Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

History of rugby union matches between Italy and New Zealand

The All Blacks first played against Italy at the opening game of the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, beating them 70–6 at Eden Park, Auckland. The two teams have played a total of 17 Test matches recognised by both sides as full internationals, with New Zealand winning all of them by an average margin of 51 points.

The two sides have been in the same pool in 7 of the 10 Rugby World Cup tournaments to date but have only played each other 6 times because Typhoon Hagibis caused their scheduled meeting in the 2019 tournament to be cancelled. The first 11 meetings between the two sides since their first clash in 1987 were never played at the same venue, then two tests had been held back to back at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Summary

Note: Summary below reflects test results by both teams.

Overall

Details Played Won by
Italy
Won by
New Zealand
Drawn Italy points New Zealand points
In New Zealand 3 0 3 0 22 161
In Italy 9 0 9 0 84 457
Neutral venue 5 0 5 0 62 374
Overall 17 0 17 0 168 992

Records

Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

Record Italy New Zealand
Longest winning streak NA 16 (22 May 1987–2024)
Largest points for
Home 19 (25 November 2000) 70 (22 May 1987)
Away 21 (13 October 1991) 101 (14 October 1999)
Largest winning margin
Home NA 64 (22 May 1987)
Away NA 98 (14 October 1999)

Results

No. Date Venue Score Winner Competition
1 22 May 1987 Eden Park, Auckland 70 – 6  New Zealand 1987 Rugby World Cup
2 13 October 1991 Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, England 31 – 21  New Zealand 1991 Rugby World Cup
3 28 October 1995 Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna 6 – 70  New Zealand 1995 New Zealand rugby union tour of Italy and France
4 14 October 1999 McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield, England 101 – 3  New Zealand 1999 Rugby World Cup
5 25 November 2000 Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa 19 – 56  New Zealand 2000 Autumn International
6 8 June 2002 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 64 – 10  New Zealand 2002 Italy rugby union tour
7 11 October 2003 Colonial Stadium, Melbourne, Australia 70 – 7  New Zealand 2003 Rugby World Cup
8 13 November 2004 Stadio Flaminio, Rome 10 – 59  New Zealand 2004 Autumn International
9 8 September 2007 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France 76 – 14  New Zealand 2007 Rugby World Cup
10 27 June 2009 AMI Stadium, Christchurch 27 – 6  New Zealand 2009 mid-year internationals
11 14 November 2009 San Siro Stadium, Milan 6 – 20  New Zealand 2009 Autumn International
12 17 November 2012 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 10 – 42  New Zealand 2012 Autumn International
13 12 November 2016 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 10 – 68  New Zealand 2016 Autumn International
14 24 November 2018 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 3 – 66  New Zealand 2018 Autumn International
12 October 2019 City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan 0 – 0 Match cancelled 1 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool B
15 6 November 2021 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 9 – 47  New Zealand 2021 Autumn International
16 29 September 2023 OL Stadium, Lyon 17 – 96  New Zealand 2023 Rugby World Cup
17 23 November 2024 Allianz Stadium, Turin 11 – 29  New Zealand 2024 Autumn International

Notes

^1 The 2019 Rugby World Cup match between the two sides was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis and awarded in the tournament as a 0–0 draw.

XV Results

Below is a match that Italy has awarded test match status by virtue of awarding caps, but New Zealand did not award caps.

Date Venue Score Victor Competition Comments
22 October 1977 Padua 9 – 17  New Zealand 1977 New Zealand rugby union tour of Italy and France Italian President's XV - not classed as a full international
28 November 1979 Rovigo 12 – 18  New Zealand 1979 New Zealand tour of England, Scotland & Italy Classed as a full international by Italy only

References