All Blacks disappointed after low-scoring win over Italy
New Zealand put in an unconvincing display as they beat Italy 27-6 at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on Saturday. It was the lowest NZ score against the Italians in their last ten matches, and the first time they’ve failed to score more than fifty points.Joe Rokocoko, Isaac Ross, and George Whitelock crossed for tries with Luke McAllister adding three conversions and two penalties. Australian born Italian fullback Luke Mclean scored the points for his side with a penalty in each half.
The All Blacks will have been hoping for a better performance ahead of the upcoming Tri Nations, but struggled to find their rhythm and tried too hard at times.
"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves by trying to run it from everywhere and that probably reflected in the score at halftime," said captain Mils Muliaina
"There were a lot of opportunities there but we just didn't execute and it's very disappointing."
Italian coach Nick Mallet was happy with the way his side performed, and satisfied with the outcome of the three Test tour.
"Everything has to be taken into perspective. Italy is a small rugby nation...and to come on a tour like this, Australia, Australia, New Zealand, and to concede just an average of 30 points in each game is a fantastic effort," he said.
"I'm incredibly proud of them. The coaching staff were very happy with the way we hung in there.
"It was a dry night, dry ball and a very good attacking New Zealand side. We got beaten by 70 points in the World Cup so we had a lot of pride to get back.
"Conceding 13 points in the first half and 14 in the second, I'm very happy with that."
Time: 05:14
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25 Comments:
First!!!!
I'm happy for Italy, they must be glad for losing like this against NZ
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 5:04 pm
what the hell is happening to the AB's...
glad for italy
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 5:26 pm
Nice to see some progress, go on italy. dissapointing to see Sergio Parisse get banned for 8 weeks though.
By
rugbyazzuri, at June 28, 2009 5:52 pm
Austrailia are gonna dominate the tri nations this year
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 6:58 pm
To the above, keep dreaming, BOKS to take it this year, you can feel it in the air!!
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:40 pm
well done italy
By
b and i fan, at June 28, 2009 8:40 pm
Sergio Parisse, one of the best if not the best number 8 in the world?
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 9:23 pm
The ABs will come good, they alway6s do in the tri nations. Remember this time last year, when we were all saying they had no chance because so many players had gone North? same situation, I predict a similair result. SA look strong and spirited, a good bet to win all their home matches, itll be their away form that decides the tournament. Australia look exciting, but maybe two years away from really being able to consistently outclass the other two.
By
The Schpoople Master, at June 28, 2009 9:57 pm
It will be boks v blacks 4 the 3N final. The blacks always pick it up against OZ & Boks, ganna be a good 3N this year, can't wait!!! Well played Italy!
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 10:02 pm
9.Leonard - 10.Donald - 12.McAllister
no more nonu please
By
bD, at June 28, 2009 10:11 pm
oops, sorry..my prev comment was obviously for the boks v lions match (guess i had too much to drink after the game...)
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 10:57 pm
I hate Nick Mallett.
I hate it when people say "Well we're playing the likes of Aus and NZ, so to only lose by 30 points is quite a positive."
It's never a positive, you play to win. Especially in the professional era. And people show far too much respect to SANZAR (I won't say Southern Hemisphere sides, because no-one pays any respect to Argentina, which they should do rather than Aus, NZ and SA). We've seen it with the Lions, and you see it with Mallett's Italy and the fawning media.
Fuck Mallett, Italy were progressing brilliantly under Berbizier, Mallett's taken them three steps backwards. The man's a muppet.
By
Squirtle, at June 29, 2009 12:18 am
To 'Squirtle' above. your right in saying that Mallet is a muppet for saying 'losing against NZ and australia by 30 positive is somewhat positive, but realise that are Italy genuinely going to win against these nations? Mallets trying to develop a side with an extremely limited amount of players. berbizier was doing a good job but I think after their loss against scotland in the RWC the italians needed something new. Mallets intentions are build up the italy team in time for the RWC '11.
At least against the all blacks Italy managed to pull off a good performance against such a renowned team.
By
rugbyazzuri, at June 29, 2009 1:01 am
I think Italy and Mallet should wake up. If they had gone into that game with fire and thinking they could win it i recon they could have got a few points on the board and got the all blacks all upsett and in a panic and they would have a chance at winning it. They missed the bus.
