Pool C?Italy 31 Portugal 5:Centre Andrea Masi scored two tries as Italy beat Portugal but were denied a bonus point by a stern defence in a Pool C match at the Parc des Princes last night.
Italy looked set for a high-scoring win when their repeated thrusts from the Portuguese kickoff gave them an early try, outhalf Roland de Marigny sending Masi over in the middle.
However, Italy looked unsettled by Marco Bortolami's yellow card for punching in the eighth minute and were stunned just past the half hour, the Portuguese maintaining a record of touching down once in each of their matches. An attack from a scrum was thwarted by the defence, but from the maul Portugal ran the ball out to the right. Replacement centre Diogo Gama, on for the Diogo Mateus, made an overhead pass to lock David Penalva who touched down.
The tiring Portuguese conceded two tries late on. With eight minutes to go, flanker Mauro Bergamasco touched down froma maul and five minutes later, De Marigny again combined with Masi, his chip over the defence touched down by the centre.
Despite enjoying far more possession, Italy led only 16-3 at the interval and they took 23 minutes to add to their score in the second half when David Bortolussi converted his fourth penalty.
Italy meet Scotland on September 29th in their last Pool match when only a win could secure a place in the last eight..
ITALY:Bortolussi, Canavosio, Canale, Masi, Pratichetti, de Marigny, Troncon, Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, del Fava, Bortolami, Parisse, M. Bergamasco, Vosawai. Replacements: Griffen for Troncon (80), Aguero for Lo Cicero (64), Perugini for Castrogiovanni (64), Orlando for Vosawai (59). Not Used: Ongaro, Bernabo, Galon. Sin Bin: Bortolami (8).
PORTUGAL:Cabral, D. Mateus, Sousa, D. Mateus, Aguilar, D. Pinto, J. Pinto, Cordeiro, Correia, Spachuck, G. Uva, Penalva, Girao, J. Uva, V. Uva. Replacements: Foro for D. Mateus (61), Gama for D. Mateus (31), Pissarra for J. Pinto (66), Mure for Cordeiro (61), Figueiredo for Correia (70), Da Silva for Spachuck (61), Murinello for J. Uva (64).
Referee:M Jonker (South Africa).
