Pool C/New Zealand 76 Italy 14:Brian O'Driscoll made the point last week that respect is beating a team by as much as you possibly can. Respect is not patronising them, not taking the boot of the pedal. Respect is wiping the floor with their sorry carcass, their hopes, their aspirations.
It is beating them up when you can, taking advantage. Respect is meeting on the pitch as equals and accepting the consequences, the possibilities of humiliation or glory.
The Irish captain said it in Bordeaux. New Zealand brought his words to life in Marseille. The All Blacks respected Italy.
The question remains whether an 11-try demonstration of respect is good for the heart and the soul of the Azzurri, or, for the Rugby World Cup.
Italy thought they were somewhere after Ravenhill Road and even after a fall-over Ronan O'Gara winning try, they left Belfast fulfilled that their graph remained on a steep incline.
But in Stade Veledrome the All Blacks showed Italy that they were, at this point and relatively, nowhere. Having conceded 76 points, coach Pierre Berbizier chanted like a Gregorain monk the words "world class" and "fantastique" and "honour".
Proud Italy were crushed and other teams will feel the after-shock rippling through the draw.
"Our play was too passive. We let them score three tries in 10 minutes. Obviously something went wrong," said the disconsolate captain Marco Bortolami. "We probably respected them to much." Too much is too much and just enough is just enough and in the end it added up to a 62-point difference. Kiwi captain, Richie McCaw, who was seeking a hat-trick after only eight minutes, tried to be compassionate-in a Kiwi sort of way.
"It's always tough when you get a lead at the beginning, to keep going," said the openside flanker. It's a challenge that New Zealand, no doubt, face more frequently than other teams and nonetheless an admission of just how easy it was.
"We were precise and accurate and we took every opportunity," added McCaw. "Break it into two halves and the first was one of the better we have played this year."
Berbezier was almost cruel in his assessment of hs team. "I'm not sure there was any point in time when we were in the game," he said.
After two minutes lock, Ali Williams, broke and off loaded to McCaw. Six minutes later McCaw was again on the shoulder to take an off load, with Dan Carter converting for 14-0. Then the Mexican wave began. If Italy hadn't already assimilated what was happening the crowd had.
Carter then stepped up with his boot before Doug Howlett opened with the first of his three tries.
Carter kicked again and then centre, Mils Muliaina, pounced for 29-0. Left wing, Sitiveni Sivivatu, muscled in when he collected on the bounce from what was becoming a trademark Carter chip over the advancing defence. Only 19 minutes had passed and Italy were 38-0 down.
New Zealand were not troubled in the contact area, which is where Italy had worried Ireland and there was no other area of conflict. Second row, Chris Jack, added another try, then Howlett struck again and again before blindside flanker, Gerry Collins, dived on a chip through then deftly added one of his own as the try count went in to double figures.
A rout. New Zealand are awesome. The hype is true.
Scoring sequence - 2 mins R McCaw try, D Carter con 7-0; 8 mins: McCaw try, Carter con 14-0; 11 mins: Carter pen 17-0; 12 mins: D Howlett try, Carter con 24-0; 16 mins: S M Muliaina try, Carter con 31-0; 19 mins: Sivivatu try, Carter con 38-0; 29 mins: Sivavatu try 43-0; 38 mins: M Stanojevic try, Bortolussi con 43-7. Half-time. 49 mins: C Jack try, Carter con 48-7; 55 mins: Howlett try, Carter con 55-7; 59 mins: Howlett try 62-7; 67 mins: J Collins try, L McAlister con 69-7; 69 mins: Collins try, McAlister con 76-7; 71 mins: M Bergamasco try, R De Marigny con 76-14.
NEW ZEALAND: L McDonald; D Howlett, M Muliaina, L McAlister, S Sivivatu; D Carter, B Kelleher; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, C Jack, A Williams, J Collins, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo. Replacements: B Leonard for B Keleher 42 mins; A Oliver for K Mealamu 52 mins; I Toeva for M Muliaini 53 bminutes; N Tialata for Woodcock 55 minutes; C Masoe for McCaw 60 mins; A Mau ger for Carter 60 mins; S Lauki for Williams 71 mins.
ITALY: D Bortolussi; K Robertson, A Masi, M Bergamasco, M Stanojevic; R de Marigny, A Troncon; S Perugini, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellep, M Bortloami (capt), A Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse. Replacements: A Lo Cicero for S Perugini 41 mins; M Vosawai for A Zanni 42 mins; C Festuccia for Castrogiovanni 53 mins; V Bernabo for Dellape 55 mins; P Griffen for Troncon 66 mins; E Galon for Bortolussi 67 mins.
Referee: W Barnes
(England)
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