New Zealand vs Italy LIVE!
A place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals was at stake tonight for the All Blacks and Azzurri with this the de facto decider for second place in Pool A.
Having already lost to France, New Zealand knew that any more slip-ups would mean curtains for their dream of reclaiming the Web Ellis Cup - although they were big favourites to win this clash in Lyon. Italy opened their World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins over Uruguay and Namibia, as was widely expected, and resumed their role as the underdogs in their bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Alas, they were brutally demolised at Parc OL as New Zealand ran home winners with a statement victory that sends a message to their rivals, at a final score of 96-17.
