The All Blacks are set to conclude the 2024 season with a match against Italy at Juventus’ iconic home, the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
Match details: All Blacks vs. Italy, Saturday 23 November, 9:10pm CET (Sunday 24 November, 9:10am NZT), Allianz Stadium, Turin
Number of plays: 16
Winner: All Blacks 16
Previous: All Blacks 96, Italy 17 (29 September 2023 – Rugby World Cup)
Referee: Pierre Bourset (FFR)
final fling
The final match of the All Blacks’ Northern Tour will be the last game in the black jersey for long-serving All Blacks Sam Cane and TJ Perenara. Kane will wear the No. 7 shirt at the end of his glittering All Blacks career, but half-back Perenara will make his trademark high-energy impact off the bench against Italy in Turin on Saturday night. Probably.
Kane’s return has created a gradual reshuffling of the forwards, with Wallace Sititi returning to the blindside and Ardie Savea taking up the number eight role. There are two more changes to the forwards, with prop Ethan de Groot and lock Patrick Tuipulotu joining the starting line-up. Ofa Tungafasi and Fletcher Newell will cover the props and Tupou Vaai will cover the locks.
With Jordy Barrett out this week with a knee injury, Anton Lienert-Brown will start at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 8 for the Bucks, with David Havili in reserve. Marc Telea has recovered from a hand injury and is back on the right wing.
razor words
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said his team had prepared well for the Italian side, who brought a lot of energy to the final week of the tour and proved they could challenge the best teams. “This Italian team has made a huge impact on the international stage this year, performing well in the Six Nations with wins over Scotland and Wales and a draw against France. He is preparing for the final test of the tour in Italy, physically and full of motivation.
“This will be a great occasion as it will be our first match in Turin, our last match of the 2024 Test season and a farewell match for Sam and TJ. We are determined to end the season in a way that honors and celebrates their contributions.”
return to the beginning
The match has special significance for center Rieko Ioane, who made his Test debut against Italy in Rome eight years ago. On that memorable day, the All Blacks won a resounding 68-10, with young Ioane coming off the bench to score his first Test try. Eight years on, Ioane has become a lynchpin for the All Blacks, winning 80 caps and crossing the tryline 37 times.
Looking back on her journey, Ioane said, “I was very young and enthusiastic back then, and I still have that hunger and passion.”
With the final race of the season just around the corner, Ioane and his teammates are determined to finish on a high note. “We are focusing on reflecting on our loss against France and putting in a performance that we can be proud of,” he said. “It all started with a great week of preparation and so far it’s been that way.”
look around the world
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team
All Blacks (uppercase letters in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (28) 2. Cody Taylor (95) (Vice Captain) 3. Tyrell Lomax (43) 4. Scott Barrett (79) (Captain) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (50) 6. Wallace City (9) ) 7. Sam Cane (103) 8. Ardie Savea (93) (Vice-captain) 9. Kamroy Guard (9) 10. Beauden Barrett (133) 11. Caleb Clark (28) 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (83) 13. Rieko Ioane (80) 14. Mark Telea (18) 15. Will Jordan (40)
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (19) 17. Ofa Tungafasi (67) 18. Fletcher Newell (21) 19. Tupou Vaai (37) 20. Peter Lakai (2) 21. TJ Perenara (88) 22. David Havili (29) 23. Damian McKenzie (61)
Italy
1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Federico Luzza, 5 Dino Lam, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Ross Vincent, 9 Martin Pagerello, 10 Paolo Garbisi , 11 Monti Ioane, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), 14 Jacopo Trulla, 15 Ange Capozzo.
Reserves: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnuolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Niccolo Canone, 20 Alessandro Izecole, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Marco Zanon
