Sloppy All Blacks struggle past Italy
BY MARC HINTON IN MILAN
The occasion was delicious, the rugby atrocious as the All Blacks – very much playing second fiddle to their round-ball cousins this weekend – completed another less than satisfying test victory over Italy today at the San Siro.
The 80,000 fans who packed this wonderful stadium deserved a spectacle, but unfortunately Graham Henry's second-string All Blacks couldn't deliver one as they muddled their way to a 20-6 victory. It was, in many ways, the horror show of Christchurch revisited as the New Zealanders won the second half just 6-3, and could manage just one try in 80 minutes of rugby.
What is it about the Azzurri that seems to upset the rhythm of these All Blacks? There was a day when the New Zealanders only had to see the blue jersey of Italy and 70 points were raised on the scoreboard. This year it's been like wading through mud playing them.
Still, given that the All Blacks made 12 changes and a positional switch to their top lineup, and that most of these boys hadn't played in close to a month, maybe the disjointed performance should not have surprised.
But the performance would certainly have disappointed the coaches who put the acid on some of these fringe All Blacks to deliver. Collectively they patently failed to meet that challenge.
You have to say that if these are the guys supposedly pushing the top lineup, then there's not a heck of a lot of pressure on the big boys. It's hard to think of an All Blacks who advanced his cause on the basis of this.
The New Zealand scrum was monstered – and that's probably being kind to the backtracking black eight – and their work at the breakdown and in clearing what little ball they could get their hands on was sloppy.
Halfback Andy Ellis had a nightmare dealing with an arriving troupe of Italians about the same time as he received ball most of the game. Mike Delany had an inauspicious debut, and it was not a day for the outside backs to shine with such limited possession.
It was fitting really that the All Blacks ended the match pinned on their own line with the Azzurri camped in their red zone as they attacked from a series of scrums. Prop Neemia Tialata had been sinbinned for one to many infringements at the set piece and all you could say on the positive side was that the black defence held out under all kinds of pressure.
Still, maybe it was right that the Azzurri made the All Blacks look like plodders. The world's turned on its head, after all.
The All Whites climb their football Everest at a rugby stadium in Wellington a world away, and here are the All Blacks carving their own slice of rugby history at one of the world's great football stadiums in Milan.
It was the biggest crowd, by nearly double, to ever have watched a rugby match in this country and it was, we were told, a record attendance for the San Siro which had sold out every one of its 80,000-plus seats long ago.
The All Blacks led 14-3 at the end of a fairly undistinguished first half that featured just one try and little in the way of free-flowing, constructive rugby.
The Italians, well organised and committed on defence, didn't give much away but there was a distinct second-rate look about the second-string All Blacks through the first 40. They struggled for fluency off the set phases – especially at scrum where Wyatt Crockett had his moments – and looked like a combination that had never played together before.
Their best moment came around the 26-minute mark, soon after Sitiveni Sivivatu, Luke McAlister and Corey Flynn had featured in a promising sort of breakout from deep.
Off a handily placed scrum the All Blacks probed right, then won quick phase ball off a McAlister dab and good hands from Sivivatu saw Flynn over in the left corner for just his second test try to mark his first start at this level since 2003.
But that was pretty much that for the half. McAlister added a late penalty to go with his two earlier three-pointers, and the All Blacks went into the sheds with a buffer, but no sort of comfort zone. Like Christchurch in June, some stern words surely awaited them from the coaching staff.
The Italians were committed and aggressive on defence, but they continue to show such a lack of adventure when they do secure ball that you wonder about their mindset. They must surely know to ever win these big tests they are going to have to score more than a handful of points.
For these guys, though, it's clearly about respectability against a foe like the All Blacks, and their second-half effort, when they limited the New Zealanders to one or two half-chances, and precious little else, certainly did that.
No 8 Sergio Parisse led the Italians magnificently and the big front row won their battle hands down. Their defence was excellent too as the home side revelled in the arm-wrestle nature of this contest.
No All Blacks should be happy with their efforts. Ben Smith shook off a handling error with his first touch to come through a tough debut well and Sivivatu and McAlister showed glimpses of their class.
But it was a real struggle for the All Blacks up front, and as such their game never got out of second gear. It's one of those matches, from a New Zealand perspective, best filed in the ''never-to-be-watched-again'' basket.
Not so for the hosts. It was a day of celebration for Italian rugby as it drew the biggest attendance ever to a rugby match. And it ended with the applause very much ringing for a gallant, if limited, Azzurri side.
Italy 6 (Craig Gower 2 pens), New Zealand 20 (Corey Flynn try; Luke McAlister 5 pens). Ht: 3-14.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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I think people are being a bit harsh. Yes it wasn't pretty but would you rather we won or lost because at the end of the day that's what it really boils down to. Italy went out there purely to limit the damage which I think is disgraceful. They have played in the 6 nations for how long and they still act like minnows. Why not run from the scrum and try to score so they could push for the win? Its a joke really and if thats the way they want to play then I see no problem with sending out the 'B' team. They don't deserve a shot at our best line up.
