Fourteen-try New Zealand trounce Italy at Rugby World Cup

Scrum-half Aaron Smith scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand laid down a statement of intent with a 96-17 blitzing of a hapless Italy at the Rugby World Cup on Friday.

Captain Ardie Savea, wing Will Jordan and replacement hooker Dane Coles scored two each in the 14-try Pool A rout in Lyon as New Zealand, for whom Sam Whitelock earned a record 149th cap, stayed on course for a likely quarter-final against Ireland.

Mark Telea, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali'i, Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown scored the other tries while Richie Mo'unga kicked nine conversions and McKenzie another four.

"We have got talent across the board, we played some free rugby and that is how I want my boys to play. We put a lot into this week and we got the reward tonight," said Savea.

Outclassed Italy crossed the whitewash twice through wingers Ange Capuozzo and Monty Ioane but this was a one-way demolition job.

"It did not go our way, sometimes you have to focus on your basics and we did not perform in the scrums or line-outs," said Italy captain Michele Lamaro. "It is a big lesson for us."

It was New Zealand's second largest win over Italy after a 101-3 pummelling in the 1999 World Cup.

Having lost to France in their opening Pool A match, New Zealand have now racked up 25 tries and 167 points in victories over Namibia and Italy, with Uruguay to come next week.

It was clear which way the wind was blowing from each side's first passage of possession.

Italy crept forward before they were turned over.

New Zealand gobbled up metres, pinned Italy back and took the lead after a sublime crossfield kick from Jordie Barrett picked out Jordan to dive over acrobatically in the corner.

Italy full-back Tommaso Allan cut the deficit with a penalty but any