Italy v NZ

Karl Dickson cost Italy a probable try there by blowing too early ...

NZ really sloppy so far - knock-ons, forward passes (actually getting spotted for a change) and pens all over the place ...

A quarter of the match gone and still 0-0 ... although should probably be 7-0 to Italy ...

Couple of quick tries and NZ starting to pull away finally

21-6 at half time - all NZ tries from short range .... handling has been shockingly bad by NZ standards

Some savage barbers in NZ these days.

The score is the score but doesn't really reflect the majority of the match and as mentioned Italy hard done by not to get a try early on thanks to a blunder by the ref ... NZ lacked their usual fluency with ball in hand until late on - even for a B team.

Italy did well in defence and forced NZ to play tight.

Italy should be looking for two wins v Argentina and Uraguary giving them a truer reflection of where they are.  Ioane ran riot, against weaker teams should get a few tries.  Need to work on lineout and scrum or their defence is pointless.

While NZ weren't first choice was disappointed by D Mc who was constantly getting flattened.  Just like Fiji game 1 and SA, NZ under Foster struggle at the breakdown against physical teams.  Ireland and France should either confirm that theory or show it to rubbish.  That fact they went nearly 30mins before getting a try must be worrying as was their long periods of going nowhere. Also Italy played a good kicking game at home that NZ didn't deal with great.

Ref was ok for 95%. Blew up to early for the non try and called an early engage when Italy simple bent down to bind.  Issued a warning to NZ after a string of breakdown issues but never followed through when it happened second half. Maybe I was one eyed