All Blacks Win Against Italy

In a match that was billed as a potential stumbling block to the Rugby World Cup quarter final seedings, the All Blacks have hammered Italy 96-17 in Lyon on Saturday. The All Blacks scored five tries in the first 25 minutes, and seven by half time leading 49-3. The second half saw Italy more competitive, with a try resulting in the All Blacks making multiple replacements. The All Blacks scored six second half tries, and saw lock Sam Whitelock break the All Blacks starts with 149 appearances.

New Zealand: 96

Tries: Will Jordan 2, Aaron Smith 3, Mark Tele'a, Ardie Savea 2, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali'i, Dane Coles 2, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 9, McKenzie 4

Italy: 17

 Tries: Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Conversions: Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi, Penalty: Allen

All Blacks Named To Face Italy

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Italy in their final pool match at the Rugby World Cup, with lock Sam Whitelock in the reserves for his potential 149th test appearance for the All Blacks.

Their are several players returning from injury in the starting side and in the reserves. Same Cane's back injury and Tyrel Lomax's knee cut have allowed their inclusion on the reserves bench while both Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell will both start their first games of the tournament. 

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papalii, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi. 

Reserves: 

Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.

All Blacks Get Win Over Italy.

The All Blacks have secured a 47-9 win over Italy to continue their unbeaten run on the Northern tour. Both hooker Dane Coles and his replacement Asafo Aumua scored two tries each out of the total seven for the match, but it was again a disjointed effort with many errors. Italy put up spirited defense for much of the match, but only managed three penalties for the match to first five Paolo Garbisi. The All Blacks will face a greater challenge this week against Ireland, and could potentially have halfback Brad Weber unavailable after he left the field with a head knock.

New Zealand All Blacks: 47 

Tries: Finlay Christie, Dane Coles 2, Sevu Reece, Asafo Aumua 2, Hoskins Sotutu, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 6 

Italy: 9 

Penalties: Paolo Garbisi 3

All Blacks Named To Face Italy

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Italy at Stadium Olimoico in Rome on Sunday 7th November 2.00am NZT. Foster has made wholesale changes to the side that beat Wales, and has bought Sam Cane back at openside flanker to captain the side. New All Black lock Josh Lord starts alongside Tupou Vaa'i, with the front row containing George Bower, Dane Coles and Tyrel Lomax. Brad Weber and Richie Mo'unga start at halfback and first five, with Damian McKenzie at fullback.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1.George Bower, 2. Dane Coles,3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Tupou Vaa’i, 5. Josh Lord, 6. Luke Jacobson, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves: 

16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ethan de Groot, 18. Ofa Tuungafasi, 19. Samuel Whitelock, 20. Shannon Frizell, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. David Havili, 23. Jordie Barrett

All Blacks v Italy Game Cancelled At Rugby World Cup

The New Zealand All Blacks game against Italy in Toyota City on Saturday has been cancelled by World Rugby due to Super Typhoon Hagibis, which is set to hit Yokohama and nearby Tokyo with 270kmh winds.

Typhoon Hagibis is expected to make landfall on the main islands of Kyushi, Shikoku and Honshu in Japan over the weekend.

Due to the cancellation, both New Zealand and Italy will be awarded two competition points each for the match, and the All Blacks will now finish at the top of their pool on 15 points, one ahead of South Africa, who they beat 23-13 on the first weekend of the Rugby World Cup.

The second game to be cancelled is the England versus France match, and that leaves England on top of pool C, with France in second position. 

​Finishing on top of pool B means the All Blacks will face the pool A runner-up, with Ireland, Scotland and Japan all in contention.

At this stage the match between Scotland and Japan in Yokohama is expected to go ahead on Sunday, and if Japan are abale to win they will lead pool A with Ireland in second place.