ROME (Reuters) - New Zealand smashed Italy 66-3 in Rome on Saturday, finishing their European tour with an 10-try romp and leaving coach Steve Hansen with plenty to consider as he looks to settle on a squad to defend their World Cup title next year.
Hansen retained just four players from the starting team that lost to Ireland last week, and a few of his new picks took full advantage of the opportunity on a grey day and on a damp pitch in front of a big crowd at Stadio Olimpico.
Winger and man-of-the-match Jordie Barrett scored four tries and fullback Damian McKenzie, whose selection at fullback has been questioned by some rugby pundits at home, scored three.
Fly-half Beauden Barrett, seldom under the kind of pressure he felt last week against Ireland in Dublin, also scored a try before being replaced in the second half by Richie Mo'unga who has been building a claim to the starting flyhalf spot.
"It's been a great tour for us," Hansen said after the game. "We have found some younger players who have challenged some of the senior players and have said: 'Hey, we are here'. No doubt we will go back and solidify our thinking and our selections."
Looking back over the past three weeks, Hansen said the All Blacks had shown calm and mental strength to come back from a 15-point deficit to beat England at Twickenham and that the defeat in Dublin had only served to make the team hungrier.
"I know that (loss) will make us a little hungrier and it's always good if you go to the table hungry... You won't win the World Cup unless you're hungry."
Skipper Kieran Read, who led the haka for the first time before the game, said the team had learned a lot from the tour and were feeling good with just a handful of tests before the World Cup, which gets underway in September.
"We are in a pretty good spot right now," he said.
Flyhalf Beauden Barrett sliced open the Italians early in Saturday's match with sharp passing and some clever kicks, including one that picked out his high-flying brother Jordie to score in the corner for his second try.
Hooker Dan Coles, making his way back to test rugby after a serious knee injury last year and playing with heavy strapping, performed like an outside back at times, helping to set up at least two tries with deft passing and darts down the blindside.
Giant lock Patrick Tuipulotu also proved a handful with ball in hand against a physical Italian side, and blindside flanker Vaea Fifita at times outshone his more established openside teammate Ardie Savea.
The Azzurri managed a single penalty in a physical encounter up front. Even the referee, Andrew Brace, had to be substituted in the first half after he collided with a player.
"They are a very, very good team," said Italy's coach, Irishman Conor O'Shea. "They are at a different level."
(Reporting by Mark Bendeich; editing by Tony Lawrence)
