Seven-Try Italy Run Riot To Hand Canada Biggest Rugby World Cup Defeat
26th September 2019
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 ran amok against Canada to bag their second bonus-point win in as many games with a 48-7 Rugby World Cup victory Thursday and vowed to celebrate with an "old-school night"
- It was not a perfect performance as Italy slipped at times from flair and finesse to sloppy, but they did enough to dominate seven tries to one in what was their biggest margin of victory at the World Cup
- Coach Conor O'Shea revealed he had promised his team an "old-school night" after only a four-day turnaround between games, which he said was "tough for any team, mentally as well as physically"
FUKUOKA, Japan- Italy
ran amok against Canada to bag their second bonus-point win in as many games
with a 48-7 Rugby World Cup victory Thursday and vowed to celebrate with an
"old-school night".
It was not a perfect performance as Italy slipped at times
from flair and finesse to sloppy, but they did enough to dominate seven tries
to one in what was their biggest margin of victory at the World Cup.
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 in eight days.
"We've earned a few drinks tonight probably," said
Italian captain Dean Budd.
Coach Conor O'Shea revealed he had promised his team an
"old-school night" after only a four-day turnaround between games,
which he said was "tough for any team, mentally as well as
physically".
"You have to be pretty happy. I thought we started the
game really well and that's where we imposed ourselves," said O'Shea.
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Italy, still with 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 in Fukuoka also gave their support
to the Canadians in the 22,000-seat stadium, but it was the vastly rearranged
Italian side with the superior forward pack who controlled most of the game.
In a dominant opening spell, fly-half 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.
New Zealand-born second-rower 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 lineout, and wrong options.