Watch: All Blacks wing Will Jordan sets new try-scoring record as Italy smoked in Cake Tin

Saturday, 11 July 2026

At Hnry Stadium, Wellington: All Blacks 47 (Sam Darry 8', Will Jordan 30' & 51' & 54', Cam Roigard 41', Ethan de Groot 48', Tupou Vaa'i 81'; Ruben Love 6 con) Italy 17 (Tommaso Menoncello 2', Leonardo Marin 57' tries; Tommaso Allan 2 con, pen). HT: 14-10.

Red card: Niccolo Cannone (Italy)

During the first half of this test against Italy in Wellington the preferred buzzword for the Ardie Savea-led All Blacks under new coach Dave Rennie - 'optimism'' - seemed inappropriate.

Catchphrases such as patience and accuracy seemed more logical as the All Blacks' ill-discipline, poor handling and messy ruck ball played into the Italians' hands, and they clung to a slender 14-10 lead at halftime.

Then the All Blacks exploded in the second half.

The big winner was Will Jordan who became the greatest try-scorer in All Blacks history with 50. More on that later.

Steam came pouring out of the All Blacks players' nostrils and their eyeballs glistened like those belonging to angry prizefighters after halftime, as they posted a total of seven tries to beat the Italians 47-17 in the Cake Tin.

Goodness knows what the message was from Rennie at the break - it may not have been appropriate for the ears of small children or ninnies sipping on a cup of hot chocolate at home - but whatever he said, it worked.

Having posted tries to halfback Cam Roigard and right wing Jordan in the opening 40 minutes, the All Blacks came out of the tunnel hissing like wild cavemen seeking retribution for a long-held grudge.

The All Blacks added five tries in the second half.

For Jordan it was an occasion he will remember well after he has chucked his rugby boots into a charity bin, and started life outside of the professional sports industry.

When he crossed for his third try in the 57th minute he became the All Blacks' most prolific tryscorer, eclipsing the record previously held by Doug Howlett.

Debates about Jordan's best position may rage deep into the night for the punters - and even then they may not come to a conclusion - but for now, Rennie's call to put him in the No 14 jersey instead of fullback looks a winner.

Perhaps the message from Rennie at the break was this: Get the ball in the hands of Jordan and he will make things happen for a side that for the first 40 minutes looked tentative and shaky, as if they had only just greeted each other at the airport on Thursday.

Discipline was not a big feature of the All Blacks' performance in the first half - they gave away penalties and threw erratic passes - even Jordan wasn't immune to making this error - but it was nothing compared to the silly stuff from Italy lock Niccolo Cannone in the second half.

Cannone was red carded in the 51st minute for a headbutt on Roigard as he plucked the ball out of a ruck, and although the latter didn't appear to be injured, or even notice the attempted act of foul play, the off-field officials pounced.

Reduced to 14 men for 20 minutes, Italy conceded two tries during that period.

That was the game done and dusted.

A serious injury to fullback Tommaso Allan, play stopped for a lengthy period while he was attended to and then stretchered off the field, did little for the momentum for both teams but this was definitely a night for the All Blacks to feel quietly satisfied.

Having escaped with a 34-32 victory over the French in the opening Nations Championship fixture last weekend, the All Blacks wanted improvements.

Especially after Rennie resisted making wholesale changes, a side who turned in a listless display when they were beaten by Japan last weekend and 10th on the World Rugby rankings, by retaining warriors such as hooker Codie Taylor and Savea in his forward pack and the experienced Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Jordan in the backline.

The All Blacks, No 2 on that list behind the mighty Springboks, may have been slow to get into their work but Rennie was able to give Anton Senger his first cap when he replaced Luke Jacobson at openside flanker at halftime, and wing Josh Moorby was instructed to fill in for an injured Leroy Carter during the first half.

But this night belonged to Jordan. The highest try-scorer in All Blacks’ test history.

Leading tryscorers in tests (supplied by AP):

69 Daisuke Ohata, Japan (1996-2006)

67 Bryan Habana, South Africa (2004-16)

64 David Campese, Australia (1982-96)

60 Shane Williams, Wales/Lions (2000-11)

55 Hirotoki Onozawa, Japan (2001-13)

52 Akaki Tabutsadze, Georgia (2020-26)

50 Rory Underwood, England/Lions (1984-96)

50 Will Jordan, New Zealand (2020-26)

49 Doug Howlett, New Zealand (2000-07)

49 George North, Wales/Lions (2010-24)

47 Brian O'Driscoll, Ireland/Lions (1999-2014)