NZ less than convincing in Italy victory
27 June 2009 (12:09)
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| Joe Rokocoko © Gallo Images |
Joe Rokocoko scored his first test try in almost two years as New Zealand bumbled and fumbled to a 27-6 victory over Italy in chilly conditions at Lancaster Park on Saturday.
Isaac Ross recorded his first test try and set up replacement flanker George Whitelock's try, on debut, after two storming runs in the same movement for the All Blacks.
Flyhalf Luke McAlister added three conversions and two penalties for the home side, who played the majority of the game on the back foot and were less than convincing just three weeks out from their first Tri-Nations match against Australia.
Italy fullback Luke McLean added a penalty in each half for the visitors, who seemed merely content to tackle, disrupt the ball and kick for territory in the match that failed to inspire the small crowd who braved below zero conditions.
The All Blacks spent the majority of the match attempting to play all of the rugby, but handling errors, running across field rather than going forward and poor kicking allowed the Italians to keep them pinned inside their own territory.
It was the lowest score the All Blacks have posted against Italy and only the second time they have failed to score 50 points in their ten encounters.
The best performance by the Italians against New Zealand was the 31-21 loss during the 1991 World Cup at Leicester.
TRY-SCORING DROUGHT
McAlister opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty before Rokocoko scored his first test try since he notched a hat-trick against Romania during the 2007 World Cup.
The All Blacks had finally got some momentum with a raking McAlister kick that drove his side deep into Italian territory.
Ross then stole the Italian lineout and, with centre Gonazalo Garcia receiving treatment after a head clash, McAlister kicked across field, allowing Rokocoko space to catch the ball and go over after beating two tacklers.
McAlister added the conversion and a second penalty before Italian fullback Luke McLean got his side on the board, though he missed two other penalty shots in the first half.
Ross scored his first try when he finished a sweeping movement in one of the few times in the match the All Blacks were able to go forward effectively.
The rangy lock also made two storming runs in another movement that Whitelock finished off when he received a pass from centre Ma'a Nonu.
New Zealand play the Wallabies next on July 18.
Read more on the June Internationals page.
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