All Blacks make five changes for Italy clash, Segner set for debut
The All Blacks have announced five changes to their starting lineup for the upcoming Nations Championship match against Italy at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. Among the changes, tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax is set to earn his 50th Test cap. Other players entering the starting XV include lock Tupou Vaa’i, flanker Wallace Sititi, centre Billy Proctor, and wing Leroy Carter.
The bench will feature two debutants: Anton Segner in the loose forwards and Josh Moorby at wing/fullback. Also included on the bench are centre Anton Lienert-Brown, props George Bower and Pasilio Tosi, and lock Josh Lord.
Segner’s path to All Blacks debut
Anton Segner is poised to become the first German-born All Black. The 24-year-old, born in Frankfurt, developed an interest in rugby and the All Blacks after being introduced to the sport by school friends. He joined a local club with New Zealander coaches and adopted Kiwi customs, including asking his parents for pies and performing a haka learned from YouTube at a school concert.
At the age of 15, Segner moved to New Zealand to attend Nelson College, a school known for producing All Blacks. He progressed through New Zealand’s age-grade teams before securing a contract with the Blues, a Super Rugby team based in Auckland. Segner noted that rugby in New Zealand is comparable to football in Germany, describing it as a “rugby-crazy country.”
Segner’s journey mirrors that of Fabian Holland, who was born and raised in the Netherlands. Holland, inspired by a New Zealand Sevens training camp at his local club, moved to Christchurch at 16. He was later recognised as World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year in December.
All Blacks prepare for Italian challenge
All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie emphasised the team’s respect for Italy, stating that the selection of a strong side reflects this. Rennie acknowledged Italy’s capability, demonstrated in the Six Nations competition, to defeat various teams. He suggested that Italy might have underestimated Japan in their opening game of the Nations Championship, a mistake the All Blacks aim to avoid.
Rennie highlighted Italy’s defensive attributes, including their line speed and scrum strength. He indicated that the All Blacks are seeking to improve their own line speed and slow down Italy’s ball to create more turnover opportunities. While appreciating the team’s mindset, Rennie called for greater clinical execution, noting that the team might have gone too wide too early in their previous match against France.
Scrum coach Jason Ryan also praised Italy’s scrum, describing it as “phenomenal.” He anticipates more scrums in the upcoming match, particularly given the outdoor and potentially wet conditions in Wellington. Ryan stressed the importance of physical contests, whether defending a maul, mauling, or scrummaging, as integral parts of the game.
Italy hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi, who plays for Toulon, expressed disappointment over their loss to Japan and a strong desire to respond against the All Blacks. Lucchesi, who has 51 Test caps, noted that playing in New Zealand, an environment he described as epitomising world rugby, is a unique experience for his team. He identified a high number of turnovers as a key factor in their defeat against Japan and stressed the need for significant improvement to compete with the All Blacks.
The two countries last met in Turin in 2024, with the All Blacks winning 29-11.
Jordan approaches try-scoring record
Wing Will Jordan is nearing Doug Howlett’s All Blacks Test try-scoring record. After scoring two tries against France at One New Zealand Stadium last weekend, the 28-year-old reached 47 Test tries, placing him second on New Zealand’s all-time list. He has surpassed Christian Cullen, Joe Rokocoko, and Julian Savea, who each scored 46 tries, and is now two tries behind Howlett’s record of 49.
Flanker Wallace Sititi, who recovered from a head knock sustained in Super Rugby Pacific, expressed his eagerness to build on his performance off the bench against France. He highlighted the team’s preference for a fast-paced, optimistic style of play, which requires a high level of fitness and skill. Sititi also noted the healthy competition within the squad, which he believes pushes players to perform at their best.
Italy achieved the second-best tackle percentage among all Nations Championship teams last week against Japan, with 84.7 percent. This suggests they may offer stronger defensive resistance than in their 17 previous losses to the All Blacks since their first official Test encounter in 1987 at Eden Park.
The All Blacks first played an Italian President’s XV in 1977, winning 17-9, and later beat Italy in an unofficial Test 18-12 in 1979. Italy’s closest result against New Zealand in an official Test was a 21-31 loss at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
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Source: allblacks.com
