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The All Blacks are on the road again and they'll be taking to the field against Italy at a sold-out San Siro in Milan to face Nick Mallett's Italy on Saturday afternoon. Graham Henry has rung the changes from last weekend's win over Wales and Mike Delany, Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison will all make their debuts in the backline.
Rodney So'oialo leads the visitors and is up against the best in the business in Italy's talisman Sergio Parisse. Can Italy cause the biggest upset of the season? Join us at ESPNScrum for full commentary at 15.00 local time (14.00 GMT) and watch it LIVE on ESPN in the UK and Ireland.
14.40 Hi, I'm Huw Baines and I'll be with you right the way through this fascinating showdown in Milan. The All Blacks' dirt-trackers will not want to let their squad down on such a big stage and the Azzurri will know that this is as good a chance as ever for an upset. Mike Delany is an interesting choice at fly-half, a silky runner with a great flair for finding space, he could overtake Stephen Donald as back-up to the suspended Dan Carter with a big performance here.
14.50 Martin Castrogiovanni could be key for Italy today. He's up against Wyatt Crockett a week after chewing up Gurthro Steenkamp in the colours of Leicester. Also, Italy have a classy centre pairing in Gonzalos Garcia and Canale - Luke McAlister won't want for a tough examination on his return to the side.
14.55 The San Siro looks incredible with a packed house - this is a big day for Italian rugby. Parisse leads his team out to a big roar, it's time for the anthems. No repeat of the shambles in France yesterday as the New Zealand anthem is belted out. There are tears in the eyes of some Italian players during the anthem - rousing stuff before the San Siro settles in for the Haka.
Mils Muliaina leads the Haka and it's Delany to kick-off. Ball is taken safely by Italy and cleared downfield by Tebaldi - knocked on by debutant Smith.
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The first scrum - Tebaldi to feed. Re-set and referee Dickinson gives a free-kick to the home side. Parisse takes quickly. Another scrum and this time it's a penalty against Crockett for collapsing.
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Gower is lining up the kick. He's hit that one well and it's a great start for the home side. Zanni takes the restart.
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| 3 |
3 - 0 |
All Blacks have the ball. Cory Jane flattened by Canale.
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Flynn carries, and it's penalty to the All Blacks as Italy are off their feet. Delany kicks to touch.
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Ball safely taken, Ellis snipes. All Blacks have a penalty for offside.
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| 6 |
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McAlister is lining up the long-range kick. No problem for the former Sale man.
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| 7 |
3 - 3 |
Gower counters from the restart and goes high to Ellis. Sivivatu kicks to Mirco Bergamasco who pins the ball deep in to All Black territory.
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| 8 |
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Ellis clears after Flynn goes over the top to the back.
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| 9 |
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Awkward ball from the lineout for Tebaldi and ABs have the ball. So'oialo rumbles on.
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| 10 |
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Another penalty to New Zealand, McAlister going for the sticks again.
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| 11 |
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He had the distance, but that one's been pushed wide. Fully 50 metres out there.
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| 12 |
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Parisse knocks on the restart. Smith breaks along his wing, chipping behind Bergamasco. The wing covers and takes the ball dead.
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3 - 6 |
Sivivatu hoists a high one McLean cleans up. Italy pinged again as Zanni goes rooting around in the ruck. McAlister going for the posts, much simpler shot and it's straight through.
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Gower kicks off, Ellis box kicks to clear. Parisse claims and sets up a ruck on halfway. Very slow ball for Mauro Bergamasco, in as temporary scrum-half.
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All Blacks in at the side, Gower bangs the penalty in to touch on the All Black 22.
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Safely taken by Parisse at the tail, Italy go for the maul. All Blacks make a mess of it and Tebaldi forced to kick to Jane, who takes an easy mark and clears. Tebaldi scampers back and clears to touch just inside his half.
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Italy get another bite at the All Black scrum for a knock-on. The Azzurri power straight through on Castro's side - another scrum penalty to the hosts.
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| 18 |
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Ball is sent in to touch, Italy have to take heart from their dominance in the scrum.
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| 19 |
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Parisse takes the lineout, Geldenhuys crashes it up in midfield. Gower and Bergamasco knocked back but the ball is unplayable - Italian put in just outside the All Black 22.
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Scrum is down twice, referee Dickinson not too worried at the moment. Tebaldi ordered to get the ball in.
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Another Italian penalty at the scrum - Castrogiovanni has Crockett's number. No bind from the Crusader.
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Gower pushes his kick wide - needed to take that chance.
