Italian aim will be damage limitation

Pool C/New Zealand v Italy:The All Blacks have never lost to Italy in nine previous meetings. As befits the lords of the game and those they deem minnows, New Zealand have recognised only eight of those games as official Tests.

At the 1999 World Cup the former world champions ran up 101 points to three in reply from the Azzurri, in one of only five matches in RWC history to break the 100-point mark.

In 2004, the last time the two sides met at the Stadio Flamino, New Zealand won 59-10.

Pierre Berbizier and his Italian team will expect to illustrate further improvement with a closer scoreline this time around but anything other than an All Black win with plenty of daylight between the sides is considered outrageously unlikely around this end of France.

New Zealand have put out a sparkling selection, although both Ruben Thorne and Conrad Smith were forced out of the squad after the captain's run yesterday, both with strained hamstrings.

Although Mils Muliaina has moved from fullback into the centre and Leon McDonald is promoted from the bench to play at 15, there are key figures in place all through the side, from captain Richie McCaw, Gerry Collins and Chris Jack in the pack to outhalf Dan Carter, Luke McAlister in the centre and the soon-to-be Munster player Doug Howlett on the right wing.

Coach Graham Henry has made three other changes to the team that started New Zealand's last Test, which was a 26-12 defeat of Australia in Auckland seven weeks ago.

Howlett is in for Joe Rokocoko, while Keven Mealamu replaces Anton Oliver and Ali Williams comes in for the injured lock Keith Robinson.

The inclusion of Mealamu at hooker suggests Henry will play an expansive game. Oliver has been the preferred player of late because of his superior scrummaging ability, but clearly Henry's tactics are not to grind it out in set pieces.

While Italy have grown in stature over the years and ran Ireland close at Ravenhill Road a few weeks ago, they were unable to nail down the victory despite winning much of the ball in the contact area.

Their pack is strong and a front row of Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Ongaro and Martin Castrogiovanni, as well as Sergio Parisse at number eight, makes them formidable enough.

But Italy are no match for New Zealand, who arrive in the South of France fully expecting to steamroll all opponents in the group phase.

"We are here to win the Rugby World Cup," said their flanker Collins this week.

"If you are not here to win it, then you shouldn't be here. The French are here to win it. Australia too.

"Our psychological approach is the same we had four years ago. We are going to do anything to win. Anything."

Three days in Corsica prior to arriving in Marseille have recharged the tournament favourites' batteries and New Zealand are treating this match as though Italy and not Scotland are their main pool rivals.

The All Blacks have been beaten once this year, by Australia, so it can be done.

But expect a high-octane start. It is possible that more than 50 points will separate the teams at the final whistle, with New Zealand maintaining their winning record, which currently stands at a staggering 88 per cent.

NEW ZEALAND: L McDonald; D Howlett, M Muliaina, L McAlister, S Sivivatu; D Carter, B Kelleher; T Woodcock K Mealamu, C Hayman; C Jack, A Williams; J Collins, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo. Replacements: A Olivier, N Tialata, C Masoe, S Lauaki, B Leonard, A Mauger, I Toeava.

ITALY: D Bortolussi; K Robertson, A Masi, Mirco Bergamasco, M Stanojevic; R de Marigny, A Troncon; S Perugini, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni; S Dellape, M Bortolami (capt); A Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse. Replacements: C Festuccia, A Lo Cicero, V Bernabò, M Vosawai, P Griffen, G Canale, E Galon.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).