Italy 38-17 Uruguay – Italy battle back to beat Uruguay and go top of Pool A with two wins from two at Rugby World Cup
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ByOli Gent
Updated 20/09/2023 at 20:18 GMT
A fine performance from Italy saw them roar back and avoid a potential scare against Uruguay and secure their second win of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After scoring the first try of the game Italy found themselves down 17-7 at the half. However a decent second-half saw them run out 38-17 eventual winners. The Italians now go top of Pool A with two wins from two so far in the tournament.
Highlights: Italy need second-half comeback to overcome Uruguay
Italy survived a mighty scare as they overcame Uruguay 38-17 to continue their 100% winning run in Pool A at the Rugby World Cup.
Uruguay, who were chasing qualification for the 2027 tournament with a win here, gave another spirited account of themselves as they worried France's second string last week, but they were ultimately outgunned by the experience of the Azzuri in the key moments.
Lorenzo Pani opened the scoring as he powered over on seven minutes, scoring his first try for Italy on his fourth international appearance, before a mad three minutes just shy of the half-hour saw proceedings turn on their heads.
Nicolo Cannone, the Italian lock, was sin-binned for refusing to roll away with his hands on the ball, and Uruguay kicked for the corner from the resulting penalty. The rolling maul drives towards the tryline with menace, and after great TMO deliberation, a penalty try was awarded for Los Teros, with Manuel Ardao adjudged to have had his touchdown unfairly halted by Danilo Fischetti, the prop, who was yellow carded for collapsing the maul.
Nicolas Freitas repeated his try-scoring antics from last time out as his overlapping try put the Uruguayans into a shock lead, with the South Americans making the most of their two-man advantage with an overload on the blind side.
Felipe Etcheverry's drop-goal was the last play of an unbelievable first half, but the Azzuri were to roar back in the second.
It was Uruguay's turn to feel the effects of losing a man as Andres Vilaseca, the centre, was sin-binned for a high tackle on Tommy Allan, and it took Italy just three minutes to take advantage as captain Lamaro powered over, swiftly followed by Monty Ioane after clever play from Paolo Garbisi at the breakdown.
Two further scores followed from Lorenzo Cannone and Ignacio Brex - followed by a penalty from Alessandro Garbisi - as Italy threatened to run riot, with Uruguayan hopes dampened and their bright performance flickering out.
TALKING POINT - ILL-TEMPERED, ILL-DISCIPLINED
Angus Gardiner, the Australian referee, had to rely on all of his experience for this one, as both sides toed the line of the law as tempers threatened to flare.
High tackles flew in from both sides, handling was poor with numerous knock-ons, and as it transpires, the Uruguayan front row don't know how to scrummage properly, with Gardiner taking the front threes from both teams aside in the first half to explain how a scrum worked, and that both sides needed to match the other's pushing force.
But Italy, for all their complacency, showed their experience and class in the dying embers of the game, as Los Teros began to fatigue, reeling from the loss of Vilaseca, and never able to recover from that early second-half suckerpunch.
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NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 20: Montanna Ioane of Italy celebrates scoring his team's third try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Italy and Uruguay at Stade de Nice on September 20, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Ima
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - MANUEL ARDAO (URUGUAY)
Someone who did not deserve to be on the losing side.
Ferocious in the tackle, almighty at the breakdown, and running like a freight train with the ball in his hands, the blindside was at his imperious best, but was not ably assisted by his forward colleagues, with Italy getting the better of the rucks and mauls.
An all-action, heart-on-sleeve performance from the number six, but just not his side's day.
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NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 20: Lorenzo Pani of Italy celebrates scoring his team's first try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Italy and Uruguay at Stade de Nice on September 20, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Image
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Italy: Capuozzo 6, Pani 7, Ignacio 6, Garbisi 6, Ioane 6, Allan 7, Garbisi 6, Fischetti 5, Nicotera 6, Riccioni 5, Cannone 6, Ruzza 6, Negri 6, Lamaro 6, Cannone 6. Replacements: Nemer 6, Odowu 6, Fusco 6, Zani 6, Ceccarelli 6, Lamb 6, Pettinelli 6.
Uruguay: Amaya 6, Mieres 6, Inciarte 6, Vilaseca 6, Freitas 6, Etcheverry 6, Arata 6, Sanguinetti 5, Kessler 6, Peculo 6, Aliaga 6, Leindakar 6, Ardao 8, Civetta 6, Diana 6. Replacements: Berchesi 6, Basso 6, Ormaechea 6, Gattas 6, Pujadas 6, Arbelo 6, Dotti 6, Deus 5.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
7': TRY! The scrum collapses once more, but it's threaded out quickly, into the onrushing Pani, who powers over. The TMO is looking to see whether the winger grounded the ball as he wriggled free of a double challenge... and it's given!
26': YELLOW CARD - Nicolo Cannone, the Italian lock, is sinbinned as he refuses to roll away, with hands on the ball and being the wrong side. Uruguay kick for the corner, and they power over the line...
27': TRY! Uruguay think they've scored through Manuel Ardao, but it's going to the TMO, with the on-field decision being no try with the ball allegedly not being grounded. It was well driven from the maul following the line-out, and it's going to be a penalty try, with another Italian yellow card, this time for Fischetti, who is adjudged to have collapsed the maul. 7-7!
36': TRY! Uruguay choose to pick and drive through the phases as they scramble for the tryline, and Italy defend as though their lives depend on it. The phases mount, and the pressure cranks up, but they're ahead! They break through down the blind side, and it's Freitas who slides over on the overlap, with great awareness from Etcheverry to find his winger. Uruguay are ahead, and finally make the most of their two-man advnantage.
40': DROP GOAL! Uruguay look to extend their lead going into the break as Etcheverry goes for a drop-goal from range as he works some space to kick, and it flies - just about - over the bar, and Los Teros go in at the break with a healthy lead!
44': TMO REVIEW - The Uruguayan no. 12, Vilaseca, is under review for a high tackle on Pani. He's sin-binned for his actions, and it's Los Teros' turn to be a man down!
47': TRY! This time, they've got one, and it's captain Lamaro who crawls over the line after a powerful drive. A great decoy line from Negri allows the Italians to go down the blindside through Pani, and they demonstrate good ruck speed to get the ball down the line and into the hands of their skipper, who delivers. Tommy Allan adds the extras, and the Azzuri are back within three. 17-14.
53': TRY! They're back in front, and they've made full use of their man advantage. Garbisi is smart in his distribution from the breakdown, and Ioane comes from nowhere to burst through the defensive line and touch down. Allan adds the two points, and the Azzuri are back in the driving seat. 21-17.
55': TRY! Lorenzo Cannone dots down this time, as Italy are threatening to run riot now. Inciarte is back on for Uruguay, but it makes no difference as the Azzuri eat up the ground and the number eight touches down with his forearm. Allan is accurate with his kick once more, and the Italians extend their lead to 11 points.
60': TRY! It's another, and it's Ignacio Brex breaks through as Italy work the midfield scrum well. Allan adds the extras once more.
KEY STAT
- Lorenzo Pani scored his first try for Italy on his fourth appearance for his country.
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