All Blacks prepare for Italy challenge in Nations Championship clash
The All Blacks are set to face Italy in a Nations Championship clash at Hnry Stadium in Wellington. This match marks the second Test under head coach Dave Rennie, with the team aiming to build on their recent 34-32 victory over France in Christchurch.
The All Blacks have a historical advantage, having never lost to Italy, and will be seeking an 18th consecutive win against the Azzurri. Coach Rennie emphasised the respect held for the Italian side, noting their capability to challenge any team, as demonstrated in the Six Nations competition. He anticipates a tough contest in front of a sold-out Wellington crowd.
For this fixture, the All Blacks have made five starting changes. Tyrel Lomax, who is scheduled to play his 50th Test, will start at tighthead prop. Other changes include Tupou Vaa’i at lock, Wallace Sititi at flanker, Billy Proctor at centre, and Leroy Carter on the wing. The bench will feature debutants Anton Segner in the loose forwards and Josh Moorby at wing/fullback.
Team selections and key players
The starting lineup for the All Blacks includes Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, and captain Ardie Savea. The backline features Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Leroy Carter, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Will Jordan, and Damian McKenzie.
Notably, Beauden Barrett, a seasoned player with 144 Tests, has been omitted for the second consecutive week. Ruben Love maintains his position at first-five, while Damian McKenzie continues at fullback. The team’s defence will be a focus, following the 32 points and four tries conceded against France, which also included three first-half high-tackle penalties.
Will Jordan is nearing Doug Howlett’s All Blacks Test try-scoring record, having scored two tries against France last weekend. This performance moved him into second place on New Zealand’s all-time list with 47 Test tries, just two behind Howlett’s record of 49.
Italy’s team features Danilo Fischetti, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Marco Riccioni, Niccolò Cannone, Andrea Zambonin, Ross Vintcent, captain Michele Lamaro, and Lorenzo Cannone. The backline includes Stephen Varney, Paolo Garbisi, Louis Lynagh, Tommaso Menoncello, Juan Ignacio Brex, Malik Faissal, and Tommaso Allan.
The Italian side is looking to rebound after a defeat against Japan. Hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi expressed the team’s determination to prove themselves and acknowledged the challenge of playing the All Blacks on their home turf. He highlighted the need for significant improvement to compete effectively.
Match context and conditions
This match is the second round of the inaugural Nations Championship. Following this game, the All Blacks are scheduled to play Ireland at Eden Park a week later, before embarking on a four-Test tour of South Africa next month.
The weather forecast for Wellington indicates mostly cloudy conditions with a high of around 8C and a 20% chance of rain, suggesting a cold evening for spectators at Hnry Stadium. Public transport services, including Metlink trains and buses, will have increased capacity for the event, with match tickets also serving as a Metlink pass for the day.
The All Blacks‘ scrum coach, Jason Ryan, anticipates more scrums in the outdoor and potentially wet conditions in Wellington, noting Italy’s strong scrum. He stressed the importance of physical engagement in such contests.
In terms of experience, the teams are closely matched, with the All Blacks fielding 599 starting caps and 207 caps on the bench, while Italy has 590 starting caps and 200 on their bench. The two countries last met in Turin in 2024.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5.10pm.
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Source: 1news.co.nz
