All Blacks romp shows the size of O’Shea task

CONOR O’Shea had to concede defeat for his first home game in charge as New Zealand put their shock defeat to Ireland behind them with a ten-try thumping of Italy in Rome yesterday.

It was the first time the All Blacks took to the field following last weekend’s drama in Chicago and they were never in danger as they restarted their winning run from scratch.

Israel Dagg proved more than a handful setting up two tries and scoring one himself while Malakai Fekitoa got a brace.

The other tries came from Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Wyatt Crockett, Steven Luatua, Elliot Dixon, Reiko Ioane and Waisake Naholo.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said: “Last week wasn’t the result we wanted. We were able to start well and carry on from there It was great for some of the guys to get a run-out.”

Fekitoa got the ball rolling with Aaron Cruden and Dagg combining well from a scrum to send the powerful centre over three minutes in.

Carlo Canna put Italy on the board with a penalty but again a couple of swift passes from the All Blacks exposed the Azzurri’s defence and Faumuina barged over from short range for the Kiwis’ second try.

Three minutes later, Tuipulotu added a third following a dominant driving maul and a bullet pass from Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

After two try-assists, Dagg got the job done himself and a fine solo run saw him dive over by the posts on 25th minute.

Italy desperately tried to sort out their defensive issues and they managed to stop the flow for a while but Crockett made sure New Zealand had their fifth try before the break.

Leading 35-3, it didn’t take long for the All Blacks to pick their sixth and it was a beauty as Codie Taylor and Dixon combined to send Luatua over the line.

A fine break and offload by Crockett paved the way for Fekitoa to get his second try of the game just before the hour which took the All Blacks to within a point of the half century.

They went past it three minutes later as Dixon crossed but Italy managed to get a try on the board as Tommaso Boni raced over from inside his own half.

But New Zealand had the last word as teenage sensation Ioane and Naholo made it ten tries for the game.

O’Shea said: “We came up against the best team in the world I’m proud of the guys, they tried right to the end.”