Kick-off: 9.10am Sunday 24 November Allianz Stadium, Turin
Farewell to Sam Cane and TJ Perenara
The All Blacks’ final match of their Northern Tour will also mark the end of an era, as long-serving players Sam Cane and TJ Perenara prepare to don the black jersey for the last time. Cane will cap off his illustrious All Blacks career in the No. 7 jersey, while Perenara, known for his dynamic energy, will make an impact off the bench during Saturday night’s clash with Italy in Turin.
Reshuffling the Forward Pack
Cane’s inclusion prompts a reshuffle in the loose forwards, with Wallace Sititi shifting to blindside flanker and Ardie Savea moving to No. 8. Two other changes are made in the forwards, as Ethan de Groot and Patrick Tuipulotu join the starting line-up at prop and lock, respectively. Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Fletcher Newell are set to provide prop cover, while Tupou Vaa’i will serve as the lock reserve.
Changes in the Backs
In the backs, Jordie Barrett has been sidelined this week with a knee injury, paving the way for Anton Lienert-Brown to start at second five-eighth and David Havili to join the reserves. Meanwhile, Mark Tele’a has recovered from a hand injury and will reclaim his spot on the right wing.
A Strong Line-up to Challenge Italy
As if Italy’s task wasn’t daunting enough, Scott Robertson has opted against rotating his squad, instead naming nearly his strongest possible lineup for the clash.
Contrary to expectations that the All Blacks might give their wider squad a chance, most changes to last weekend’s starting side, which narrowly lost to France, have been driven by injuries rather than selection strategy.
Ethan de Groot’s Return and Forward Adjustments
Ethan de Groot earns a return to the lineup following his off-field indiscretion, which had seen Tamaiti Williams preferred for the England, Ireland, and France tests. His recall, however, appears to come as a result of Williams being sidelined with a neck injury. Meanwhile, Patrick Tuipulotu makes the only direct change, starting at lock, with Tupou Vaa’i shifting to the bench.
A Final Test for Cane
Sam Cane returns to the starting lineup at openside flanker after missing last weekend’s match, prompting Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi to revert to No. 8 and blindside flanker, respectively. The match will mark Cane’s 105th and final Test for the All Blacks before he departs for a playing stint in Japan
Bench Changes and Returning Players
Samipeni Finau has been sidelined after sustaining a concussion last weekend, with Peter Lakai once again providing loose forward cover.
In the rest of the pack, Codie Taylor starts at hooker, and Tyrel Lomax takes the tighthead prop position. On the bench, Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, and Fletcher Newell offer support, with Newell stepping in for Pasilio Tosi, who featured in the last three tests.
Perenara’s Farewell Appearance
Cam Roigard retains the starting halfback role, but there’s a notable change on the bench as TJ Perenara comes in to play his final test for the All Blacks. Fittingly, Perenara will conclude his test career in a familiar role, with 61 of his 89 caps earned as a replacement.
Anton Lienert-Brown replaces the injured Jordie Barrett at second five-eighth, while Mark Tele’a returns to the right wing, taking over from Sevu Reece. The rest of the backline remains unchanged, featuring Beauden Barrett at first five-eighth, Rieko Ioane at center, Caleb Clarke on the left wing, and Will Jordan at fullback.
David Havili joins the bench for his first appearance since the comfortable win over Japan, while Damian McKenzie retains the No. 23 jersey.
Historic Match in Turin
The All Blacks are set to play in Turin for the first time, marking a historic occasion as the inaugural rugby test at Juventus Football Club’s 42,000-seat Allianz Stadium.
A Special Milestone for Rieko Ioane
This match carries added significance for center Rieko Ioane, who made his Test debut against Italy eight years ago in Rome. In that memorable 68-10 victory, a young Ioane came off the bench to score his first Test try. Now, eight years on, Ioane has established himself as a key figure in the All Blacks, amassing 80 caps and scoring 37 tries.
Teams and Match Stats
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cam Roigard 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele’a 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Tupou Vaa’i 20. Peter Lakai 21. TJ Perenara 22. David Havili 23. Damian McKenzie
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
STATS… Played: 16
Won: All Blacks 16
Last time: All Blacks 96, Italy 17 (29 September 2023 – Rugby World Cup)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
In other games, France v Argentina, Ireland v Fiji, Wales v South Africa, Scotland v Australia, and England v Japan.
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