Italy 48-7 Canada: Pool B leaders score seven tries in second successive Rugby World Cup win

Emphatic win: Dean Budd touches down for Italy in the first half
Getty Images
George Flood26 September 2019

Italy remain top of Pool B at the Rugby World Cup after brushing aside Canada to record their second consecutive bonus-point victory.

Conor O'Shea's Azzurri opened their tournament with a 47-22 win over minnows Namibia at the weekend and took care of inferior opposition once more in Fukuoka on Thursday as they ran in seven tries during an entertaining 48-7 triumph.

The win means they strengthen their hold on No1 spot in a difficult group ahead of far sterner tests against South Africa and New Zealand.

Italy made a fast start to proceedings, taking the lead through an early Tommaso Allan penalty after Canada were whistled for not rolling away.

No8 Braam Steyn - starting in place of rested captain Sergio Parisse as one of 10 changes made by O'Shea - then notched the first try of the day as he picked the ball out of the back of a five-metre scrum and smashed through four tacklers including fly-half Peter Nelson en route to touching down.

AFP/Getty Images

Dean Budd scored another just six minutes later, with a Canadian missed tackle opening the door for the New Zealand-born lock to power in from 22 metres out.

Unfazed, Canada then proved the better side before the interval, but could not convert their possession and chances into points as Matt Heaton knocked on with the Italian try-line at his mercy and Giulio Bisegni hauled scrum-half Gordon McRorie into touch with a superb desperation tackle.

Sebastian Negri crashed over for Italy's third try shortly after half-time and they were later awarded a penalty try as Heaton received a yellow card for deliberately halting an otherwise effective driving maul.

Mattia Bellini sprinted in to touch down in the left corner to further extend the lead and Canada thought they were off the mark when captain Tyler Ardron scooped up a loose ball to score, only for TMO Rowan Kitt and referee Nigel Owens to determine that the ball had bounced forward off the forearm of Ben Lesage.

AP

Canada did get the reward their efforts deserved when speedy sevens star Andrew Coe weaved his way through off the right flank, but Italy hit back in ruthless fashion through replacement prop Federico Zani and Wasps full-back Matteo Minozzi.

Italy will be happy with their efforts in Japan thus far, but the Springboks and All Blacks will pose serious problems next month.

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