Rugby World Cup 2023: How to watch All Blacks v Italy

Time to find out a little more about Ian Foster’s All Blacks.

Idle the past week, they’re back in action on Saturday morning (NZT), and in need of victory to remain on track to feature in the quarterfinals.

Standing in their way is Italy, a team they’ve never lost to in 15 tests, but one Kiwi coach Kieran Crowley has quietly believing they are capable of condemning the All Blacks to their first pool stage exit in World Cup history.

That might be a stretch, but it’s worth noting Italy pushed a near full-strength France during this year’s Six Nations, and had a chance to win the match they lost 29-24 at the death.

In other words, the All Blacks won’t be taking them lightly when they run out for their penultimate pool match in Lyon, before facing Uruguay Friday week.

It’s also worth pointing out the All Blacks ought to be chasing an emphatic victory to stop Italy accruing bonus points.

Themba Hadebe/AP

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick will start alongside Scott Barrett in the second row against Italy.

If not, Italy could go into the final pool stage game against an already-qualified France knowing that a win could see them knock out the All Blacks.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

When: Saturday, 8am; Where: OL Stadium, Lyon; Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff from 7.30am, delayed stream on Stuff starts from 9.30am.

All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papalii, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi. Reserves: Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown

Italy: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex, Luca Morisi, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro (capt), Sebastian Negri, Federico Ruzza, Dino Lamb, Marco Riccioni, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti. Reserves: Hame Faiva, Ivan Nemer, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Manuel Zuliani, Toa Halafihi, Martin Page-Relo, Paolo Odogwu

You can see the squads in full here. You can read more about pool A here.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Christophe Ridley (England)

Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia)

All Blacks $1.01 Italy $15

Played 15, All Blacks won 15, last meeting: All Blacks 47-9 in Rome, 2021