“the all black bear is now wide awake and angry”, according to foreign media

“In 2019, the Pool B match [du Mondial de rugby au Japon] between the All Blacks and Italy had been canceled due to a typhoon. Four years later, Italy was hit by an All Blacks hurricane. » At the kick-off in Lyon, Friday September 29, the weather looked like Indian summer, but the New Zealanders, “fast and fierce”unleashed the elements on the Italians, suffocates the Australian media The Roar.

With fourteen tries with two players registered, and a final scoreboard at 96-17 in favor of New Zealand, the observation is clear for the Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport : “The All Blacks have become the All Blacks again. » “Mamma mia!” »exclaims The Roar. “Eighty minutes of destructive, precise, controlled and utterly brilliant rugby”this is what coach Ian Foster’s players proposed on the pitch at the OL Stadium summary The New Zealand Herald.

Criticized by the press for several months due to lackluster results, “The All Blacks have calmed some nerves in New Zealand and sent shivers down the spines of many around the world after delivering a performance that proved the bear is tired of being stung and is now okay awake and angry »continues the Kiwi daily.

“New Zealand wiped them out »

From winger Will Jordan’s first try (in the 6th minute), and despite five good first Italian minutes, “the All Blacks did everything well, stealing the balls in the rucks, dominating the touches, exploiting the mauls”synthesizes La Gazzetta.

The English referee, Matthew Carley, “could have whistled the end of the match at half-time”jokes The Roar. The score was then 49-3, thanks in particular to the strong passes of scrum half Aaron Smith, author of a hat-trick.

Italy responded upon returning from the locker room with a try from Ange Capuozzo, trained in Grenoble and current Stade Toulouse player, before the Blacks pushed their opponents even further during this “memorable evening” For The Roar, and especially for New Zealand second row Sam Whitelock. At 34, he became the most capped player in All Blacks history, surpassing the 148 caps legendary Richie McCaw.

“Italy are supposed to be a safe bet these days, and they caused problems for France and Ireland in the Six Nations Tournament this year, wonders the chronicler of NZ HeraldGregor Paul. But New Zealand wiped them out. She physically crushed them, then put them through an aerobics competition that they were completely unable to handle. »

A message to Ireland

“It’s a hard lesson, (…) which takes the Azurri back twenty years”regrets the journalist La Gazzetta, Claudio Lenzi. This 96-17 is in fact part of an old tradition of defeat suffered by Italy against the Blacks in the World Cup, between the 101-3 in 1999, the 70-7 in 2003 and the 76-14 in 2007. “Better to turn the page”adds the Milanese newspaper, since the Italians retain a slim chance of qualifying for the direct elimination phase if they manage to largely defeat the XV of France in Lyon on October 6.

For its part, New Zealand sends a message to Ireland, its probable quarter-final opponent. According to The NZ Heraldthe master class inflicted on the Italians “will undoubtedly cause Irish coach Andy Farrell to wake up in the middle of the night (…)heart racing, palms sweating as once again, his team prepares to meet the All Blacks who are now running at full speed..

In 2019, in Japan, the two teams had already faced each other at this stage of the competition. New Zealand then made short work of Ireland (46-14).