That said im happy to see rokocoko finaly showing some passion and getting work himself. Think he deserves his jersey for the 3N.should start:
leonard , weepu , mcallister,
GeeMan
By
Anonymous, at June 29, 2009 8:20 am
I expect the All Blacks performance to up a bit when they play the Boks and the Aussies, but I'm rather worried for them this year.
So far they're coming last in sorting out themselves. The Springboks are doing good, and the Aussies were brutally cool against the French on Saturday.
By
Anonymous, at June 29, 2009 8:45 am
"tackle tackle tackle"
Funny, from the highlights it looked as though NZ's tries all came from poor tackling, a lot of 1 on 1s not being made.
Mallet seems to have Italy heading in the right direction (Bergamasco detour in the 6N aside). Let's hope he builds on this and they can win two come the 6Ns. Although they'll struggle without Parisse.
By
Hackney Griffin, at June 29, 2009 6:05 pm
I don't know the AB's did too badly. Compared to the Australian performance against Italy.
Facts :
1 ) No tries scored against AB's, this is due to the AB's defence.
2 ) Italy performed a lot better against Australia than AB's and still no tries.
3 ) 100% goal kicking?
4 ) Injuries to Starting XV : Richie Mccaw (70 caps), Daniel Carter (59 caps), Conrad Smith (25 caps), Sitiveni Sivivatu (34 caps), Rodney So'oialo (54 caps), Ali Williams (61 caps), Andrew Hore (36 caps).
5 ) Australia's only injury from memory was Wycliff Palu (17 caps).
I think we did all right considering the injuries, all those injuries to our side could easily make a world XV (apart from Rodney).
By
Les Bleus, at June 29, 2009 7:57 pm
I think out of the 3, Australia will struggle the most.
New Zealand have something up their sleeves with McCaw and others to return. And they played the French in the first two games when they were at their most difficult to beat - so they are battle hardned.
South Africa have come through - and won- a series of pulsating test matches against the Lions. So they too are battle hardned.
Australia however, they played Italy in the first to games and won both of them easily. Then played the French after they had put everything into the matches against New Zealand, so they were tired. Australia therefore have not been tested enough and have shown their hand.
By
Anonymous, at June 30, 2009 1:16 am
All Blacks were great on that night!
Deserving first ever test tries to Isaac Ross and George Whitlock. Joe Rokocoko also with his 44th try!
Keep it up All Blacks!
By
Anonymous, at June 30, 2009 10:14 am
drop Nonu? are you serious? probably one of the most feared players in the world now not only because of his power and strength but because hes developed a brain. hes a rock in the midfield and will definately be a key player for them in NZ in 2011. glad to see toeava and masaga in there, both players with great potential
By
caucau's no.1 fan, at June 30, 2009 3:12 pm
his name is mauro bergamasco not marco.
By
rugbyazzuri, at June 30, 2009 3:27 pm
what the hell is the problem here like they hammered Italy...Or is SH snobberry coming into play again...Don't worry NZ we wont judge you by hammering Italy by only a "few" points...
By
themull, at June 30, 2009 6:13 pm
bahahaha the chokers struggling
Go Italy, in a few years you'll be beating NZ for fun, just like France do.
By
Anonymous, at July 01, 2009 2:22 am
Italian loss against ABs is not a positive.The Azzurri should think about the chance they missed, and not about the progress in their game.
Italian Rugby history is made of "honourable losses" and i think italians got enough of that...i was in Saint Etienne during the last World Cup, when we lost the chance to enter the IRB top 8, and i was in Padua when we lost the greatest chance we ever had to beat Australia...it's frustrating, believe me!
Anyway i think that Mallett is doing well, let him work and we'll see youngsters like Tebaldi, Favaro and Rubini become world class players
By
Francesco, at July 01, 2009 10:16 pm
Francisco,
I feel you are too harsh on Italy. They are getting closer and closer. Soon they will start winning and beating the big teams with more regularity.
I appreciate it's frustrating but Wales and Ireland went through that in the 1990s but came out stronger.
Once Italy move into the Magners League they'll achieve superior results.
Don't forget Masi and Marcato were injured which would've given them options. And that kicking 15. A team like Italy needs ALL it's players fit to beat the big sides.
I agree you were unlucky at the World Cup
By
Anonymous, at July 02, 2009 10:02 pm
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