Italy earn World Cup bonus point with second-half surge against Namibia
Error-strewn Italy overcame a poor first half in blistering heat to secure a 52-8 victory over minnows Namibia in a lacklustre start to their Rugby World Cup Pool A campaign at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
The Italians led 17-8 at the break and later scored a superb 60-metre try through livewire wing Ange Capuozzo. They earned a bonus point as they ran in seven tries in all, taking advantage of the wilting Namibians late in the game.
Namibia’s wait for a first World Cup win extends to a record 23 games, though they also scored an excellent try via wing Gerswin Mouton. The African side’s only scores of the 2019 tournament were also against Italy when they lost 47-22.
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With much tougher assignments to come against hosts France and New Zealand, Italy coach Kieran Crowley will expect a vast improvement in performance when they meet Uruguay on Sept. 20. Namibia are next in action five days earlier against the All Blacks.