Match Details: All Blacks v Italy, Saturday 23 November, 9.10pm CET, (Sunday 24 November, 9.10am NZT), Allianz Stadium, Turin
Played: 16
Won: All Blacks 16
Last time: All Blacks 96, Italy 17 (29 September 2023 – Rugby World Cup)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
FINAL FLING
The All Blacks’ final match of the Northern Tour will also be the final match in the black jersey for long-serving All Blacks Sam Cane and TJ Perenara. Cane will sign off his remarkable All Blacks career in the No.7 jersey, while halfback Perenara will inject his trademark high-energy impact off the bench against Italy on Saturday night in Turin.
Cane’s return creates a loose forward reshuffle, with Wallace Sititi slipping back into blindside and Ardie Savea going to No.8. There are two further changes in the forwards, with prop Ethan de Groot and lock Patrick Tuipulotu coming into the starting line-up. Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Fletcher Newell will provide prop cover and Tupou Vaa’i will cover lock.
In the backs, Jordie Barrett has been ruled out this week with a knee injury, which sees Anton Lienert-Brown start at second five-eighth and brings David Havili into the reserves. Mark Tele’a has recovered from his hand injury to reclaim the right wing.
RAZOR’S WORD
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson says the squad has brought plenty of energy to this final week of tour and prepared well for an Italy side that has proven it can challenge the best. “This Italy team has made a real impact on the international stage this year, with a strong showing in the Six Nations competition that included wins over Scotland and Wales and a draw against France. We know the passion this team will bring, so we are preparing for a physical and motivated Italy for our final Test of the tour.
“As our first ever match in Turin, our final match of the 2024 Test season, and the farewell match for Sam and TJ, this will be a great occasion. We are determined to finish our season in a way that honours and celebrates the immense contribution that Sam and TJ have made to the black jersey.”
BACK TO WHERE IT BEGAN
This match holds special significance for centre Rieko Ioane, who made his Test debut against Italy eight years ago in Rome. On that memorable day, the All Blacks secured a dominant 68-10 victory, with a young Ioane coming off the bench to score his first Test try. Fast forward eight years, and Ioane has become a cornerstone of the All Blacks, earning 80 caps and crossing the try line 37 times.
Reflecting on his journey, Ioane said, "I was extremely young then, and eager, and that hunger and passion hasn't changed."
Now, with the season finale in sight, Ioane and his teammates are determined to finish strong. "We reviewed the loss to France and are fully focused on delivering a performance we can be proud of," he said. "It all starts with a great week's preparation, and we've had that so far."
WATCH AROUND THE WORLD
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TEAMS
All Blacks (caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (28) 2.Codie Taylor (95) (Vice-Captain) 3. Tyrel Lomax (43) 4. Scott Barrett (79) (Captain) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (50) 6. Wallace Sititi (9) 7. Sam Cane (103) 8. Ardie Savea (93) (Vice-Captain) 9. Cam Roigard (9) 10. Beauden Barrett (133) 11. Caleb Clarke (28) 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (83) 13. Rieko Ioane (80) 14. Mark Tele’a (18) 15. Will Jordan (40)
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (19) 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (67) 18. Fletcher Newell (21) 19. Tupou Vaa’i (37) 20. Peter Lakai (2) 21. TJ Perenara (88) 22. David Havili (29) 23. Damian McKenzie (61)
Italy
1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Federico Ruzza, 5 Dino Lamb, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Ross Vintcent, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), 14 Jacopo Trulla, 15 Ange Capuozzo.
Reserves: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Niccolo Cannone, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Marco Zanon