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All Blacks dominate clash with Italy
Story by Sportal for the ARU
Saturday, September 08, 2007 - 23:39 PM (AEST)
Lynn McConnell in Marseille
The All Blacks dominated their opener against Italy.
New Zealand made a statement of bold World Cup intent with an emphatic opening performance, against Italy, at Marseille's Stade Velodrome to claim a 76-14 victory.
En route to the win, wing Doug Howlett scored three of New Zealand's 11 tries to equal Christian Cullen's record of 46 Test tries.
In stifling conditions better suited to Test cricket at the height of New Zealand's summer, the All Blacks dismembered the Italian side that had threatened to be much more competitive in the lead-up to the tournament.
Revelling in the superb atmosphere of the sun-baked arena, the New Zealanders showed little of the anticipated rustiness after their absence from hard match play.
Signs were on the wall from the outset, not only of the threat likely from the backs in such perfect conditions, but also from the forwards who were massive in their intent and their demonstration of their repertoire of the game's skills.
When lock Ali Williams ran onto ball from the game's first lineout he opened up a gap to feed captain Richie McCaw in for the side's first try of the Cup.
For the second try, the All Blacks secured lineout ball, set themselves efficiently for a lineout maul and then released the ball to halfback Byron Kelleher who raced around the blindside and when tackled slipped the ball into McCaw's grasp for him to burst over the line.
A 10th minute penalty goal to first five-eighths Dan Carter put a temporary stop to the try-scoring parade, but only just.
After the re-start the All Blacks launched a long range assault with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu haring down the left-hand touch and linking, typically on this day of extraordinary feats to link with prop Carl Hayman and No.8 Rodney So'oialo before the ball was moved wide with fullback Leon MacDonald feeding wing Doug Howlett in for his 44th Test try in the 11th minute.
Then two pieces of class from Carter, whose astute chip kicks exploited the rushing Italian defence, saw the bounce of the ball produce tries for centre Mils Muliaina (14th minute) and Sivivatu (17).
Italy slowed the scoring tempo by opting to test the All Blacks lineout close to its line but the defence was better organised and when chunky flanker Mauro Bergamasco chipped a kick ahead, MacDonald marked right on the 22m line.
He tap-kicked and raced right ahead and into acres of unoccupied Marseillan real estate before linking with Williams, who took a Harlem Globetrotters pass before feeding the ball to Sivivatu who powered his way to his second try. For once, Carter's conversion attempt hit the post.
When the Italians kicked to the corner from another penalty, they mounted a drive but the New Zealanders kept forcing them back and then the turnover came with a classic McCaw steal.
Almost inevitably the amount of air the All Blacks were giving the ball resulted in a speculative chance and it came three minutes before halftime when Kelleher's pass from a ruck on halfway was intercepted by wing Marko Stanojevic who scored beneath the posts.
New Zealand was forced onto the back foot in the early stages of the second half, but after nine minutes a lineout move saw lock Chris Jack pick up a bouncing ball and waltz through a huge gap to score beneath the posts.
MacDonald's tidying of a grubber kick through in the 55th minute saw the All Blacks process the ball and when the breaks came, Howlett was on hand to take the pass and hand off his old Auckland Grammar schoolmate Kaine Robertson to score his second.
New Zealand moved its replacements into the action in the early stages of the half. And the ease with which the players slipped into the pattern also impressed.
Howlett achieved his record-equalling moment in 58th minute after some quick thinking from flanker Jerry Collins. The kick was put through to the corner and Howlett secured the ball for the try.
A minute later, Collins was in again after a break by replacement lock Sione Lauaki. Colllins burst onto the ball and slipped a grubber kick through and reclaimed the ball.
Italy scored a moment later when Luke McAlister who had moved in to first five-eighths attempted a banana kick which was taken by replacement Italian halfback Paul Griffen. He fed Stanojevic who ran infield and then a speculator from Mirco Bergamasco saw him score.
Italy thought it had scored moments from the end when Ezio Galon touched down after some in-goal silliness from the All Blacks, however, a lengthy study by the television match official ruled that potential defenders had been held back by the Italians.
New Zealand 76
Tries: Howlett 3, McCaw 2, Sivivatu 2, Collins 2, Muliaina, Jack
Con: Carter 7, McAlister 2
Pen: Carter
Italy 14
Tries: Stanjevic, Bergamasco
Con: Bortolussi, de Marigny con