A hurting All Blacks outfit will be looking to end their 2024 season in style when they tackle Italy at Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday. Shaun Goosen previews.
Autumn Nations Series
Italy v New Zealand
Saturday 23 November, 22:10
Allianz Stadium, Turin
The Italians will be up against it on Saturday evening when the All Blacks come to town. A drubbing at the hands of Argentina was followed up by a meek win against Georgia last week. If the Azzurri are off the boil at all come Saturday evening they could be in for another drubbing at the hands of the Kiwis.
To Win Match
Italy 13/1 | Draw 58/1 | New Zealand 1/100
Handicap
Italy (+28.5) 9/10 | New Zealand (-28.5) 9/10
The Azzurri did well to come back and beat Georgia a week ago in a Test match that they could (and arguably should) have lost. Although they deserve plaudits for getting over the line in the end, there’s an argument to be made that an Italy side that has shown such improvement under Gonzalo Quesada should be claiming a far more convincing result over the Georgians at home than the 20-17 scoreline they ultimately achieved.
They now face the All Blacks for the first time since their 96-17 humiliation in Lyon at last year’s World Cup, and while a similar result is unlikely, the odds are certainly stacked against them.
In spite of their 29-30 loss to France in Paris a week ago, there’s a real sense that the ABs are beginning to find their feet under Scott Robertson which spells bad news for the rest of the world heading into the 2025 season.
In all honesty, the Stade de France Test could have gone either way and with the pain of that defeat still so fresh in the memory, one would think New Zealand’s ruthlessness will be dialled up one or two notches come kick-off.
Sam Cane is back and starts in what will be his final international, with TJ Perenara, named on the bench, also set to run out for his swansong. In more changes from last week, Ethan de Groot, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mark Tele’a and Anton Lienert-Brown all earn places in the run-on XV.
Verdict: All Blacks (-28.5) 9/10
In their final game of a trying year, bank on the Kiwis picking up a big win in Turin.
