Player Ratings: Italy

Yesterday at 02:03 AM

OPINION: As the curtain shuts on a whirlwind 2024 season for both Italy and the All Blacks, Scott Robertson's side has sent leaving players TJ Perenara and Sam Cane off with a scrappy win against Italy.

For large parts of the game, Italy put considerable pressure on Robertson's side in freezing-cold Turin.

Henry Lee rates the Italian players!

1. Danilo Fischetti – 4

Largely unproductive game for the loosehead prop other than at scrum time. Fischetti never really seemed to hold his own against one of the world's best scrummagers in Tyrel Lomax. Won a solid turnover at the breakdown in the 57th minute to wrestle back some momentum for Italy. Off at 61.

2. Gianmarco Lucchesi – 4

Italy's lineout was poor to start in Turin, with Lucchesi to blame for a couple of the mistimed throws and clunky set piece. Part of the poor Italy first-half scrum. Tried hard with ball in hand and had 4 carries. Off at 51.

3. Marco Riccioni – 3

Another Italy forward with heavy pressure on them at set piece time. Struggled up against Ethan de Groot at scrum time and was penalized twice in the first half, Made 8 tackles, but his 44-minute stint will be one to forget for the 27-year-old.

4. Federico Ruzza – 5

Imposed himself at the breakdown, pressurizing the All Blacks quick ball and disrupting Cameron Roigard's night. Was busy throughout the game with 11 tackles, but would have liked to have a cleaner lineout performance.

5. Dino Lamb – 6

Constantly popped up during his 70-minute performance. Making 11 tackles and imposing himself with the ball in hand, the 26-year-old from Harlequins backed up his man-of-the-match performance last week against Georgia with another solid Test match. Off at 65 minutes with an HIA, before coming back on with 5 mins to go.

6. Sebastian Negri – 7

Had a game-high 14 carries, making his presence felt with the ball in hand. Put bucketloads of pressure on the All Blacks breakdown. Made 13 tackles, manhandling a couple of All Blacks players. A true workhorse, key in holding the All Blacks to 29 points.

7. Manuel Zuliani – 6

Busy night on the defensive end for Zuliani, made 18 tackles in a tough 68-minute performance, penalised late in the game for an offside, but an otherwise faultless, strong game for the openside flanker.

8. Ross Vintcent – 7
Mammoth performance from the number 8, with a game-high 21 tackles as well as 3 dominant tackles against the All Blacks. Dropped the ball early on in the game, putting unnecessary pressure on his team's defence. But Vintcent's overall impact on Italy's game was prominent. Will look to have more impact in attack going into the Six Nations.

9. Martin Page-Relo – 4

A relatively underwhelming performance from the halfback in what was an ugly game for anyone at the breakdown. Both halfbacks struggled to maintain clean possession of the ball, which led to messy mistakes in and around the ruck. Kicked the ball under little to no pressure in the first half, leading to an All Blacks counterattack.

10. Paolo Garbisi, – 5

Didn't threaten with the ball in hand, but his in-play kicks relieved some pressure when the Italy attack was going backwards. Garbisi was two from three off the tee in Turin.

11. Monty Ioane – 8

Close to Italy's best in Turin. Threatened with the ball in hand every time he got the opportunity out wide. More impressively, was a brick wall on defence. Made multiple try-saving tackles on Will Jordan to stop certain tries. In a Test match without many opportunities for the Italy side, the left winger managed to influence the game.

12. Tommaso Menoncello – 9

The Six Nations 2024 Player of the tournament was Italy's best player on the night, an absolute menace on defence. Fantastic line speed to pressure the first and second receiver for the All Blacks. Scored Italy's only try of the night with 4 minutes to go, topping off a prominent performance in his 23rd Test match for Italy.

13. Juan Ignacio Brex (captain) – 6

Solid performance from Italy's captain. Although he was limited with the ball in hand, stopping any midfield momentum for the All Blacks was a positive for the 32-year-old centre.

14. Jacopo Trulla – 5

Not much space was created out wide for the Azzurri. Trulla Lost the aerial battle against Caleb Clarke multiple times at kick-off time but won a key duel early in the second half. Lacked any impact in very few opportunities.

15. Ange Capuozzo – 5

Great line break 45th minute and overall productive performance from the fullback. Couple of unfortunate mistakes under the highball, but continuously tried to break the solid All Blacks defence.

Replacements:

16. Giacomo Nicotera – 5

Pretty standard 29-minute stint off the bench for Nicotera, who tried to win multiple breakdown penalties, slowing the ball down for the All Blacks game drivers.

17. Mirco Spagnolo – 5

Pinged immediately with a high tackle after coming on in the 61st minute.

18. Simone Ferrari – 3

37 minutes to forget for the reserve prop. Another Italy forward completely outmuscled at scrum time. Was on the end of consecutive scrum penalties, resulting in a 66th-minute yellow card.

19. Niccolo Cannone – 4

Penalised for a no-arms tackle early in his second-half stint off the bench, the 76 Test veteran struggled to get into the game and impose himself.

20. Alessandro Izekor – N/A

21. Alessandro Garbisi – 4

Spent most of his second half defending in and around the ruck. Tried to create some momentum off the boot, but kicked one out on the full from the base of the breakdown late.

22. Leonardo Marin – N/A

23. Marco Zanon – N/A

By Henry Lee, Rugbypass