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| | Saturday, 8 June, 2002, 10:04 GMT 11:04 UK Cullen sparks Italian rout Cullen's running caused Italy problems New Zealand 64-10 Italy A hat-trick from Caleb Ralph and a superb display from Christian Cullen helped New Zealand record a nine-try victory against Italy in Hamilton. The recalled pair gave All Blacks coach John Mitchell some selection dilemmas ahead of the forthcoming two-Test series against Ireland.
Ralph, selected to start on the left wing ahead of Jonah Lomu after a superb Super 12 season, celebrated his call-up in style. His first try came within three minutes of the start, and two more early in the second half capped a great night for the Canterbury Crusaders wing. Cullen, back in an All Blacks jersey for the first time in 18 months and for the first time under Mitchell, ran the Italian defence ragged.
The full-back hit the line with impressive regularity and capped a superb display with a cracking individual try five minutes from time. Racing up to collect his own kick ahead, Cullen showed he has lost none of his pace after a string of injuries by outpacing the remaining cover. The try was his 43rd in Test matches, taking him to within one of Jeff Wilson's All Blacks record. Lomu came on in the second half and scored his 35th Test try to draw level with Italy's coach John Kirwan on the all-time New Zealand list.
There were also scores for three props - debutant Joe McDonnell and a first Test try for Kees Meeuws in the first half, with replacement Dave Hewett grabbing the final try. New Zealand led 24-0 at half-time, but an inexperienced Italy side managed to frustrate the All Blacks for periods in both halves. After All Blacks scrum-half Byron Kelleher had burrowed over to extend the lead to 43-3 after 50 minutes, a landslide looked likely.
But Italy refused to buckle and stunned the home side when lock Marco Bortolami, at 22 Italy's youngest-ever captain, intercepted a Daryl Gibson pass and sprinted 50 metres for a deserved try. Full-back Gert Peens converted to add to his first-half penalty, but three All Blacks tries in the final 10 minutes gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look. New Zealand: Christian Cullen; Doug Howlett, Mark Robinson, Daryl Gibson, Caleb Ralph, Andrew Mehrtens, Byron Kelleher, Joe McDonnell, Tom Willis, Kees Meeuws, Simon Maling, Norm Maxwell, Reuben Thorne (capt), Marty Holah, Taine Randell. Italy: Gert Peens; Nicola Mazzucato, Giovanni Raineri, Cristian Zanoletti, Denis Dallan; Francesco Mazzariol, Matteo Mazzantini; Gian Luca Faliva, Andrea Moretti, Ramiro Martinez-Frugoni, Mark Giacheri, Marco Bortolami (capt), Andrea De Rossi, Aaron Persico, Sergio Parisse. | |
See also:  04 Jun 02 | International 15 May 02 | International 26 Apr 02 | International Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top International stories now: Links to more International stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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