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Italy send out clear statement of intent to the Springboks

Jayden Hayward jumps on top of Dean Budd as they celebrate an Italian try against Canada in Fukuoka (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Italy sent out a clear statement of intent when they dismissed Canada 48-7 in Fukuoka City on Thursday. The Azzurri – who also dismissed Namibia by 47-22 in their opening match – will now target South Africa next week in a game that is a straight shootout for a play-off spot.

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Italy outscored the hapless Canucks by seven tries to one in a rather one-sided affair. It was Italy’s second bonus-point win in as many games. With Italy seeking a first World Cup quarter-final berth, their maximum points from two matches sent a message to heavyweights South Africa not to underestimate them.

The Springboks, who lost their opener against New Zealand, paid a high price when they were guilty of taking Japan lightly at the last World Cup and cannot afford to do the same again when they meet Italy in Shizuoka.

Italy, who still have the All Blacks to play as well as South Africa, showed their depth by making 10 changes to the starting XV when they beat Namibia and were still too strong for the Canadians.

A day after Uruguay’s shock win over Fiji, Canada started with hopes of achieving a similar upset. The mostly neutral crowd also gave their support to the Canadians in the 22,000-seater stadium, but it was the vastly rearranged Italian side with the superior forward pack who controlled most of the game.

(Continue reading below…)

In a dominant opening spell, flyhalf Tommaso Allan landed a penalty and converted tries by Braam Steyn and Dean Budd. Steyn sent Peter Nelson flying and barged between Nick Blevins and Jeff Hassler on a short-range charge at the line.

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New Zealand-born second row Budd, filling in as captain with Sergio Parisse rested, galloped 30 metres through a non-existent defence for his try. Italy’s explosive start realised 17 points in 15 minutes.

Canada arrested the scoring spree for the remainder of the half, but their own scoring opportunities evaporated with missed tackles, a misfiring line-out and wrong options.

Replacement Matt Heaton dropped the ball when he had the line at his mercy after Tyler Ardron busted his way through the Italian defence. DTH Van der Merwe confronted Italian full-back Matteo Minozzi with a two-man overlap and fed Gordon McRorie on the outside who was bustled into touch.

The second half was barely three minutes old when Italy were on the board again with Sebastian Negri scoring their third try. Canada went close again when van der Merwe set up Jeff Hassler but the cover defence put the wing out in the corner.

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A penalty try for an illegal tackle by Heaton ensured the bonus point for Italy and reduced Canada to 14-men with Heaton in the sin bin. Mattia Bellini stretched the lead to 36-0 before Andrew Coe scored in the right corner to get Canada on the board.

But the Italian pack, who had an impressive game, responded immediately to drive over the line for Federico Zani to touch down. The backline then followed with a long-range attack that ended with a try to Matteo Minozzi.

– rugby365.com

WATCH: RugbyPass Rugby Explorer takes a trek through Italian rugby  

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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