nuts?
14 Nov 2009, 17:50 pm
Dickheadson is a dork!
14 Nov 2009, 17:50 pm
These Italians are stupid,yeah winning the scrums and get the penalty and then sit and wait for the next scrum,no quick taps,nothing.They are losing the game,look at the scoreboard
14 Nov 2009, 17:52 pm
#39 Hurricane: They know they can’t win a rugby match, but they’re enjoying winning the scrums
14 Nov 2009, 17:53 pm
The Kiwi commentator is barracking for an Italian try. Wants to hear 86,000 go nuts.
14 Nov 2009, 17:55 pm
#40 kaksioek:
yep it was an impressive display of scrummaging from the Italians.Our guys just looked a little fatigued.
14 Nov 2009, 17:56 pm
Good win by the B side, are we now confirmed as back to no 1 in the rankings?
14 Nov 2009, 17:57 pm
#43 NZINCHINA:
I think so,where we belong
14 Nov 2009, 17:59 pm
No 1 before the game started. No points for beating Italy though.
14 Nov 2009, 18:00 pm
#44 Hurricane:
Perfect, good night go the All Whites.
14 Nov 2009, 18:02 pm
Now if only the OPST’s (Opium pushing slave traders) can beat the Kangaroos.
14 Nov 2009, 18:03 pm
Scrappy ugly game, put it out of its misery.
Nonetheless, solid turnout from the ABB’s. Good showing from a couple of fringers, Messam & Latimer are excellent on D, Boric is more physical, Corey Flynn appears to be the answer at 2 if Hores form drops again.
When was the last time the AB line was crossed in the NH ???
GREAT W/E for NZ Sport ! The mighty All Whites are on their way to the World Cup in Sth Africa and the ABBs suggesting there is still some grit in the Black trenches.
Kia Kahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !
14 Nov 2009, 18:06 pm
Fair dues Kaks, the Azzurri scrum was a thing of beauty tonight. That Castro is a gem, him and Hayman the ultimate destructive THs. Well played those men. Still came 2nd tho.
14 Nov 2009, 18:15 pm
#45 AiDoc:
Rightly no1 too……? Not sure about that but Im more comfortable if we now put SA & NZ & Fr in a 3-way tie for Top, with a fringing Aus/Ire/Arg looking enviously over the neighbours fence.
After the Boks got owned in Toulouse, it just shows 1 or 2 slight alterations to the team and suddenly the following pack are brought back to the leading group again. Without Frans, that whole 45-65m zone can be infringed easier and as he showed in a slim win in Hamilton, it was those 9pts that won the game for the Boks. And the dsitribution and organisation of JdV is apparent. Interesting times, theyre not going to win all the time just getting Morne to kick everything, too inflexible playing away.
So huge games for Boks vs Paddys and ABs vs Fr in Marseille, with the large speedbump in betw when ABs meet Engl at HQ, always a tough fixture no matter previous form. Lots more games left to see who ends the season as King of the Mountain.
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