I thought Delany had a great game and also Smith was awesome. Forwards probably let us down a bit (I was particularly disappointed with the loose forwards) but they will be better for the experience. At the end of the day how would we know about them without letting them play? It's all good and well crying about rotation but we don't have the opportunity to play them in mid week games like we used to so this is the only way to find out if a player is able to shine.
Pretty tough game for the AB's. Italy play to their strengths which is in their forward pack. Best comment was 20 mins into the game when Ian Jones said AB front row will have to adjust but they obviously didn't or couldn't. Isn't the captain supposed to sort it out with the ref? Didn't seem so. Also very frustrating to hear post match interview when they say, 'We knew they would come out like this or do that'. Well if you "knew" it why can't you do anything about it on the field?
@ Aaron #115 Fair comment, but i think even Ellis has a ways to go to usurp Shane Philpott as worst ever AB. That selection beggered belief, and....
@ Jane #110 That's a harsh call, considering this was the most inexperienced AB's side for eons and the italian side (who have improved tenfold in a number of areas) played to their strengths, which was forward domination. They are not the regular rollover easybeats they have been in the past and will cause a few headaches in the up coming 6 Nations, especially wheh they play at home. But please, by all means enlighten us with you grand plans as to how the AB's could have been more exciting, but be prepared to have your comments taken apart by a few folk here who seem to know what they are talking about.
But yes Go the All Whites AND Go The All Blacks too!!
Reality Fan #113
Oh get over yourself mate. If you had listened to the Italian captain at the end of the game he said the goal was to keep the score respectable to keep people interested in the Italian team, rather than them throwing caution to the wind and getting blown out by 50 points. I don't think you can blame them for that.
How many other NZ teams at time have played for respectability rather than victory? Answer: All of them, except the ABs
In response to message #114, Andy Ellis would have to be the worst player ever to put on the black jumper. He makes a plodding journeyman like Tamati Ellison look like Christian Cullen in his prime. NZ may have serious problems at scrum-half, but surely this guy is not the 3rd best halfback in the country?
I was the most terrible player on the field, sorry.
Italy should be ashamed of themselves. They had no plan or desire to win the game, just keep the score to a respectable level, which they achieved, via means that made the game uninteresting to watch. Rugby is played by two teams, and requires two teams to provide the spectacle we all want. Italy (Nick Mallet) did not come to win, their constant infringing at the breakdown testament to that.
I am an All Black supporter, and in case you hadn't noticed, they did win the game. Well done to a group of up and coming players who need to get game time to progress. Years ago, you could progress new players in mid-week games. Unfortunately in the modern game tours in the old mould do not occur, so the developing players have to get blooded in 'real tests'. Do we want to see the top line up every week - of course - but you also need to provide game time for others, and Italy is a prime opportunity to do that.
Finally, re penalty try in the last minutes. You only get one of those when an infringement occurs that prevents a certain score. That did not happen. And why weren't the Italians penalised when they took the scrum down during that period? Only Dickenson will ever know!!
True supporters back their team not matter what. Go the AB's !!!
Scrums!!! Dont you just love em? The more the better BUT why is it that the vast amjority of the resets occurred on the Italian feed following a very slow put in? I am not a technical whizz on scrums - nor are our top refs, but it stood out to me that the Italians set out to make something out of their superior front row which was in detriment to the game as a spectacle! I suppose good on them, but least one free kick should have gone our way for the slow Italian feed. Well done Mike Delaney good debut hope to see more of him!
Valance#78 I would love for you to spend the day or even a week with the AB's and try and back up your comment. Know the facts before you make an idiotic comment like that. You just have no clue...You only see what the media wants you to see. All rugby players have pretty toned frames but does the media want to show them going to the gym? NO!! Know them before you judge them!!
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Good to see some talent coming thru, Smith, delaney and was even impressed with Flynn and Donnelly.
My team for England - Henry take note! 1. Woodcock 2. Flynn - needs more game time 3. Tialata - time to step up 4. Eaton - needs another chance and thorn can replace if needed 5. Donnelly - solid lineout man and supports well 6. Thompson - best blindside we have 7. Mccaw - need I say why... latimer a long way off 8. So'ialo - needs another chance and compliments other 2 well 9. Cowan - best halfback on tour 10. Carter - to stick it to Johnny 11. Guldford - well exciting, and like Smith a game breaker 12. Nonu - playing well, makes an exciting backline 13. C. Smith - missed against Italy, would compliment B Smith too 14. B. Smith - solid debut and has excitement and flair 15. Jane - Needs another chance at 15 to shine, Italy was not his day.
16.Hore - give flynn a bit of game time 17. Afoa - if needed to rest woodcock 18. Read - if we post 30 + then replace Richie 19. Thorn - if needed for impact or Eaton struggling 20. Leonard - same as read's comment 21. delaney - same as read 22. Mils - if Jane stuffs up again bring on.
GO THE AB's