All Blacks grind out win over Italy

Corey Flynn scored the only try to help a second-string New Zealand side grind out a 20-6 win over Italy in front of a capacity 80,000 crowd at the San Siro yesterday.

The hooker powered over in the corner in the 27th minute of the match at the home of soccer clubs Inter and Milan, while centre Luke McAlister scored the other points with his boot.

Flyhalf Craig Gower kicked two penalties for Italy, who put on a proud showing for the biggest crowd ever to see a rugby match in Italy.

They managed to disrupt the visitors' rhythm with robust defending and had them camped on their line in the closing stages, although they wasted a couple of chances in the first half with misjudged kicks.

"It's a dream to play in front of you all," Italy captain Sergio Parisse told the crowd. "Thank you for your support."

New Zealand continue their European tour against England at Twickenham next weekend and the Azzurri take on world champions South Africa in Udine.

A late try by winger Matt Banahan helped England scrape a 16-9 victory over an inexperienced Argentina side in another uninspired display.

England were booed off by some of their own fans at half-time with the score at 9-9 and showed little improvement after the break as even Jonny Wilkinson faltered, missing with three successive penalty attempts.

They were spared a second defeat in a row following last week's loss to Australia when Banahan scored 10 minutes from the end.

Argentina, including three full debutants, four amateurs and a callow halfback pairing, also missed three penalties and ended the game camped on the England line.

"It was a disappointing performance but when the pressure's on and the nerves are jangling it's about winning," manager Martin Johnson told Sky Sports.

"A lot of it was individual errors and going into the second half it was going to be tight. Maybe it was a bit of nerves, they put pressure on you and it becomes a dog fight.

"I said to the guys that when it gets to that it's about winning, it was tough to watch from our point of view. The players are happy they won but disappointed with what they did."

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