​WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The gap between New Zealand’s ambitions and their execution broadened as the All Blacks, after a sluggish start, defeated Italy 47-17 on Saturday to stay undefeated after two rounds in rugby’s Nations Championship. Although New Zealand’s early-phase struggles were partly mitigated by Will Jordan’s three-try burst, the performance still displayed worrisome inconsistencies ahead of next weekend’s showdown with Ireland in Auckland.
New Zealand had shown intent to play at a high tempo in their 34-32 opening-round victory over France, yet careless handling, defensive lapses, deficiencies in aerial contests, and a lack of discipline undercut that plan. Italy opened the scoring through center Tommaso Menoncello, who dotted down from an All Blacks turnover. In response, New Zealand quickly struck back through a try by lock Sam Darry, but the Italians continued to deny their opponents space and possession, and by halftime the home team clung to a 14-10 lead.
Jordan’s first try, fashioned from a chip kick by Jordie Barrett and a deft recovery by Leroy Carter, gave New Zealand the edge for the first time, albeit against the run of play, with just over half an hour elapsed. Italy captain Michele Lamaro reflected on a hard-fought first half, saying, “They were trying to compete around the breakdown and we were really strong there.” Yet after the break, the All Blacks surged, taking command as they shifted into a higher gear.
On the hour, Josh Moorby, coming off the bench for his Test debut on his birthday, made a significant impact. He entered the action in the 31st minute and played a pivotal role in the first 11 minutes of the second half, as New Zealand crossed the line three times, establishing a 33-10 cushion and a comfortable lead. Moorby’s debut was notable for more than his try involvement: he linked with Hurricanes teammate Cam Roigard, the scrumhalf, on a left-wing movement that produced two early tries at the resumption.
Moorby also intercepted a pass and looked dangerous near the try zone before prop Ethan de Groot crossed for a score in his 42nd test. The Ben Moorby influence didn’t stop there; he eventually finished off a sweeping move when he outran the cover defense to help set up Jordan’s second try, which came after he had previously set up a score with Roigard. His long-range pace and eye for space gave New Zealand a critical edge in the second half.
Jordan then accelerated his chase for a record by scoring his second try of the night off a quick-thinking move by Barrett off a tapped penalty, extending the All Blacks’ advantage. That try pushed Jordan level with the all-time New Zealand record for tries in test rugby, a mark he would match with his third score later in the game. Barrett’s quick-thinking at the tapped penalty created the opportunity that Jordan finished for his hat trick, tying the national record.
“Reflecting on my youth, I used to practice chip and chase in the back yard,” Jordan said, his pride evident. “To be here today is hugely humbling. As a winger, standing at the end of the chain, I’ve had the privilege of being part of some great teams.” The record-tying four-try performance would cement his position among the most prolific scorers in New Zealand rugby history.
The night’s proceedings featured a broader narrative about the All Blacks’ progression and their ongoing search for consistency. While the team ultimately demonstrated the capacity to pull away from a stubborn Italy outfit, and to rack up five tries and 33 points after halftime, the first-half mistakes remained a concern for head coach Dave Rennie as his side turns attention to facing Ireland in Auckland next weekend. The performance underscored the need for sharper execution in accuracy across the board—handling, defense, aerial competence, and discipline—to sustain momentum on the road toward the tournament’s more demanding fixtures.