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All Blacks have the ball, Messam swamped by the Italian defence. Turnover to Italy, ball chipped through by Canale but Jane cleans up well
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Sivivatu sparks a break, McAlister and Flynn there in support. Ellis is caught by the defence. Kaine Robertson charges down a poor pass but it's been knocked on and the Italy wing is called back.
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Another scrum - can Castro put the squeeze on in defence? Solid platform, Ellis goes. Chip through and Italy are offside. Delany snipes and Flynn crashes over in the corner. It's upstairs to the TMO. TMO Tim Hayes can't get a picture!
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3 - 11 |
Hayes has seen it at last and the hooker has scored - Robertson should have done so much better on his own line. McAlister is wide with the conversion.
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Gower's restart is claimed by Boric. Ghiraldini charges down Ellis' box kick. Flynn throws in but the ball is again charged down. Ghiraldini hacks through and Delaney covers in-goal. Zanni pinged for offside though so All Blacks clear to halfway.
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Tialata is cramped up by Ghiraldini and heaved in to touch. The hooker is having a busy few minutes and his throw isn't straight.
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Ball is fired infield, Ellison knocks on when looking for a switch with Delany.
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Tebaldi feeds, wheel is on the scrum and it goes down. Only a slip says Dickinson. Parisse picks up at the base, looks for Tebaldi and it's knocked on by a Kiwi hand. Gower fires a high-ball - marked and cleared by Sivivatu.
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McLean clears, sent back with interest by the All Blacks and it's an Italian 22 dropout.
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Zanni gathers, Italy drive over half-way. Garcia makes space for Robertson out wide and Tialata concedes the penalty for not rolling away.
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| 33 |
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Italy go to the corner as half-time nears. A score here would be very interesting. Del Fava claims, and Italy roll a maul through Parisse.
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| 34 |
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Maul hits the deck and the turnover is given to New Zealand - Italy hard done by there. Scrum down again, Parisse turns over the ball and fires infield to Gower, who knocks on. Awful mistake by the fly-half.
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Scrum is solid, Delany clears long. McLean clears back and Jane marks before firing a pass to Delany. Ellis kicks and Canale chips back before being taken out, crowd not happy with that but no action.
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All Blacks have it, Sivivatu caught by Castro in midfield. Donnelly levelled by Bergamasco but Canale concedes a penalty for going off his feet.
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3 - 14 |
McAlister guides over the penalty for a handy lead.
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| 38 |
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Gower's kick off is straight out - not the best few minutes from the ex-rugby league halfback.
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| 39 |
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Scrum is a mess, Ellis is caught by Bergamasco. Tialata offloads. Knocked on by So'oialo, Gower kicks and Jane covers immaculately.
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Jane kicks to touch to bring the half to an end. Italy can be pleased with certain aspects but they lack creativity in the backs - the scrum is all them though.
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McLean kicks off the second-half, taken by Ellis and cleared long. Parisse reclaims from a Delany kick but are pinged for sealing off.
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An early shot from McAlister, just inside the Italian half. He's again got the distance but it's wide.
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Jane kicks ahead, Parisse is again there to clear. A real mess as the sides trade kock-ons, Parisse eventually gets hold of the ball for Gower to clear.
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Smith and Jane combine out wide, sharp blast on the whistle and Gonzalo Garcia is in trouble Dangerous tackle and the centre is in the bin. An easier kick for McAlister now and he makes no mistake.
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3 - 17 |
Jane has plenty of time to clear, Gower takes a quick throw and cleared long. Delany makes a hash of it and it's a scrum to Italy on the All Black 22.
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Tebaldi feeds and it's another powerful rumble from the Italian pack.
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Crockett has been turned in, Parisse picks up and drives on. Canale flies towards the line off a switch by Gower but is stopped just short - ref gives the put in to New Zealand and there's some handbags.
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All Blacks keep possession, Delany clears to the 22.
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| 48 |
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Ghiraldini finds Geldenhuys, Italy again turn to the maul. They're still going but ignore Dickinson's shouts to use it and lose the ball.
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Ellis rescues the ball and clears to McLean. His kick is fielded by Jane, who sets off and finds McAlister in support.
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Superb cross kick finds Smith, Ellis carries on the movement but is bundled in to touch. Ref has seen a knock-on.
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| 51 |
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Ellis feeds and Delany goes himself. Ball goes to Latimer who goes to within two metres but the ball is lost forward and Tebaldi gratefully bangs it clear. Flynn goes to the back, Ellis finds Messam in midfield. Delany caught by Geldenhuys.
