The All Blacks warmed up for next weekend’s crunch clash with England by grinding out victory over Italy in front of 80,000 fans at the San Siro.

Graham Henry sent out a second-string side and they needed a try from Corey Flynn and five penalties from the boot of Luke McAlister to see off Italy.

The All Blacks, featuring just three players who started last weekend’s 19-12 win over Wales in Cardiff, did not have the best of starts, with debutant wing Ben Smith dropping an easy catch from a high ball. And fly-half Craig Gower put the Italians in front with a fourth-minute penalty, much to the delight of the biggest crowd ever for a rugby match in Italy.

But McAlister, taking over kicking duties from the banned Dan Carter, then landed two penalties to put the All Blacks ahead.

The Italians frustrated New Zealand with some robust defending, but Henry’s side finally found a way through when Flynn dived over on the corner, and McAlister kicked another penalty to give the visitors a 14-3 half-time lead.

He then split the posts with another early kick in the second half when Azzurri centre Gonzalo Garcia was sin-binned for lashing out.

In the end the All Blacks held on for a comfortable win. And they will have their big guns back, including fly-half Carter, for the Twickenham Test next week.

Coach Henry said: “It was a great experience for a lot of our young players but we didn’t play as well as we’d hoped. So it was frustrating in that regard.

“We are disappointed but there were a lot of positives during the week.”

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