New Zealand vs. Italy - prediction, team news, lineups

New Zealand invited Italy to the Wellington Regional Stadium connected Saturday greeting for the 2nd circular of fixtures successful the inaugural Nations Championship campaign.

Dave Rennie's men clinched a constrictive 34-32 triumph against Fabien Galthie's France successful their opening match, portion Gonzalo Quesada's broadside fell to a disappointing 27-10 decision against Japan successful Tokyo.

Match preview

Heading into the tourney successful good form, winning 11 of their erstwhile 14 outings, New Zealand were faced with a pugnacious trial successful their archetypal Nations Championship fixture, gathering Six Nations champions France astatine the One NZ Stadium successful Christchurch.

After a dilatory start, conceding a converted effort and being reduced to 14 men wrong the opening 3 minutes, Rennie’s broadside fought backmost good earlier the interruption and acknowledgment to a Cam Roigard people with the timepiece successful the red, led 19-13 astatine the halfway point.

In the 2nd period, the hosts were incapable to capitalise and propulsion distant with their lead, conceding a further 3 French tries, but scored 15 points themselves to bent onto a constrictive 34-32 bonus constituent victory.

As a result, the All Blacks presently beryllium 2nd successful the Southern Hemisphere tourney table, lone trailing South Africa connected points quality and volition surely beryllium assured of either maintaining oregon bettering that presumption this Saturday.

Having won each of their 11 erstwhile meetings with Italy, scoring a resounding 63 points per lucifer connected average, New Zealand are surely favourites to travel retired connected apical erstwhile again this play and proceed their pursuit of the inaugural Nations Championship title.

After finishing fourth, their highest placing since 2013, successful a historical Six Nations run wherever they besides bushed England for the archetypal clip ever, Italy person a origin to beryllium optimistic successful the Nations Championship.

Also going toe-to-toe with the likes of South Africa, Australia and Scotland implicit the erstwhile year, Gli Azzuri faced different telling trial erstwhile they travelled to Tokyo to play Japan connected the opening weekend, though it did not spell rather arsenic planned.

Despite it taking conscionable six minutes for the visitors to instrumentality the lead, with Paolo Garbisi converting Ignacio Brex’s score, the location broadside fought backmost successful emphatic manner earlier half-time, scoring 17 points wrong 15 minutes to pb by 7 astatine the break.

The concern went from atrocious to worse successful the 2nd 40 for Italy too, with Japan adding a converted effort and a punishment earlier the last whistle to assertion an awesome 27-10 victory, leaving Quesada’s men 5th successful the Northern Hemisphere standings.

Although they person ne'er earlier avoided decision against New Zealand, Gli Azzuri enactment successful a overmuch improved showing against Saturday’s absorption erstwhile the sides past met, starring for the opening 24 minutes earlier the All Blacks wrestled backmost control, yet winning 29-11.

New Zealand contention form:

New Zealand signifier (all competitions): 

Italy contention form:

Italy signifier (all competitions): 

Team News

New Zealand person made a brace of changes to the backline that started against France, with Billy Proctor replacing Quinn Tupaea astatine extracurricular centre and Leroy Carter coming successful for Caleb Clarke connected the wing.

In the scrum, Rennie brings successful Tyrel Lomax for Fletcher Newell astatine tight-head prop, Tupou Vaa'i replaces Josh Lord connected the 2nd row, portion Wallace Sititi comes successful for Peter Lakai astatine blind-side flanker.

Italy person besides made 2 changes to the acceptable of backs that began the lucifer against Japan, with Tommaso Allan and Louis Lynagh coming successful for Lorenzo Pani and Monty Ioane respectively.

Quesada has made conscionable 1 alteration to the battalion though, with Alessandro Ortombina being replaced by Ross Vincent, making it a trio of Exeter Chiefs starters for the visitors alongside Andrea Zambonin and Stephen Varney.

New Zealand starting lineup:

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Sam Darry, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 6 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson, 8 Ardie Savea

Replacements:

16 Samison Taukei'aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby

Italy starting lineup:

15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Malik Faissal, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Louis Lynagh, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Ross Vincent, 7 Michele Lamaro, 8 Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements:

16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Giulio Marini, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Riccardo Favretto, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Leonardo Marin

We say: New Zealand 40-12 Italy

After their important triumph past weekend, New Zealand volition beryllium assured heading into the remainder of their fixtures that they tin flooded immoderate absorption that they face.

While Italy are overmuch improved implicit the erstwhile fewer years, we deliberation they volition beryllium nary lucifer for the All Blacks, who volition prime up a convincing triumph and borderline up astatine the acme of the Southern Hemisphere table.