Mitchell expects physical contests

New Zealand coach John Mitchell insisted the All Blacks have “everything to gain” from their four Pool D clashes despite expectations they will breeze through to the quarter-finals without breaking stride.

The All Blacks, as they did at the inaugural World Cup in 1987, open their campaign against Italy tomorrow before taking on Canada, Tonga and then Wales.

Mitchell plans to use every member of his 30-man squad during the opening stage of the tournament, but rejected claims New Zealand could reach the knock-out stages underdone.

“For those of us who have experienced the World Cup, this is a big stage for everyone,” said Mitchell, who worked as England assistant coach at the last tournament.

“For everyone we play in our pool, it is their big moment. They will be very physical contests and we expect that.

“It is what we have got to deal with and we are more than happy. We have everything to gain, four 80-minute performances is fantastic grounding for us.”

Italy have a predictably poor record against New Zealand, suffering two of the five largest World Cup defeats at the hands of the All Blacks.

That opening match in 1987, when current Italy coach John Kirwan scored one of the World Cup’s finest tries for the All Blacks, finished 70-6 and four years ago New Zealand won 101-3 in Huddersfield.

Only last year, Italy were thumped 64-10 in Waikato by a New Zealand side that began the Test with just two of tomorrow’s starting XV, in winger Doug Howlett and current skipper Reuben Thorne.

Both will line up tomorrow in Mitchell’s strongest available side, with only Ali Williams and Aaron Mauger missing through injury.

Despite that, and a record of six wins from six Tests against the Azzurri, Mitchell expects a tough opening encounter and praised the work Kirwan has done in transforming the Italians’ game.

“They will be physical. They have had a very good build-up, including a tour of New Zealand provincial sides and had three good warm-up Tests,” said Mitchell.

“John has progressed the side over there. They are not so much forward orientated, they seem to play right across the board.”

That has been Kirwan’s aim since he took over the reins.

Comparing their style with the way Italians drive their cars, Kirwan wanted to channel the Azzurri’s natural flair and enthusiasm onto the rugby field.

“When we started out a year ago, what we wanted to do was to find our spirit,” he said.

“That is to have enough organisation to compete at this level but to have enough flair and unpredictability to be difficult to handle.

“That is pretty much how we drive in Italy. We want to go out there and stay within the laws but be a little bit reckless at times.

“We will go into every game trying to score four tries and get the full five points.”

To do that against New Zealand would have been a tough ask with Italy’s first-choice XV all available, but the draw has forced Kirwan into a difficult compromise.

He has had to split his first-choice players over two matches because of the insufficient recovery time between the All Blacks game and Italy’s second pool match in Canberra on Wednesday.

With Tonga in mind, the likes of squad captain Alessandro Troncon will start from the bench tomorrow, but Kirwan was quick to explain the side to play New Zealand is not a ‘B’ team, just the best way to handle a difficult situation.

“Because of our draw with a game, three days off, and then Tonga, it has put us into a situation where we have to balance,” he said.

“We have decided to take our first two games of the tournament together.

“We decided a long time ago we wouldn’t play a B side because we don’t think that is good for the tournament.

“We have got to have a good game against the All Blacks, so we have picked two sides that are suited to the opposition.

“I am very confident the side taking the field is the best side to play the All Blacks.”

“The side that starts this campaign needs to have a fantastic performance. We need to walk off the field with confidence and with our heads held high.”

Troncon admitted he was “unhappy” with the situation, but accepted Kirwan had made the right decision.

“Even though only 15 can be on the field, we are a side of 30. We are a tight group and there is no problem for me,” he said.