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Parisse flies in and wins the ball, Bergamasco plays scrum-half and Gower clears his lines.
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Flynn throws and the ball goes in to Delany who flies in to the defence. Castrogiovanni grabs Ellis, who knocks on and concedes the a penalty as he tries to regain.
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| 54 |
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Ball is in touch, Ghiraldini's throw is terrible through and goes straight to Tialata. Delany clears and McLean finds a decent touch in response.
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| 55 |
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All Blacks calmly gather the ball and clear, Italy take their time with the ball in a ruck before Tebaldi box kicks it clear for Jane to cover.
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| 56 |
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Sivivatu is caught by Zanni, a panicky Ellison throws the ball in to touch. Ball has gen forward and Italy have the scrum.
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| 57 |
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Another penalty duly arrives as Crockett again hits the deck. Gower is going for the posts.
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6 - 17 |
That's a good kick and just reward. Still nothing happening in the backs though.
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| 59 |
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Bergamasco knocks on the restart. Scrum is all over the place but kept by New Zealand until Smith runs on to a forward pass by Delany.
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| 60 |
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Tebaldi feeds and McLean clears to Sivivatu. All Blacks have a penalty, quickly taken by Jimmy Cowan.
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| 61 |
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Cowan chips on but McLean collects under no real pressure and clears well. Ball is lost forward at the lineout by New Zealand.
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| 62 |
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Cowan clears up for Delany, who chips directly in to touch to give possession back to Italy.
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| 63 |
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Italian lineout is a mess, Ellison takes the ball in to contact. All Blacks have the advantage as Italy are offside.
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| 64 |
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Ball is sent in to touch, All Blacks have the lineout on the Italy 22. Bergamasco has snaffled it at the tail, Gower sees some space and kicks behind Jane. The fullback clears to touch but a decent gain for Italy.
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| 65 |
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Italy have the ball, and keep it tight. They're edging forward inch by inch, Gower eventually goes for the cross kick but Jane is again there to deal with it. He's been absolutely immaculate.
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| 66 |
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Ghiraldini again makes a mess of his throw but Italy are saved by a forward pass from the All Blacks.
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| 67 |
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The All Blacks have a penalty at the scrum and McAlister is going for the posts.Not a popular decision and he's missed it -off the post.
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| 68 |
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Bergamasco tidies up and the ball is cleared to touch by McLean. Lineout works well for New Zealand and Parisse is pinged for not releasing - anther chance for McAlister.
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This one is over and the All Blacks are all but home and dry now.
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Parisse has other ideas and chips over the defence before gathering and setting off. His break is followed up by Bergamasco but the momentum is slowed by a poor pass to McLean. Latimer goes over the top - cynical. Parisse's break deserved better, sheer class.
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6 - 20 |
Ball is in to touch. Short lineout taken by Parisse. Maul rolls on and the All Blacks smuggle the ball in to touch.
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| 72 |
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Ball is safe for Italy and they go route one again. Ongaro is isolated but keeps hold of it - ref gives the scrum to Italy five metres out.
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| 73 |
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Parisse controls at the base but the front-rows are up as Italy steam towards the line. Re-set.
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| 74 |
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The All Blacks shove back but concede the penalty as Messam detaches his bind to disrupt the ball.
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| 75 |
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Scrum again goes down - fine for the All Blacks as time ticks away. Another penalty - the All Blacks are perilously close to penalty try territory now.
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| 76 |
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Parisse animatedly calls for the scrum again - no prisoners. Tialata can't deal with the pressure and is down again. Crowd is going wild as time ticks away.
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Another penalty against the All Blacks and Tialata is on his way to the bin. The clock should be stopped in situations like this - completely unfair to Italy.
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| 78 |
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Another penalty against New Zealand - where is the penalty try? Another mess in the scrum. The All Blacks will do this all day if Dickinson lets them.
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| 79 |
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It's down again - this is becoming a farce. Parisse is forced to pick up off sloppy ball, Bergamasco carries on. Italy still have it.
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| 80 |
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Time is up and Italy power on inch by inch. Another penalty comes to Italy and it's a call for the scrum. Parisse picks up, So'oialo stops him and the final whistle goes to a chorus of boos in the crowd. A dreadful end to the game and no advert in such surroundings. Italy were brave but limited - the All Blacks edged the majority but will have plenty to reflect on. Thanks for joining us and remember to stay tuned to ESPNScrum for LIVE commentary on Ireland's showdown with Australia on Sunday - kick-off is 15.00GMT. See you then.
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