My own slight complaints are Taylor at hooker and ALB on the bench. Otherwise pretty good team for Italy.
NC: All Blacks
Match thread
Italy
@mariner4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
oh good so BB v Ireland? When has that ever gone wrong?
Let's hope it is just a brief cameo and a farewell from the bench.
I really dislike the way he is blocking younger talent from the squad, but maybe a standing ovation from Eden Park as he comes on with four minutes to go against Ireland would be a fitting way for a once (and it was a decade ago) great All Black to end his international career?
@sparky said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@mariner4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
oh good so BB v Ireland? When has that ever gone wrong?
Let's hope it is just a brief cameo and a farewell from the bench.
I really dislike the way he is blocking younger talent from the squad, but maybe a standing ovation from Eden Park as he comes on with four minutes to go against Ireland would be a fitting way for a once (and it was a decade ago) great All Black to end his international career?
I'd still be very surprised if he doesn't travel to South Africa, but Eden Park could be his last Test.
Italy team to play New Zealand
Starting XV
- Danilo Fischetti
- Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
- Marco Riccioni
- Niccolò Cannone
- Andrea Zambonin
- Ross Vintcint
- Michele Lamaro (C)
- Lorenzo Cannone
- Stephen Varney
- Paolo Garbisi
- Louis Lynach
- Tommaso Menoncello
- Juan Ignacio Brex
- Malik Faissal
- Tommaso Allan
Reserves - Gianmarco Lucchesi
- Mirco Spagnolo
- Muhamed Hasa
- Giulio Marini *
- Federico Ruzza
- Riccardo Favretto
- Alessandro Garbisi
- Leonardo Marin
- Denotes uncapped
@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Italy team to play New Zealand
Starting XV
- Danilo Fischetti
- Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
- Marco Riccioni
- Niccolò Cannone
- Andrea Zambonin
- Ross Vintcint
- Michele Lamaro (C)
- Lorenzo Cannone
- Stephen Varney
- Paolo Garbisi
- Louis Lynach
12. Tommaso Menoncello- Juan Ignacio Brex
- Malik Faissal
- Tommaso Allan
Reserves- Gianmarco Lucchesi
- Mirco Spagnolo
- Muhamed Hasa
- Giulio Marini *
- Federico Ruzza
- Riccardo Favretto
- Alessandro Garbisi
- Leonardo Marin
- Denotes uncapped
Class player, potential to be the best in the world.
Here’s a stat, Roigard, Love, J Barrett and Proctor have a 91% winning record when starting together. Hope that carries on well into the future.
@Victor-Meldrew said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Italy are developing some pretty classy players these days and are no longer easy-beats. Lamoro and Garbisi are also up there.
Think Saturday's game will be a fun watch and maybe a bit closer than expected
Think it depends on the weather. Wouldn't be surprised if it ends up a bit like the last time Italy came to NZ.
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Here’s a stat, Roigard, Love, J Barrett and Proctor have a 91% winning record when starting together. Hope that carries on well into the future.
Your loyalty knows no bounds 
@zedsdeadbaby said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
The Rugby Direct guys mentioned a stat that it’s the first time Jacobson has started back to back test weeks.
That is true.
He has started 11 tests and has only started in consecutive tests back in 2021, but there was a 3 week gap between those tests.
@BerniesCorner said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Here’s a stat, Roigard, Love, J Barrett and Proctor have a 91% winning record when starting together. Hope that carries on well into the future.
Your loyalty knows no bounds
Sky Sport shared it on the test preview show, thought it would be rude not to share. 
@mariner4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
oh good so BB v Ireland? When has that ever gone wrong?
And he’ll play the house down and start the first Boks test.
@ACT-Crusader I used to think you were a good guy
@ACT-Crusader that is his hair
@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Italy team to play New Zealand
Starting XV
- Danilo Fischetti
- Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
- Marco Riccioni
- Niccolò Cannone
- Andrea Zambonin
- Ross Vintcint
- Michele Lamaro (C)
- Lorenzo Cannone
- Stephen Varney
- Paolo Garbisi
- Louis Lynach
12. Tommaso Menoncello- Juan Ignacio Brex
- Malik Faissal
- Tommaso Allan
Reserves- Gianmarco Lucchesi
- Mirco Spagnolo
- Muhamed Hasa
- Giulio Marini *
- Federico Ruzza
- Riccardo Favretto
- Alessandro Garbisi
- Leonardo Marin
- Denotes uncapped
Class player, potential to be the best in the world.
Hmmm, I love cold glass of Menoncello as a digestif.
@ACT-Crusader said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@mariner4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
oh good so BB v Ireland? When has that ever gone wrong?
And he’ll play the house down and start the first Boks test.
4 tries and hold the ABs record
I’m more interested in what the pass mark is this week than the final margin.
I’d be looking at the quality of the performance: keeping Italy to maybe 15 points or fewer while winning comfortably, dominating the set piece and breakdown, being clinical with scoring opportunities, avoiding individual greed once the result is beyond doubt, cutting down the errors from last week, controlling territory and possession and controlling the game for the full 80 minutes.
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
similar thoughts, proctor has the chanse to step up, shore up that midfield defence and link with the rest of the backline, relist goals i think
@Kiwiwomble said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
chanse
That's got to be a league player's name.
They might get 40 minutes each against Ireland. Half a game each against the same opposition (each half can be different with subs on and player fatigue) might go some way to finalising a decision about who gets first crack in South Africa.
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
@reprobate I'm indifferent to whether they choose Tupaea or Proctor at 13. They have different strengths but I think they are of equal quality at 13. I would prefer Tupaea at 12 but am happy with Jordi who has the all court game and the combination with Love, Roigard and potentially Proctor.
@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.
QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.
@scribe said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Hmmm, I love cold glass of Menoncello as a digestif.
No no no Menoncello is a collaboratively played large string instrument. in the key of C...
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.
QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.
To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.
I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.
QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.
To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.
I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)
I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from Tonga Australia Scotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.
@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.
QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.
To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.
I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)
I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from
TongaAustraliaScotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.
Good options there. I think if Menoncello was playing for SA it wouldn't be a discussion.
@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.
QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.
To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.
I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)
I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from
TongaAustraliaScotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.
Boks have 3 - De Allende, Esterhuizen and Willemse (who played 12 in the 10-43 last year).
De Allende is the best 12 in the world right now and has been for several years.
@stodders Personally I think Esterhuizen is better than De Allende. More powerful 120kgs and has a better passing game. De Allende is very experienced and makes very few errors. I wouldn't be surprised if Esterhuizen is starting at 12 by WC next year unless they want him to specialize as a bench, impact, hybrid type player.
@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week
Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.
true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.
QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.
To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.
I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)
I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from
TongaAustraliaScotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.
Tuipulotu from what I understand has never been to Tonga , I actually know someone who played juniors with him at Frankston rugby club in Melbourne. His dad is Tongan and his mum is Italian/scot decent. But born and bred in Frankston Melbourne, he openly jokes about his bogan Frankston accent .
One that got away for the wallabies , but at the time when he got the Glasgow offer he didnt think higher opportunities would come his way , he had trouble getting a gametime with the rebels .
@kiwiinmelb Pellegrini -Tuipulotu-Ikitau would certainly raise some eyebrows.
@Rugbyman said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@stodders Personally I think Esterhuizen is better than De Allende. More powerful 120kgs and has a better passing game. De Allende is very experienced and makes very few errors. I wouldn't be surprised if Esterhuizen is starting at 12 by WC next year unless they want him to specialize as a bench, impact, hybrid type player.
They’re about the same despite the size difference.
SA having both of them AND Willemse is just unfair on other nations….