Nations Championship: Will Jordan becomes All Blacks’ greatest try-scorer in 47-17 win over Italy

Saturday, 11 July 2026

At Hnry Stadium, Wellington: All Blacks 47 (Sam Darry try 6min, Will Jordan 3 tries 30min, 51min, 54min, Cam Roigard try 42min, Ethan de Groot try 48min, Tupou Vaa’i try 81min; Ruben Love 6 con) Italy 17 (Tommaso Menoncello try 3min, Leonardo Marin try 57min; Tommaso Allan pen, con; Alessandro Garbisi con). HT: 14-10.

Red card: Niccolo Cannone (Italy) 51min.

Will Jordan just left some All Blacks legends in his dust with a match-turning hat-trick against Italy in Wellington that made him the record try-scorer in the team’s history. But the humble finisher extraordinaire says he still doesn’t consider himself in the same league as these icons of the Kiwi game.

Jordan’s record-setting hat-trick amid a second-half flourish from the All Blacks lit up a cool winter’s evening in Wellington as Dave Rennie’s men took their time to kick clear of a troublesome Italian challenge, leading just 14-10 at halftime, but sealing the deal with four tries (including two from the team’s Air Jordan) to spark a 26-0 outburst in the first quarter of an hour of the second spell.

The Italian appetiser eventually devoured, a main course of stewing Irish now awaits Rennie’s All Blacks at Fortress Eden Park next Saturday in a showdown that could make or break this Nations Championship campaign. It shapes as a special night indeed as the New Zealanders look to complete a 3-0 July sweep, and keep alive their 52-game, 32-year unbeaten streak at their favourite ground.

But it was very much Jordan’s night in front of a sellout crowd at the Cake Tin, with his three scores taking him to 50 test tries, and past the previous All Blacks record of 49 held by Doug Howlett, and leaving the likes of Julian Savea, Christian Cullen and Joe Rokocoko (all 46) and Beauden Barrett (45) and Jeff Wilson (44) in his rearview mirror.

“That’s the bit that humbles me the most,” Jordan told the Star-Times after his memorable night. “Its a who’s who of All Blacks back-three players, and watching them when I was younger, or seeing highlights of those older guys … it’s crazy. I don’t see myself in that realm yet until we’re all said and done, but it’s special to be amongst that group.”

Jordan said it all happened so fast as he added to his first-half score set up by Jordie Barrett’s kick and Leroy Carter’s offload with two touchdowns in three minutes early in the second spell – the first laid on by some Josh Moorby brilliance on debut and the second by Barrett’s quality floating pass.

“It all happened pretty quickly,” added the wing. “It was crazy just feeling the crowd, and the boys come mobbing in … some of my best mates and guys I’ve played a lot of rugby with. I certainly felt the love from the crowd, and the boys as well. It was a moment I’ll remember forever.”

Jordan said it was only over the last year that he had even entertained the prospect of having a crack at the record mark.

“It’s certainly not something I was looking to chase. I wanted a long career in the All Blacks jersey and to have an impact. It’s my seventh year in the team now, and I’m proud to have had a bit of impact and also grateful to have been on the end of the chain of a great team and some great players.”

All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea described Jordan as a “high IQ player” and Saturday evening in the capital as a time when “special players do special things”. Rennie agreed.

“He’s got unbelievable anticipation and then genuine gas to get himself in positions to take passes off line-breaks and so on,” said the new All Blacks coach. “He’s smart, and really understands the game well. I’ve been really impressed with him.”

Jordan was very much the star of a mixed bag of a show for the New Zealanders against a pesky Italian outfit that defended valiantly for the first half. The rapid wing ran for a game-high 92 metres, beat five defenders and collected three quality scores to set the tone for an All Blacks outfit that took a long time to slip into form in a seven tries to two victory.

Others enhanced causes. Moorby, in for Leroy Carter after a half-hour, looked sharp as he ran for 86m in his 50 minutes and turned provider for two second-half strikes. Billy Proctor had a good night in midfield, Jordie Barrett made things happen off the pass and boot, and Cam Roigard, with his 14th try in his last 14 tests, had another strong turn. Sam Darry, Tyrel Lomax, in his 50th international, and skipper Ardie Savea all made strong impacts up front, as did debutant Anton Segner in 40 hard-running minutes off the bench.

But it was very messy. At times like the All Blacks were running in mud. Wallace Sititi dropped a lot of ball to blot his copybook and elsewhere too many passes misfired badly. Some lineout misfires at the end would also have furrowed the coach’s brow.

Italy were brave and keen, with midfielder Tommaso Menoncello their top contributor. Their effort was so much better than last week’s, for sure.

After a try apiece through the early skirmishes, Menoncello’s impressive early score for the visitors answered by Sam Darry’s second test touchdown in the sixth minute, the New Zealanders could muster just one more score, Jordan’s first, to eke out that 14-10 halftime lead.

But they came out with more urgency, and a better plan, after the break. Roigard was across inside two minutes, off Moorby’s break, Ethan de Groot powered over soon after and when Jordan struck twice in three minutes, it was game over at 40-10.

Then it all got a bit messy and stop-start, with Leonardo Marin notching a score for the visitors, and Tupou Vaa’i completing the All Blacks’ second-half assault. A record-setting night, if not a head-turning performance.

Most test tries for the All Blacks

50: Will Jordan (56 tests)

49: Doug Howlett (62)

46: Julian Savea (54), Christian Cullen (58), Joe Rokocoko (68)

45: Beauden Barrett (144)

44: Jeff Wilson (60)