All eyes will be on All Blacks winger Will Jordan this weekend as he closes in on one of New Zealand rugby’s most cherished records when the hosts take on Italy in Wellington.

Jordan’s two-try performance against France last week lifted his Test tally to 47, leaving him just two tries short of equalling Doug Howlett’s long-standing All Blacks record of 49 international tries.

The prolific finisher will again be a key attacking weapon for New Zealand, alongside scrum-half Cam Roigard, who also crossed the line twice in the opening round of the Nations Championship.

While New Zealand enter the clash as overwhelming favourites, Italy arrive determined to continue their recent rise on the international stage.

The Azzurri are still searching for their first-ever victory over the All Blacks, but confidence within the squad has grown following their historic Six Nations triumph over England earlier this year. Much of Italy’s optimism centres on their exciting midfield pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, widely regarded as one of the most dynamic centre combinations in world rugby.

The two nations share a long history at Rugby World Cups, having first met in the tournament’s inaugural match in 1987. They have since become familiar pool-stage rivals, facing off six times at the global showpiece. A seventh World Cup meeting scheduled for 2019 was famously cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis.

New Zealand will also take encouragement from their dominant physical display against France. The All Blacks recorded 233 metres gained in contact during the opening round of the Nations Championship – the highest of any team in the competition.

That statistic could be significant against an Italian side that conceded 209 metres in contact during their defeat to Japan, the second-highest total allowed by any team in round one.

With Jordan on the verge of history and Italy determined to prove they belong among rugby’s elite nations, Wellington is set for an intriguing contest as both sides look to build momentum in the Nations Championship.