All Blacks vs Italy: Jordie Barrett scores four tries as New Zealand thump Azzurri

The All Blacks have ended their season in style with a commanding 66-3 win over Italy in Rome on Sunday (NZ time).

Italy never fired a shot in the match as the All Blacks outscored the hosts 10 tries to zero at the Stadio Olimpico.

Jordie Barrett, who started on the right wing, scored four tries - the most by an All Black against Italy in a single match - while fullback Damian McKenzie finished with a hat-trick. Halfback TJ Perenara, centre Ngani Laumape and Beauden Barrett also scored five-pointers for New Zealand.

The win means the All Blacks finish 2018 with a 12-2 record.

Captain Kieran Read made a statement from the start, leading the haka for the first time to take control after a week of criticism following his below-par per performance against Ireland.

Read leading the haka seemed to inspire his troops, and it was the man who usually leads the pre-match ritual in Perenara who scored the game's opening try in the ninth minute.

Italy hit back with a penalty goal to make the scores 5-3, but it went quickly downhill from there.

McKenzie and Jordie Barrett both scored two tries each as the All Blacks took a 31-3 lead into halftime. 

Damian McKenzie.
Damian McKenzie. Photo credit: Getty

Barrett's second was the pick of the tries as he soared above Italy's Kiwi-born fullback, Jayden Hayward, to grab a Beauden Barrett cross-field kick in injury time. 

There was also a referee change in the first half as Frenchman Pascal Gaüzère substituted Irishman Andrew Brace in the 24th minute due to a knee injury.

Laumape scored New Zealand's sixth, four minutes into the second half, and then Beauden Barrett found his way over the line when he intercepted an overthrown Italian lineout and sprinted half the length of the field.

McKenzie then scored his third in the 53rd minute, which prompted coach Steve Hansen to clear his bench and give young players like Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Richie Mo'unga some valuable minutes.

Jordie Barrett then scored his third when hooker Nathan Harris put in a cheeky grubber kick to the corner, and then the 21-year-old finished the match off in style when he scored his fourth after the fulltime hooter. 

All Blacks 66 (TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie 3, Jordie Barrett 4, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett tries; Beauden Barrett 5 con, Richie Mo'unga 3 con) Italy 3 (Tommaso Allan pen) HT: 31-3

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