Will Jordan scored three tries as New Zealand beat Italy 47-17 in Wellington, a result that kept the All Blacks unbeaten after two rounds of the Nations Championship and gave the fullback the New Zealand Test try-scoring record on his own.
Jordan reached 50 tries in his 42nd Test, moving clear of Doug Howlett after a second-half surge that turned a tight contest into a comfortable win. New Zealand had already opened the competition with a 34-32 victory over France, and this latest result left them in a strong position heading into a meeting with Ireland in Auckland next weekend.
New Zealand had to respond after a shaky first half
Italy made the brighter start in Wellington. Tommaso Menoncello scored after three minutes, and New Zealand were trailing 14-10 at halftime after a first half that exposed some clear issues. The All Blacks were loose in handling at times, shaky in the aerial contest, and too inconsistent on defence and discipline.
That first-half pressure was reflected in Michele Lamaro’s view of the game. He said Italy started well and were putting New Zealand under pressure, especially around the breakdown. But he also noted that New Zealand came back after halftime “with another gear” and Italy could not hold them.
The second half was the difference. New Zealand scored five tries and 33 points after the break, pulling away quickly and never allowing Italy back into the match. Will Jordan’s third try came in the 54th minute and gave him the record outright.
Debuts and depth also featured
The match also brought a pair of milestones for New Zealand. Josh Moorby made his Test debut off the bench in the 31st minute, while Anton Segner came on at halftime and also made his debut for the All Blacks.
Those changes were part of a game that tested New Zealand’s depth as much as their finishing power. Once they settled, the quality showed, but the opening 40 minutes were a reminder that cleaner execution will be needed against stronger opposition.
Jordan later reflected on the moment with obvious humility, saying he thought back to practising chip and chase in the backyard as a kid and that reaching this point was hugely humbling. He also pointed to the group around him, saying he had been part of some great teams over the last seven years.
For New Zealand, the headline is simple: the record now belongs to Jordan alone, and the unbeaten start to the Nations Championship remains intact. The bigger test comes next weekend in Auckland against Ireland, where the All Blacks will need a faster start than the one they produced in Wellington.
