Stuttering sub-zero win is cold comfort for All Blacks

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 19:40

New Zealand 27 Italy 6

JOE Rokocoko scored his first Test try in almost two years as New Zealand bumbled and fumbled to victory over Italy in chilly conditions in Auckland.

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 converted a penalty in each half for the visitors, who seemed content merely to tackle, disrupt the ball and kick for territory in the match that failed to inspire the small crowd who braved sub-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.

"The only positive thing we can say about it is that we didn't get any more injuries," said All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen. "It was very disappointing. The execution was poor, decision making poor and we just weren't effective across the park."

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.

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 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 go over after beating two tacklers.

McAlister added the conversion and a second penalty before McLean got Italy 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 second-row forward also made two storming runs in another movement that Whitelock finished off when he received a pass from centre Ma'a Nonu.