In a thrilling Rugby World Cup Pool A encounter in Nice, Italy battled back from a first-half deficit to secure a dominant 38-17 victory over Uruguay on Wednesday. Italy’s strong second-half performance saw them score 31 unanswered points, earning them a second consecutive bonus-point win in the tournament.
The game began positively for Italy, as they quickly notched an early try courtesy of Lorenzo Pani. However, the first half took a dramatic turn as poor discipline plagued Italy. Niccolo Cannone and Danilo Fischetti were both shown yellow cards, and Uruguay capitalized on the two-man advantage. A penalty try and a drop goal by Felipe Etcheverry put Uruguay in the lead. Nicolas Freitas added another try for Uruguay, and at halftime, they deservedly held a 17-7 lead.
The turning point came early in the second half when Uruguay’s captain, Andres Vilaseca, was shown a yellow card. Italy seized the opportunity and ran in four tries in just 15 minutes, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor.
Michele Lamaro, Monty Ioane, Lorenzo Cannone, and Juan Ignacio Brex were the try-scorers for Italy in the second half. Their impressive comeback secured the win, allowing Italy to maintain their perfect record in Pool A with 10 points. However, their toughest challenges are yet to come, as they are set to face New Zealand and host nation France in their remaining pool matches.
Italy’s captain, Michele Lamaro, praised the Uruguayan team for their performance, acknowledging the pressure they had put on Italy. He emphasized the importance of a strong team and the resilience they showed in the second half.
This victory marked the first time Italy has won four consecutive tests since 1994, demonstrating their potential to be a competitive force in the Rugby World Cup. Uruguay, on the other hand, expressed their frustration at not achieving a famous victory but remained determined to continue working hard in their remaining two matches.
The Rugby World Cup continues to deliver thrilling encounters and unexpected twists, keeping fans around the world eagerly anticipating each match.
