All Blacks to continue superb form against Italy

David Skippers

Italy face a daunting task when they take on the All Blacks in what promises to be an entertaining Autumn Nations Series Test in Rome on Saturday.

After another forgetful Six Nations campaign, in which they lost all their matches for the eighth successive year, the Azzurri are at the beginning of yet another new dawn after former All Blacks full-back Kieran Crowley was appointed as their new head coach in May.

Crowley previously coached Canada for eight years before taking charge at PRO14 club Benetton but his stint as Italy head coach started on a bad note when, shortly before he took over the coaching reins from Franco Smith, the team’s two-Test tour to New Zealand in July was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They go into Saturday’s Test as overwhelming underdogs as they haven’t beaten the All Blacks in 14 previous attempts – since their first Test at the 1987 Rugby World Cup – and they have found the going particularly tough of late after conceding more than 60 points in their most recent matches against the All Blacks in 2018 and 2016.

They approach this weekend’s clash severely undercooked as they haven’t been in action since the Six Nations and take on a confident New Zealand side, who were crowned Rugby Championship winners last month and the men in black started their end-of-year tour superbly thanks to convincing wins over the USA and Wales.

Although the All Blacks are fielding an inexperienced starting line-up, they have been boosted by the return of experienced campaigners like openside flanker Sam Cane, who resumes his role as captain, and hooker Dane Coles.

Those aforementioned players and several others will be determined to deliver polished performances that catch All Blacks head coach Ian Foster’s attention in the hope of being elevated to his first choice run-on side.

Last time they met

Although their previous scheduled match was cancelled due to a typhoon at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Italy and New Zealand met roughly 11 months earlier in Rome and it was a one-sided affair which the All Blacks won 66-3. Right wing Jordie Barrett was in superb attacking form and crossed for four tries and Damian McKenzie was not far behind with a hat-trick of five-pointers, while Ngani Laumape and Beauden Barrett dotted down as well. Fly-half Barrett also succeeded with five conversions and replacement back Richie Mo’unga slotted three two-pointers off the kicking tee.

What they said

This fixture will be Italy’s first under the guidance of new head coach Crowley. The New Zealander was part of his country’s victorious squad at the 1987 Rugby World Cup and knows his current team have little or no chance of causing an upset against his former side.

“New Zealand have been together for the last four months basically and had a lot of games,” said Crowley.

“I met some of the guys in this team for the first time last week, so it’s a case of needing time together.

“I would hope that by the end of these November Tests we’ve been able to embed our game-plan, the way we want to play, and we’ve created a base for moving forward.

“We’ve got no grand expectations around this first one, it being such a challenge, I would hope we can go out and perform with credibility and earn a bit of respect for it.”

All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree said they expect the Azzurri to employ an expansive game-plan under Crowley.

“They’ll go into this game with a mindset where they’ll want to keep the ball, and play an expansive game, and try and put us under pressure,” he explained. “Our defence is going to have to be really good and well-organised which we are planning, and being ready for all the unexpected stuff that they might come up with.”

Players to watch

For Italy, full-back Matteo Minozzi will be keen to shine after missing the entire Six Nations campaign due to mental health issues about having to stay in a bubble. The Wasps flyer is an excitement machine who knows his way to the try-line and has already crossed for 11 tries in 22 Tests. If he finds himself in space, he should wreak havoc with ball in hand and although the Azzurri will battle to find attacking opportunities, don’t be surprised if he crosses the whitewash again.

Another player who will be keen to impress is Michele Lamaro, who has been appointed as the Azzurri’s new captain. Aged 23, the back-row takes over the leadership role from seasoned hooker Luca Bigi but despite having much less experience than his predecessor, Lamaro is no stranger to captaincy as he was appointed as Benetton’s skipper ahead of the United Rugby Championship season. He will be keen to make a positive impact in his new position but faces a stern test against tough opponents.

After making his return to action – following a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury – off the replacements bench in New Zealand’s tour opener against the USA, Sam Cane was left out of the matchday squad for last week’s victory over Wales. The All Blacks’ first choice openside flank and captain before his injury, Cane gets his chance from the get go in this encounter and he will be determined to show Foster that he still has a role to play at the top level. Strong at the breakdown and in the tackle, Cane will have to hit the ground running if he wants to catch his coach’s attention.

Also keep an eye on young inside centre Quinn Tupaea, who has done well since making his Test debut against Tonga earlier this year. Since then, the 22-year-old has caught the eye with some impressive performances in the Rugby Championship and against the USA. Tupaea was on fire in that game in Washington DC and finished with 173 metres gained from 22 runs which included a couple of clean breaks, nine defenders beaten, three offloads as well as a try.

Main head-to-head

As far as direct duels go, the one between the two fly-halves – Italy’s Paolo Garbisi and Richie Mo’unga of New Zealand – should be an entertaining one between two talented players. Both are outstanding attackers, who possess excellent skill-sets, and although Mo’unga has thrived in a winning culture with the All Blacks, do not underestimate Garbisi, who burst onto the scene at Test level in 2020 and has come on in leaps and bounds during the past year.

Prediction

Although the Azzurri have home ground advantage, that has never been a huge factor in this fixture and this encounter will be no different. Despite fielding an understrength team, the All Blacks will prove too strong. New Zealand to win by 40 points.

Previous results

2019: Match cancelled in Toyota (RWC)
2018: New Zealand won 66-3 in Rome
2016: New Zealand won 68-10 in Rome
2012: New Zealand won 42-10 in Rome
2009: New Zealand won 20-6 in Milan
2009: New Zealand won 27-6 in Christchurch
2007: New Zealand won 76-14 in Marseille (RWC)
2004: New Zealand won 59-10 in Rome

The teams

Italy: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Federico Mori, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Montanna Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Renato Giammarioli, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 David Sisi, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Abraham Steyn, 22 Callum Braley, 23 Carlo Canna

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

Date: Saturday, November 6
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)