Smith hat-trick inspires New Zealand to World Cup demolition job on Italy

There had been pre-match speculation that Italy might prove more than just a speed bump to All Black ambitions. So much for that cosy theory. By the end a brilliant New Zealand had accelerated so far out of sight they were barely visible on the scoreboard, a first-half hat-trick from the wonderfully sharp Aaron Smith leaving the Azzurri to play catch-up from an early stage.

It also provided a reminder, as if it were needed, that New Zealand cannot be discounted when the knock-out stages of this tournament finally come around. The setbacks of the past month have clearly stung and a week’s rest has recharged their batteries. The upshot was one of those nights when the All Blacks make rugby look so gloriously simple that the opposition barely know where to put themselves.

If it helps that Italy gave them way too much space, their potential quarter-final opponents Ireland have been suitably forewarned. As well as two-try contributions for their captain Ardie Savea and Will Jordan plus Richie Mo’unga’s fine kicking, the defensive solidity of the front five was also impressive and it was ultimately a fitting night for Sam Whitelock to come on in the second half and eclipse Richie McCaw’s record as the most capped All Black in the game’s history.

At times it was total carnage. The black jersey can still exert a powerful hold on the imagination but it is the skills of those wearing it that sustain the aura. There have been some precise diagonal kicks in this tournament but none slicker than Beauden Barrett’s inch-perfect connection with Jordan which allowed the prolific winger to finish acrobatically in the right corner.

Italy did try and stay true to their attacking instincts and fully deserved three points in response from the boot of Paolo Garbisi. They were a touch unfortunate, though, to concede a penalty for Giacomo Nicotera not rolling away, the hooker having put in a belting tackle from which he was still untangling his limbs when Smith spotted an opportunity to run into him, and everything unravelled from there.

From a subsequent close-range lineout the All Blacks drove Smith over to compound the punishment and New Zealand were over again barely a minute later, this time after a break out from Savea and a wide pass from Beauden Barrett which gave Mark Telea the chance to finish. By the time Savea capitalised on some modest defending to secure his side a bonus point inside 22 minutes it was already clear Italy were in for a tough night.

It was about to get worse. Smith remains such a sharp presence around the base of the scrum and another lineout drive saw him dart over for his second try. Italy, by now, were barely laying a finger on the ball and heads had started to droop even before Smith completed his treble six minutes before the interval.

In many ways it was a try that summed up all that New Zealand do best: Mo’unga’s clever identification of space, a lovely little delayed pass to put Jordie Barrett away followed by an unselfish inside ball to his supporting scrum-half. If perfection is possible on a rugby field, this was basically it.

Savea’s second try moments before half-time, again showcasing the effectiveness of New Zealand’s maul, was less beautiful but equally valuable and with Mo’unga slotting his goals with slot machine regularity there could be no massaging the inflated half-time scoreline. The All Blacks’ disappointing opening night defeat to France in Paris certainly now feels like a distant mirage.

They were only slightly less ruthless in the second half, with Brodie Retallick within 10 minutes of the restart and Dalton Papalii also adding his name to the scoresheet in the third quarter.

Still the All Blacks kept coming, a lovely little front of the lineout ploy putting the veteran Dane Coles over for a try also notable for the fact Mo’unga finally missed a conversion at the 10th attempt.

After another delicious score, this time for Damian McKenzie on a lovely angle, the only remaining question was whether or not New Zealand could notch up their century, as they did against these opponents at the 1999 World Cup. The All Blacks, on this compelling evidence, are very definitely back.