Wellington prepares for All Blacks versus Italy Nations Championship clash
All Blacks prepare for Italy challenge
The All Blacks are set to face Italy in a Nations Championship match in Wellington, with kick-off scheduled for 5:10 pm at the Cake Tin. This fixture marks the second Test under head coach Dave Rennie, following the team’s 34-32 victory over France in Christchurch last weekend. The All Blacks have a historical advantage, never having lost to Italy and aiming for their 18th consecutive win against the Azzurri.
Rennie emphasised the team’s respect for Italy, stating that their strong side reflects this. He noted Italy’s performance in the Six Nations competition, where they demonstrated the capability to defeat various teams, indicating a tough challenge ahead for the All Blacks in front of a sold-out Wellington crowd.
Five changes have been made to the starting lineup for the All Blacks. These include Tyrel Lomax, who will achieve his 50th Test cap, alongside Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Billy Proctor, and Leroy Carter. On the reserves bench, Anton Segner and Josh Moorby are set to make their debuts.
Beauden Barrett, a highly experienced player with 144 Tests, has been omitted from the squad for the second consecutive week. Ruben Love will continue at first-five, with Damian McKenzie retaining his position at fullback. The team’s defence will be a key focus, as they conceded 32 points and four tries against France, including three high-tackle penalties in the first half, one of which resulted in a yellow card for Love early in the match.
Will Jordan is nearing the All Blacks’ Test try-scoring record, having scored two tries against France. These scores brought his total to 47 Test tries, placing him second on New Zealand’s all-time list, just two tries shy of Doug Howlett’s record of 49.
Italy’s determination and match conditions
Italy’s hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi expressed the team’s eagerness to perform well after their defeat against Japan. He highlighted the challenge of playing the All Blacks on their home turf, describing it as a unique experience and an opportunity to bounce back. Lucchesi noted that a high number of turnovers contributed to their loss against Japan and stressed the need for significant improvement to compete effectively against the All Blacks.
The Italian team is expected to present a strong defensive effort, having achieved the second-best tackle percentage among all Nations Championship teams last week against Japan, with 84.7 percent. Despite this, Italy has lost all 17 previous encounters with the All Blacks since their first official Test in 1987. Their closest match against New Zealand was in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, where they held the All Blacks to a 21-31 score. The most recent meeting between the two teams was in Turin in 2024, with the All Blacks winning 29-11.
The All Blacks’ scrum is anticipated to play a crucial role in the upcoming match. Scrum coach Jason Ryan expects more scrums against Italy, particularly given the outdoor conditions and potential for wet weather in Wellington. He acknowledged Italy’s formidable scrum, emphasising the physical contest it will present.
The weather forecast for Wellington indicates mostly cloudy conditions with a high of around 8°C and a 20% chance of rain, suggesting a cold evening for spectators at Hnry Stadium. Fans attending the match are advised to dress warmly.
Travel information for attendees
For those attending the match, Metlink is providing additional capacity on the Hutt Valley, Kapiti, and Johnsonville train lines before kick-off, with extra services also available after the Test concludes. The Wairarapa Line’s 6:55 pm service has been rescheduled to 7:20 pm to allow fans sufficient time to reach the station after the game.
Extra bus services will also be available post-match. The harbour ferry, operating on a weekend timetable, has an additional sailing scheduled from Queens Wharf at approximately 7:30 pm; however, bookings are required through the East by West website. Match tickets will serve as a Metlink pass for the day, valid on buses and trains to and from the Test, excluding Airport Express buses, harbour ferry services, and Total Mobility taxis. Further fare and timetable information can be found on the Metlink app or website.
The All Blacks’ squad for the match includes Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, and Tyrel Lomax in the front row. The second row features Sam Darry and Tupou Vaa’i, while the loose forwards are Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, and captain Ardie Savea. Cam Roigard is at halfback, with Ruben Love at first-five. The midfield consists of Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor, and the back three includes Leroy Carter, Will Jordan, and Damian McKenzie. Reserves include Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, and Josh Moorby.
Italy’s starting lineup features Danilo Fischetti, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, and Marco Riccioni in the front row. Niccolò Cannone and Andrea Zambonin are in the second row, with Ross Vintcent, captain Michele Lamaro, and Lorenzo Cannone as loose forwards. Stephen Varney is at halfback, and Paolo Garbisi is at first-five. The backline includes Louis Lynagh, Tommaso Menoncello, Juan Ignacio Brex, Malik Faissal, and Tommaso Allan. The reserves are Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Giulio Marini, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, Alessandro Garbisi, and Leonardo Marin.
This match is the second round of the inaugural Nations Championship, with the All Blacks scheduled to play Ireland at Eden Park a week later.
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Source: 1news.co.nz
