New Zealand 96-17 Italy: All Blacks move to cusp of Rugby World Cup quarter-finals

New Zealand 96-17 Italy: All Blacks move to cusp of Rugby World Cup quarter-finals
Aaron Smith goes over for his hat-trick. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Superb New Zealand scored an incredible 14 tries and hit 96 points against Italy in Pool A to move to the cusp of the World Cup quarter-finals.

Knowing a defeat would see them eliminated, the All Blacks raced into a pulsating 49-3 half-time lead.

They ultimately ran out 96-17 victors with scrum-half Aaron Smith scoring a hat-trick after just 33 minutes.

The All Blacks will guarantee a spot in the knockouts with a win over Uruguay in their final pool match on Thursday.

Italy must beat hosts France in their next match to reach a first World Cup quarter-final.

The All Blacks' win sees them jump up to second in Pool A, level on points with Italy who they now have a superior head-to-head record over.


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Source: BBC


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