All Blacks win in Turin but struggle against a passionate Italy

TURIN, Italy (AP) — New Zealand dominated Italy everywhere except the scoreboard in a tour-ending 29-11 win in autumn rugby on Saturday.

The All Blacks wanted to sign off 2024 in style and send off departing stalwarts Sam Cane and TJ Perenara with a flourish after five weeks in Yokohama, London, Dublin, Paris and Turin.

But Italy, humiliated by the All Blacks 96-17 last year at the Rugby World Cup, gave a passionate, committed effort to restrict New Zealand to its lowest score in this matchup in 15 years.

“We talked a lot during the week about how important it would be not to give up even for a second,” Italy stand-in captain Juan Ignacio Brex said. “At the World Cup, every little mental switchoff brought the All Blacks under our posts, we couldn't allow that. We wanted to show our attack and our attitude, and we did it. Now we have to work on the technical parts.”

New Zealand was held to 17-6 until the last 10 minutes when it conjured tries for backs Mark Tele'a and Beauden Barrett while Italy was down to 14 men.

But those tries were split by Italy's one and only try, to Tommaso Menoncello served up by his center partner Brex.

New Zealand carried for more than twice as many meters as Italy, beat 31 defenders, but suffered from 18 handling errors, only one more than Italy, 11 penalties and two yellow cards.

Italy saved its best for last this autumn after being smashed by Argentina and struggling past Georgia just six days ago.

The Italians, privileged to play the first non-football match in a sold-out Juventus Stadium, were on it from the outset, and Paolo Garbisi and Beauden Barrett traded penalties.

Moments after All Blacks captain Scott Barrett was sin-binned for a dangerous clearout, scrumhalf Cam Roigard snuck through the middle of Italy's ruck defense for the first try in the 24th minute.

Wing Monty Ioane typified Italy's defense when he made a try-saving tackle on Will Jordan from behind, got up, and made another try-saver on Wallace Sititi, forcing a forward pass.

But fullback Will Jordan typified the All Blacks' class, as Italy ran out of defenders and his 38th try in 41 tests passed Jonah Lomu on their all-time try-scoring list.

After the All Blacks survived Italy's siege of their try-line after halftime — though repeated fouls saw center Anton Lienert-Brown sin-binned — Italy then repelled 16 phases by New Zealand at the expense of replacement prop Simone Ferrari, also yellow-carded for too many fouls.

Ferrari's absence helped the All Blacks, who also got a lift from their bench, notably from Perenara, who had led his last All Blacks haka. As he came on for Roigard, fellow World Cup winner Cane departed to wide applause after his 104th and last test.

Italy's defense led by No. 8 Ross Vintcent with 21 tackles and Menoncello's 14 continued to swarm while a man down, but the All Blacks ruthlessly exploited the man advantage to give the scoreline a flattering look.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand perform the haka head of the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan, left, and Italy's Ange Capuozzo compete for the ball during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Mark Tele'a makes a break during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs at the defence during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan is tackled by Italy's Monty Ioane during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday.

David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home.

Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games.

Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on.

Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle.

Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14.

Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage.

After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals.

The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods.

The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Seattle Kraken left wing Brandon Tanev (13) vies for the puck with Los Angeles Kings goaltender David Rittich (31) and left wing Warren Foegele (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele (37) gets stopped by Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) reacts to a goal by right wing Quinton Byfield (55) against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) reacts after scoring against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)