A second-string All Blacks side met the Italy team at the famous Stadio Giuseppe Meazza stadium, or more commonly referred to as San Siro. The All Blacks won 20 points to 6.
Now, let me put things straight first. Graham Henry and the team will probably debate that this is not an All Blacks 'B' team that played Italy. Well, the simple fact, it was. The stars of All Blacks rugby were not out to play, instead probably relaxing somewhere in Milan surrounded by beautiful people. It is strange, the NZRFU get their panties in a twist when visiting sides send a second string side down-under, and yet when the All Blacks go overseas, and play teams like Italy, we play a 'B' team to 'protect' our top players. This shows a lack of respect and arrogance really to the host team.
80,000+ people in the San Siro stadium paid good money to see a top All Blacks team, not a team of 'nearly theres'. No disrespect to the All Blacks team, but this is what it seemed to be from watching the build up to the game and the game itself. Come on the NZRFU and the coaches - give some respect to the opposition team.
Anyway, the game was a very stop, start affair with plenty of penalties and way too many reset scrums. The last 6 minutes of the game was reset scrum after reset scrum - that was it. How boring was that! The game really didn't live up to any great heights as a whole unfortunately. A shame, as the stadium crowd was superb and the atmosphere seemed electric.
I wonder if we will produce a second-string side for the game against England - yeah right!
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