Rennie dialled back the risk and reward with his selections this week to prioritise progressing cohesion and continuity.
Will Jordan is on track to break the All Blacks’ all-time try-scoring record. Photo / Alyse Wright
By overlooking further changes, such as promoting Samisoni Taukei’aho at hooker and rookies Anton Segner and Josh Moorby to the starting side, expectations for a vastly improved performance are elevated from the tight, tense season-opening victory against the heavily weakened French.
Week one under Rennie unveiled a captivating attacking mentality. The non-negotiable directive for work rate and repeat efforts generated rapid ruck ball under the Christchurch roof, which allowed the All Blacks to play with lethal speed.
Their skill execution and clinical finishing didn’t match the widespread ambition, though. This is one area, alongside notable improvements in their leaky defence, where the All Blacks must move the needle.
Wellington won’t offer the same pristine conditions as Christchurch but the ambitious mindset to play won’t change. A clear, cold night in the capital should allow the All Blacks to move from a promising, patchy starting point to a more polished second phase.
After kicking 17 times against France – the second fewest of the 12 Nations Championship teams last weekend – there is intrigue in whether the All Blacks evolve this approach too.
“Our brutality with the ball was excellent. We won a lot of races and created a lot of really quick ball,” Rennie reflected.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie opted to keep Damian McKenzie (right) at fullback against Italy. Photo / Alyse Wright
“It probably wasn’t the same defensively so we want a lot more line speed, a lot more two in the tackle to try and give them slower ball so we can set and get off the line and create opportunities for turnover pill, which we think we can stress teams with. That’s a big part.
“Maybe a bit more patience. We had opportunities and we might’ve gone too wide too early. If we’d just gone through the middle a couple more times we could have profited more.”
Italy are a different side to the one that last visited New Zealand 17 years ago.
On that occasion in Christchurch, former dual-code international Craig Gower started at first five-eighths.
A Mils Muliaina-captained All Blacks team featuring Tanerau Latimer starting at openside, Lelia Masaga on the right wing, Brendon Leonard and Luke McAlister combining in the halves, and Aled de Malmanche debuting off the bench, battled to an ugly 27-6 win.
These days, Italy harness world-class second-five Tommaso Menoncello and talented Toulon playmaker Paolo Garbisi but for this tour they are missing their talisman fullback Ange Capuozzo, flanker Manuel Zuliani and vastly experienced prop Simone Ferrari.
Mils Muliaina captained the All Blacks the last time Italy played in New Zealand. Photo / Photosport
Under the leadership of Argentine coach Gonzalo Quesada, Italy claimed breakthrough home victories over England and Scotland to record their equal best Six Nations this year. They have, though, lost their last two matches against Wales and Japan to suggest they should not get within touching distance of the All Blacks.
A return to Wellington evokes caution and grim memories for the All Blacks.
With three wins from their last 10 – two from their last six – the Cake Tin has become a cauldron for chaos. How else could you describe their last venture here, the record 43-10 loss to the Springboks, one week after defeating the world champions to preserve fortress Eden Park?
This time, though, with seven championship-winning Hurricanes adding their swagger to the All Blacks squad for Italy, it should be different.
Rennie holds a fond affinity with Wellington, too. The school teacher-turned-publican started his coaching career with the Upper Hutt colts before delivering the region the provincial title in 2000.
“I’ve spent a lot of time coaching here as a younger coach. It’s a great place to play. It looks like the weather is slightly better than the [Super Rugby] final. Regardless of what it throws at us, we’ve got key people in key positions to deal with it and be confident to play.”
Confidence to play and clarity of game plan were widely evident in Christchurch.
Week two for Rennie’s All Blacks must deliver much more clinical conviction – and a comfortable victory.
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.