The Malta Independent on Sunday
Italy on three-win streak after beating Romania 45-13
Italy won in Romania for the first time in 31 years when it beat the Oaks 45-13 at Arcul de Triumf on Friday.
Romania, confirmed this week in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, started strong and led 6-5. But Italy asserted itself just before halftime with two tries in two minutes to zip ahead 19-6.
Four more tries, and a second for center Tommaso Menoncello, sent Italy to only its third win in Romania, and first since 1991.
Oaks flanker Vlad Neculau was sent off late for a high tackle on Renato Giammarioli, but they finished with a consolation try to replacement prop Alexandru Savin.
Italy retained only three players after struggling past Portugal 38-31 in Lisbon last weekend, but won a third straight test. The Italians finish their summer tour against Georgia in Batumi next weekend.
Menoncello scored Italy's first try but Florin Vlaicu, playing his 129th test and first since March 2021, kicked two penalties to have the hosts in front.
Italy squandered two attacking lineouts and missed a penalty from Tommaso Allan, making his first start since February 2020, but the flyhalf scored a try working off No. 8 Toa Halafihi and debut scrumhalf Alessandro Garbisi.
A minute later, prop Ivan Nemer broke with support from hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi and lock Niccolo Cannone went over.
After the interval, a break by wing Pierre Bruno was finished by Garbisi, the younger brother of regular flyhalf Paolo, who joined him in the 58th minute.
An Ange Capuozzo counterattack led to Menoncello's second try, Allan set up a try for midfielder Marco Zanon, and replacement hooker Giacomo Nicotera went over.
Allan finished with 15 points and Italy finished with its second biggest margin against Romania. Romania heads to Uruguay for two tests in Montevideo.
All Blacks overcome bold Ireland 42-19 in 1st test
Rocked by an early Irish onslaught, the All Blacks staged a superb recovery to score four first-half tries Saturday on the way to a 42-19 win over Ireland in the first match of a three-test series.
Ireland had the All Blacks at sixes and sevens with the intensity of its performance in the first quarter at Eden Park.
It rattled the All Blacks with
the first try of the match to veteran winger Keith Earls after only six minutes and had the New Zealand team mostly in retreat.
The Irish start had All Blacks fans fearing a repeat of New Zealand's losses to Ireland in three of their last five meetings, including the most recent in Dublin last year.
But the match was transformed in the 21st minute when the All Blacks scored their first try through fullback Jordie Barrett to seize a 7-5 lead against the run of play.
Winger Sevu Reece dashed 80 meters for an intercept try in the 30th and Ireland suddenly was thrown onto the back foot.
New Zealand's resurgence turned around a critical moment in the match when Ireland's talismanic captain Johnny Sexton left the field for a head injury assessment and didn't return.
Ireland seemed shaken by the loss of Sexton's composed presence and New Zealand ran in tries to center Quinn Tupaea and backrower Ardie Savea to
lead 28-5 at halftime.
Ireland also scored the first try of the second half through center Garry Ringrose.
Sexton's replacement Joey Carbery added the conversion to cut New Zealand's lead to 2812.
New Zealand rallied again, this time with far more composure and concerted purpose. Savea won a lineout on the left-hand touch then raced across field to be the third ball All Blacks, stepping through tackles to score his second try.
Ireland's luck had changed with the momentum of the match. Carbery went close to scoring but lost the ball over the goalline in Rieko Ioane's tackle.
From a subsequent penalty the Ireland backrower Josh van der Flier dived across the line under the posts but he also lost control of the ball in the dive and the All Blacks once more were reprieved.
With those misfortunes Ireland's hopes of a fourth win over the All Blacks since their first in 2016, and their first ever in New Zealand, slipped away.
New Zealand attacked again and, choosing to take a scrum from a penalty under the posts, they turned the Irish pack and No. 8 Pita Gus Sowakula scored a try on debut.
Ireland had the last score with a try in the 77th minute to New Zealand-born center Bundee Aki who also scored in Ireland's 32-17 loss to New Zealand Maori on Wednesday.
"It's a good start to the year for sure," New Zealand captain Sam Cane said. "It's always challenging coming in with just 10 days preparation.
"On the game, we were good in patches and we've got a lot to work on."
Even in defeat, Ireland might have found the seeds of a future victory in the two tests remaining in the series.
They showed that when they win quick ruck ball they can stretch the All Blacks' defense, but a winning effort will require them to achieve that for longer periods. They scored three tries to the All Blacks' six but they also crossed the New Zealand line on several more occasions
and they forced New Zealand to make almost 200 tackles.
"I thought we started well, got in front early but a couple of mistakes, a couple of discipline errors cost us," said Peter O'Mahony who finished as Ireland captain.
"We lost our way a little coming into halftime but I thought we regrouped really well. Overall I thought it was a great test match."
The All Blacks came into Saturday's match under immense pressure.
They lost the last two matches of last season and faced the prospect of losing three tests in a row for the first time in 15 years. They also risked losing their precious winning streak at Eden Park which now stretches into its 28th year.
Their preparation was disrupted by the loss of their head coach Ian Foster, two assistants and three players to COVID-19. But they rose above those tribulations and the challenge leveled by Ireland in the first 20 minutes to secure an important win.