All Blacks can't shake Italian connection

Italy are once again in the same pool as the All Blacks for next year's rugby World Cup in France.

Since the scintillating display by John Kirwan and the All Blacks against the Italians in the first World Cup match in Auckland in 1987 the two teams have been drawn in the same pool in every cup bar 1995.

Italy and Romania yesterday qualified for next year's tournament after wins over Russia and Spain respectively. Italy beat Russia 67-7 in Moscow and Romania beat Spain 43-20 in Madrid.

The All Blacks will meet the Italians in their opening pool game in Marseille on September 8 and play the Romanians in their last pool game in Toulouse on September 29.

In the 1995 tournament in South Africa, the Italians were in pool B with England, Samoa and Argentina, while New Zealand was in pool C, with Ireland, Wales and Japan.

New Zealand have a perfect record against the Italians at the tournament. They won 70-6 in 1987, 31-21 in 1991, 101-3 in 1999 and 70-7 in 2003.

New Zealand and Romania have met in a test only once, in 1981 in Bucharest, with the All Blacks winning 14-6.

All but four of the 20 places at next year's cup are now taken.

* Springbok coach Jake White named four newcomers yesterday in the South African squad to tour England and Ireland in November, resting several first-choice players ahead of next year's World Cup.

Among the newcomers are 20-year-olds Natal Sharks first five-eighth Francois Steyn and Blue Bulls flanker Hilton Lobberts, who have played only one season of senior Currie Cup.

White also gave first call-ups to fullback Bevin Fortuin, a leading light in the Free State Cheetahs' title-sharing Currie Cup campaign, and Gauteng Lions centre Jaco Pretorius, the former South Africa Sevens captain who has been one of the leading try-scorers in domestic rugby this season.

White is resting halfback Fourie du Preez, locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, fullback Percy Montgomery, prop Os du Randt, flankers Schalk Burger and Joe van Niekerk and wing Bryan Habana.

WORLD CUP

Pool A
England, South Africa, Samoa, United States, repechage

Pool B
Australia, Wales, Fiji, Canada, Japan/Korea/Hong Kong

Pool C
New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Romania, repechage

Pool D
France, Ireland, Argentina, Europe 3, Morocco/Namibia