New Zealand 27-6 Italy

New Zealand battled to victory against a dogged Italy in Christchurch on Saturday.

It was not pretty and followed two average performances against the French which will have coach Graham Henry, who read the riot act at half-time, concerned heading into the Tri-Nations tournament against Australia and South Africa which begins next month.

New Zealand scored just one try - through Joe Rokocoko - in the first half to lead 13-3 after a shaky opening 40 minutes.

Further tries for Isaac Ross and his Crusaders team-mate George Whitelock - on debut - finally gave the home side some breathing space but it was far from a vintage performance against a team they have hammered in recent encounters.

Italy coach Nick Mallett and captain Sergio Parisse got their wish for a competitive 80-minute performance and a good defensive effort, and will leave their tour of Australasia content despite failing to get a win against either Australia or the All Blacks.

Ross was a shining light and for a man making just his third international appearance, showed the composure of a veteran.

Much of the focus heading into the match was on the teams' respective fly-halves Luke McAlister and Craig Gower.

McAlister, playing his first match at number 10 for the All Blacks since the 2007 World Cup game against Romania, did not start well, with wayward kicking, poor handling had errant passing in a nervy opening spell.

But he gradually settled into the role, his cross-field kick creating the try for Rokocoko, who finally broke a tryless run of seven Tests.

Gower, in just his third international start since switching from rugby league, showed plenty of potential, willing to take the line on and kicking well for territory as the Italians dominated that phase of the game.

Going into the game Parisse had called on his players to man-up on defence and they did that, forcing errors from the All Blacks, who never really fired for the whole match.

The Italians, though, were unable to get across the All Blacks line with their points coming from the boot of fullback Luke McLean.

McAlister opened the scoring with a penalty in the eighth minute when Parisse was caught offside.

McLean missed a chance to level the score after 21 minutes and the home side extended their lead when Rokocoko collected McAlister's cross-field kick and forced his way past McLean and New Zealand-born Kaine Robertson to touch down in the left corner.

McAlister added the conversion and then slotted another penalty three minutes later to stretch the lead to 13-0.

The Italians finally got on the board eight minutes before the break when Ma'a Nonu was penalised for killing the ball and McLean slotted the three-pointer.

But he could not repeat the feat just before half-time leaving the visitors trailing by 10 points.

Kieran Read was denied a try in the 50th minute when television match official George Ayoub ruled that McLean had been taken out by All Blacks debutant wing Lelia Masaga chasing the loose ball near the try line.

McLean then slotted his second penalty for the first points of the second half.

The All Blacks did not have to wait long for another try, though, with Ross ambling in under the posts after 56 minutes after Isaia Toeava broke the first line of defence and then fed the pass to the lock to grab his first international try - and at his home ground. McAlister added the extras.

The fly-half was slotting over another two-pointer 10 minutes later after Whitelock's try.

Ross, who looks more assured in the black jersey each week, sparked the move with a burst up field, brushing off tacklers left and right before the ball found its way to the substitute loose forward who juggled it a couple of times before diving over.

The Italians remained resolute to the end, stopping Piri Weepu just short of the line on the stroke of full-time as the All Blacks pressed for a fourth try.