The All Blacks recorded an unconvincing 27-6 win over a spirited Italian outfit in their final Test ahead of the Tri-Nations series, in front of a sparse crowd at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday.

New Zealand scored more points than Italy, and yet at the end of it you would have thought New Zealand had lost and it was Italy who were the winners. The Italian coaching staff beamed happiness and slapped backs while their New Zealand counterparts were gloomy and soggy - as they often are. Italian captain Sergio Parisse could say how proud he was of his players while New Zealand captain Mils Muliaina was rueful and admitted to a team "bollocking" at half-time.

This was supposed to have been a tour from hell for the Azzurri - two Tests against Australia and one against New Zealand , a hard enough task made tougher by the withdrawal of several top players. But Italy has probably never tried harder on the rugby field or played with such intensity.

They played simple rugby - kicking the ball into New Zealand territory to enjoy nearly 70% of territory in the game, and then they tackled around the ankles to stay there.

The All Blacks had little flow or continuity in their game, tending to play one at a time. The trouble started at flyhalf where Luke McAlister had a poor game. His skill and judgement both let him down badly, except for one or two good moments. As a result Ma'a Nonu had only scraps to play with and wings Lelia Masaga on debut and Joe Rokocoko seldom had space.

The All Blacks were intent on running the ball but by and large the Italian tackling mastered them.

It was not a satisfying game - unless you were an Italian.

The All Blacks had several debutants - Lelia Masaga who was one of the few to sing the Maori part of the national anthem and who ran but had few real opportunities, Wyatt Crockett who was subbed early in the second half on a night of sloppy scrumming, Owen Franks, George Whitelock who scored a try and Aled de Malmanche who got on in the last few minutes to win his first cap.

Craig Gower kicked off and from the start the All Blacks tried to run, right from their line but the Italians kept mowing them down. McAlister used the short chip, which nearly worked the second time; the Italians kicked the high ball.

The Italians were penalised several times early on and when Sergio Parisse, who had an mediocre game by his lights, was penalised for being offside at a tackle, McAlister goaled. 3-0 after 8 minutes.

McAlister kicked well for a line-out in Italian territory. Isaac Ross stole the line-out and McAlister kicked wide to the left where the Italian defence was thin because Gonzalo Garcia was being attended to for an injury. Rokocoko was unchallengEd in catching the ball but then had to work hard as Luke Mclean and Kane Robertson sought to stop him. McAlister converted from fat out. 10-0 after 23 minutes.

Parisse was penalised for being offside at a tackle/ruck, a doubtful decision, but McAlister goaled 13-0 after 26 minutes.

From a deep line-out Italy attacked with quick passing and a burst by Mirco Bergamasco. Nonu was penalised at the tackle and McLean goaled the easy kick. 13-3 after 32 minutes. That was the half-time score despite a great break by Mils Muliaina.

Italy attacked with many phases till Parisse tried a wonky drop and the All Blacks countered.

Ross had a long and storming run down the left and the ball went right to Masaga who chipped. Four players converged on the ball as it bounced at the Italian goal-line - Masaga and Kiernan Read of New Zealand and McLean and Robertson of Italy. The matter was referred to the television match official who eventually reported that Masaga had pushed McLean and deserved a penalty.

Just before the end of the match the All Blacks attacked from a line-out and were close. This time Piri Weepu was penalised for holding on.

Isaia Toeava, the most thrustful back on the field, was offside at a kick and Mclean made the score 13-6 after 53 minutes.

Three minutes later the All Blacks increased their lead when they went through many phases and Toeava burst past Alessandro Zanni before giving a perfect inside pass to tall Ross who loped over to the posts for a try which McAlister converted. 20-6.

Ross had a long run down the left past many would-be tacklers, an easy, relaxed run it seemed. The All Blacks went right and then came back left where Whitelock juggled a pass and dived over for a try. 27-6 after 67 minutes.

That was the final score.

Man of the Match: Isaac Ross did great things, Brad Thorn sturdy things and Jerome Kaino strong things but the All Black who made the difference the shining gem of the match, was the captain Mils Muliaina, especially in the first half.

Moment of the Match: Isaac Ross's giraffe-like lope down the field which ended in a try for George Whitelock.

Villain of the Match: Sergio Parisse may well be in trouble as the ends of his finger got close to Isaac Ross's eyes at a maul.

The Scorers:

For New Zealand
Tries: Rokocoko, Ross, Whitelock
Con: McAlister 2
Pen: McAlister 2

For Italy:
Pen: McLean, Pratichetti

Teams:

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Bryn Evans, 20 George Whitelock, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Cory Jane.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Ignacio Rouyet, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Franco Sbaraglini, 17 Fabio Staibano, 18 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Guilio Toniolatti, 21 Kristopher Burton, 22 Matteo Pratichetti.