The All Blacks may have secured a comfortable 47-17 victory over Italy in Wellington, but sports commentator Ken Laban believes the scoreline masked a performance that left plenty of room for improvement as New Zealand’s Nations Championship campaign gathers momentum.
Speaking with Radio Waatea, Laban said the weekend delivered no shortage of sporting highlights, led by Will Jordan’s history-making performance and another convincing result for the All Blacks, but he cautioned against reading too much into the final margin.
Jordan produced a memorable display, scoring a hat-trick to become the All Blacks’ all-time leading Test try-scorer, surpassing Doug Howlett’s long-standing record of 49 tries. His achievement was one of the defining moments of the match and another reminder of his status as one of world rugby’s premier finishers.
Laban said Jordan’s individual brilliance provided one of the major positives from the afternoon, alongside the continued development of combinations under head coach Dave Rennie and the team’s ability to finish strongly after a difficult opening half.
Italy surprised many observers by matching the All Blacks physically and tactically during the first 40 minutes. The visitors took an early lead and consistently disrupted New Zealand’s rhythm through aggressive defence and disciplined set-piece play, exposing areas the All Blacks will need to address before facing stronger opposition later in the tournament.
The second half, however, was a different story.
The All Blacks crossed for five tries after the break, capitalising on improved continuity, quicker ball movement and Italy being reduced to 14 players following a red card. The hosts eventually ran away with the contest, recording seven tries and maintaining their unbeaten start to the inaugural Nations Championship.
Laban believes the performance highlighted both the promise and the challenges facing this All Blacks side.
He noted the team’s attacking flair remains among the best in world rugby, but consistency over the full 80 minutes will be essential if they are to challenge the leading nations later in the championship.
The weekend also showcased the depth beginning to emerge within the squad, with several players continuing to build confidence and experience in key positions. At the same time, Laban said the match reinforced the importance of maintaining discipline, improving execution under pressure and reducing unforced handling errors.
Beyond rugby, it was another busy weekend across the sporting landscape, with the Warriors strengthening their NRL finals credentials, international football producing dramatic results and Pacific athletes continuing to make their mark across a range of competitions.
As attention now turns to the next round of Nations Championship fixtures, the All Blacks remain well placed after opening the tournament with back-to-back victories.
For Laban, there is every reason for optimism—but also a reminder that the world’s best teams will demand much more than what was required to overcome a spirited Italian side.
The challenge now is to transform flashes of brilliance into complete performances as the road towards Nations Championship success continues.
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