Italy got the better of Canada in a scrappy Rugby World Cup Pool D affair this afternoon to earn their first win of the tournament in Leeds.
After a stop-start opening 10 minutes, the first rugby union match in 23 years and only second ever at Elland Road was lit up with two tries in as many minutes.
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Not long after Nathan Hirayama had kicked the first points of the day for Canada, DTH van der Merwe went over for his second try in two matches after linking up with Ciaran Hearn following a surge down the left.
Hirayama added the extras to put the Maple Leafs 10-0 up, but their double-digit lead lasted just a few seconds as Michele Rizzo scored his first international try after Edoardo Gori had burst through the Canada line.
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Tommaso Allan made no mistake with the conversion and then sent over a penalty after 24 minutes to bring the scores level at 10 apiece.
The fly-half had to go off for a few minutes after picking up a head injury, but returned just before the break to kick the Azzurri into a 13-10 interval lead.
Just three minutes after half time Canada were back in front and again it was a solo effort that delighted the 33,000 inside Elland Road. Full-back Matt Evans beat the first tackle and then had too much pace for the covering Leonardo Sarto to touch down in the corner.
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The Canadians were in the ascendency and they thought that they had gone further ahead moments later when Phil MacKenzie touched down after quick handling down the right. Referee George Clancy went upstairs to the TMO and replays confirmed that Conor Trainor's pass to the winger had gone forward.
Italy, who have never progressed past the group stage at a World Cup, went over for their second try in the 58th minute through Gonzalo Garcia, who saw a gap after captain Leonardo Ghiraldini had got within touching distance of the try line.
Despite Italy leading, Canada were seeing more of the ball and having better territory as the clock wound down. A period of sustained pressure in the 70th minute failed to result in a try and Hirayama opted to kick for goal to bring the Maple Leafs within two going into the closing stages.
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Canada ran out of gas in the final 10 minutes as Italy saw out the win, giving themselves a five-point victory thanks to Allan's last-minute penalty.
Italy grab third place in the group, with Canada earning a solitary bonus point to move ahead of Romania at the bottom.
Pascal Lemesre
