New Zealand ensured that their unbeaten record against Italy stayed in tact after they triumphed 20-6 at a jam-packed San Siro Stadium in Milan on Saturday.

All Black hooker Cory Flynn scored the only try of the match with Luke Mc McAlister kicking five penalties while Italy's points came via Craig Gower's two succesfull penalty kicks.

The Italians were up for the big occasion in front of 80,000 vociferous fans and they took the fight to their more illustrious opponents.

It was the 13th time the two sides meet with the All Blacks having won every previous encounter including five at the World Cup and five in Italy.

The hosts tried to keep to a more structured game while the All Blacks were constantly looking for attacking opportunities and they looked best when the game opened up but it didn't have the desired results.

The Italians put the young and inexperienced All Blacks pack under enormous pressure and they also cleverly exploited their advantage by 'working' penalties in the scrums.

Despite the defeat it will be Italy who are the happier of the two following a scrappy game with little flowing rugby.

In holding the mighty All Blacks to just one try and 20 points, Italy coach Nick Mallett will feel it was a job well done by a team that never had any realistic hopes of winning this match.

For All Blacks coach Graham Henry it was another unspectacular performance, even if by a largely second string side, following last week's 19-12 defeat of Wales in Cardiff.

Italy made a frantic start and were ahead on four minutes after New Zealand collapsed a scrum and former Australian rugby league international Craig Gower knocked over the three points from straight in front of the posts.

The lead lasted only three minutes, though, before Salvatore Perugini was given offside and Luke McAlister landed a similarly straight-forward kick.

Italy were suffering from ill discipline in the early stages and after McAlister put a penalty wide from just inside the hosts' half, he scored from straight in front of the posts on 13min after Alessandro Zanni handled in a ruck.

Italy were enjoying great success in the scrum, though, and after the All Blacks suffered their third penalty for collapsing, Gower missed his penalty from wide on the right.

They would soon pay for that miss as Corey Flynn went over in the corner for the only try of the game on 25 minutes.

The All Blacks spread the ball right from the back of a scrum on Italy's 22 and then swung back to the left where prop Flynn was left one-on-one with diminutive winger Kaine Robertson, a Kiwi by birth, five yards out.

Robertson should have done better but he had neither the weight nor the strength necessary to bundle Flynn into touch.

Italy had one chance to score at the end of the first half but after they stole ball in the All Blacks' 22, Gower knocked on.

McAlister landed another penalty before halftime to send the tourists into the changing rooms with a 14-3 lead.

And three minutes after the break he kicked another after Gonzalo Garcia was penalised, and sin-binned for a spear tackle in midfield.

Despite their depleted numbers Italy came their closest yet to a try as Gower's reverse inside pass released Gonzalo Canale who was smother-tackled just a yard out.

Italy survived the sin bin period without taking another score and on 58min New Zealand collapsed another scrum and Gower brought the score back to 6-17 with his second penalty from wide on the right.

However McAlister soon landed another penalty after missing his second of the day when hitting the post from around the halfway line.

The game ended with a period of sustained Italy pressure on the New Zealand five-yard line.

But despite the All Blacks giving away a succession of penalties from scrums, Italy could not force their way over and referee Stuart Dickinson somewhat unfairly denied the hosts a clear penalty try which would have put the seal on this historic occasion.

Man of the match: There weren't many stand-out performances on the day as both sides struggled to deliver enterprising play. Corey Flynn made a fine comeback while Italy skipper Sergio Parisse again displayed an industrious performance. However, Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni delivered another powerhouse display and gets the nod for our Man of the Match.

Villain of the match: Referee Stuart Dickenson should have taken a much tougher stance at the set-piece as the Italians had a distinct advantage in this scrums, which could have changed the complexion of the game.

Moment of the match: Corey Flynn's 27th minute try took the sting out of the Italians and also gave his side a healthy cushion heading into the half-time break.

The Scorers:

For Italy
Pens: Gower 2

For New Zealand:
Tries: Flynn
Pens: McAlister 5

Yellow cards: Gonzalo Garcia - Italy (43 min, late tackle), Tialata (77 min, professional foul)

The Teams:

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 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Ignacio Rouyet, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Simon Picone, 21 Kristopher Burton, 22 Alberto Sgarbi.

New Zealand: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Anthony Boric,  4 Tom Donnelly, 3  Neemia Tialata,  2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Mils Muliaina

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

365

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