Italy hold off Japanese counterattack to win first World Cup warm-up encounter: Rugby news
The Azzurri’s have completed their 31 – 24 victory over Japan at Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena on Saturday, August 13. Both teams were playing their first pre-World Cup encounter to finalise their preparations for the 2011 Rugby World Cup campaigns.
Italy was playing in home conditions and in front of a home crowd and started the match strongly, as the visitors looked ordinary in the initial phase of the game. Italy’s inside centre, Matteo Pratichetti, scored the first try of the match in the fifth
minute to put the hosts in the lead. Italy’s fly half Riccardo Bocchino followed with his conversion to take the scorecard reading 7 – 0.
Italy built on their momentum as they sent their scrumhalf, Edoardo Gori, to score their second try, in the 11th minute of the game. Bocchino followed with his conversion to extend hosts lead to 14 points.
Later, the visitors consolidated their efforts as they slowly started to build on ball possession. They started to gain territory and were able to run the passes. In 22nd minute of the game, Japan’s left winger, Takeshisa Usuzuki, scored the
first try of the match. Japanese fly half James Arlidge followed with his conversion to reduce the deficit to just seven points.
A couple of minutes later, Japans outside centre, Koji Taira, scored the visitor’s second try of the match. Arlidge’s 28th minute successful conversion levelled the scores at 14 – all. Japan continues to control the proceedings of the game, as
the host found it hard to retain the ball possession.
In the 38th minute of the first-half, Arlidge scored his first and only penalty of the game to put the visitors in the lead by three points. At the end of the first half, both sides left the field with scorecard reading 17 – 14, in favour of the
Japan.
Italy started the second half strongly as they were able to enjoy most of the ball possession to gain control over the proceedings. They sent their hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini to score their third try of the game in the 45th minute. Bocchino followed
with his conversion to put the hosts in lead again.
Italy, leading by four points, did not make any ball handling or tackling errors to turn the ball possession over. Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina scored Italy’s fourth try in the game, which was followed by their substitute fly Luciano Orquera conversion to extend
the lead by 11 points.
Japan replied strongly as they were able to win a penalty try during the 63rd minute of the game. Arlidge followed with his third conversion of the game to take the scorecard reading 28 – 24.
In the last quarter of the game, both teams tried their hardest to finish strongly and both teams enjoyed their moments. However, only the Azzurri’s were able to add points to their tally, courtesy of Orquera’s 74th minute penalty to take the
scorecard reading 31 – 24. The scorecard remained the same at the end of the second half.
Both Italy and Japan will play their second pre-World Cup games against Scotland and USA Eagles on August 20 and August 21 at Murrayfield and Tokyo respectively.
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