Rokocoko smashes record in New Zealand rout of Italy

New Zealand 70 Italy 7

Flying winger Joe Rokocoko smashed a New Zealand try-scoring record as the All Blacks struck an emphatic first blow in their World Cup campaign with a free-scoring rout of Italy.

The 20-year-old scored two of the All Blacks’ 11 tries, taking his tally to 13 in just eight Tests to break the New Zealand record for tries in a calendar year.

Rokocoko only made his Test debut against England in June, but surpassed legendary All Black figures Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen as he caused devastation down New Zealand’s left flank.

Rokocoko’s all-round contribution was stunning, but his try double was matched by fly-half Carlos Spencer and Doug Howlett.

Lock Brad Thorn, who set the ball rolling after 11 minutes, captain Reuben Thorne, Daniel Carter and Leon MacDonald completed a rout that earned New Zealand a bonus point.

It will also rank as one of the heftiest victories in World Cup history, along with the 70-6 scoreline the championship-bound All Blacks of 1987 managed in the opening game of the inaugural tournament.

That and the 101-3 thumping the Azzurri suffered at Huddersfield in 1999 were both in the top five biggest winning margins – and today’s emphatic effort will be up there too.

Despite the lopsided scoreline and incredible try count, Italy put up a plucky fight of things – particularly considering they were forced to compromise over their starting team selection.

With a game on Wednesday against Tonga, coach John Kirwan left some of his big names on the bench but promised an exciting brand of “reckless” rugby from those that took the field.

Half-backs Matteo Mazzantini and Francesco Mazzariol both put in spirited displays and it was their efforts that set the platform for Matthew Phillips to score Italy’s consolation.

It had looked bleak for Italy just 20 seconds in, when New Zealand-born flanker Scott Palmer was penalised for holding on under his own posts.

Spencer, who had led a New Zealand haka that reverberated around the Telstra Dome, slotted the easy kick and the All Blacks were on their way.

Handed the early initiative, the All Blacks maintained pressure throughout with immaculate handling and stunning running, scoring four tries for a 25-0 half-time advantage.

For all the press about their backs, it was Thorne who struck the first blow by charging through the defensive live to touch down.

Having been broken through the middle, Italy then succumbed to quick hands out wide as Keven Mealamu and Rokocoko combined to send skipper Thorne over.

Spencer, however, missed both conversions from an eminently kickable position - a factor that was unlikely to prove telling today but promises to be crucial as the tournament wears on.

But with the ball in hand they remain exceptional and, as if to prove they can do it all, New Zealand stung Italy with a blistering 95-metre counter-attack.

Rokocoko swept back to clean up a chip forward and feed Carter, who stepped inside a tackle and burst clear.

He then beat four men before handing on to Howlett and the former schoolboy sprint champion, unstoppable in the clear, raced over for his 25th Test try.

In the same passage, Umaga had gone down with a knee problem and he was swiftly replaced by Wellington colleague Ma’a Nonu who shone from midfield.

Just three minutes before the interval, New Zealand sealed the first bonus point of the World Cup as Rokocoko again burst down the left wing, feinted to wrong-foot the last man and then fed Spencer for the All Blacks’ fourth try.

That was improved on in the second half as New Zealand ran in five scores, starting just two minutes after the restart as Italy struggled to deal with two high balls from Spencer, the second of which was cleaned up by Rokocoko.

The precocious talent flicked the ball up off the deck to prop Dave Hewitt who fed Howlett in the clear and he ran in unopposed for his second score of what was by now an horrendously one-sided encounter.

Italy to their credit refused to buckle and hit back with a clever break from Mazzacato down the line.

He stepped Rokocoko out of the game, but neither fly-half Mazzariol nor his scrum-half Mazzantini could touch down.

The latter was held up over the line, as was Gert Peens before number eight Phillips – the other New Zealand-born player in the Italian side – dived over for his second Test try.

The All Blacks regathered their shape and finished in complete control.

Magnificent vision from Spencer and then stunningly quick hands from Howlett sent Rokocoko over in the corner before a break from Nonu left Spencer clear to cross as New Zealand led 42-7.

Justin Marshall then scampered over for another after 64 minutes, his 23rd in Test matches for the All Blacks as Italy began to ring the changes.

But they could not stem the flow as Rokocoko spun out of Mazzariol’s attempted tackle on the right and fed inside centre Carter for his first and New Zealand’s ninth try of the game.

Rokocoko then burst clear onto a Nonu pass, set the new record and was promptly replaced after pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Leon MacDonald took his place and completed the rout just seconds before the hooter.