“In 2019, the Pool B match [of the Rugby World Cup in Japan] between the All Blacks and Italy was canceled due to a typhoon. Four years later, Italy was hit by an All Blacks hurricane. » At the kick-off in Lyon, Friday September 29, the weather was redolent of Indian summer, but the New Zealanders, “fast and fierce”, unleashed the elements on the Italians, reports Australian media The Roar.

With fourteen tries to two players, and a final score of 96-17 in favor of New Zealand, the conclusion is clear for the Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport: “The All Blacks have become the All Blacks again. » “Mamma mia! “, exclaims The Roar. “Eighty minutes of destructive, precise, controlled and utterly brilliant rugby” is what coach Ian Foster’s players offered on the pitch at the OL Stadium, summarizes The New Zealand Herald.

Chastised by the press for several months due to lackluster results, “the All Blacks have calmed some nerves in New Zealand and made more than one tremble around the world after delivering a performance which proves that the ‘bear is tired of being stung and is now wide awake and angry,’ the Kiwi daily continues.

“New Zealand wiped them out.”

From winger Will Jordan’s first try (in the 6th minute), and despite five good first Italian minutes, “the All Blacks did everything well, stealing the balls in the rucks, dominating the touches, exploiting the mauls”, summarizes La Gazzetta.

The English referee, Matthew Carley, “could have whistled the end of the match at half-time,” jokes The Roar. The score was then 49-3, thanks in particular to the strong passes of scrum half Aaron Smith, author of a hat-trick.

Italy responded upon returning from the locker room with a try from Ange Capuozzo, trained in Grenoble and current Stade Toulouse player, before the Blacks pushed their opponents even deeper during this “memorable evening” for The Roar, and especially for New Zealand second row Sam Whitelock. At 34, he became the most capped player in All Blacks history, surpassing the 148 caps of the legendary Richie McCaw.

“Italy are supposed to be a safe bet these days, and they caused problems for France and Ireland during the Six Nations Tournament this year,” wonders NZ Herald columnist Gregor Paul. But New Zealand wiped them out. She physically crushed them, then put them through an aerobics competition that they were completely unable to handle. »

A message to Ireland

“It’s a hard lesson, (…) which takes the Azurri back twenty years,” regrets La Gazzetta journalist Claudio Lenzi. This 96-17 is in fact part of an old tradition of defeat suffered by Italy against the Blacks in the World Cup, between the 101-3 in 1999, the 70-7 in 2003 and the 76-14 in 2007. “Better to turn the page,” adds the Milanese newspaper, since the Italians retain a slim chance of qualifying for the knockout phase if they manage to largely defeat the French XV in Lyon on October 6.

For its part, New Zealand sends a message to Ireland, its probable quarter-final opponent. According to The NZ Herald, the master class inflicted on the Italians “will undoubtedly cause Irish coach Andy Farrell to wake up in the middle of the night (…), his heart racing, his palms sweating while once again more, his team is preparing to meet the All Blacks who are now running at full speed”.

In 2019, in Japan, the two teams had already faced each other at this stage of the competition. New Zealand then made short work of Ireland (46-14).