Italy tops Portugal, on course for quarterfinals

PARIS: Italy defeated stubborn Portugal 31-5 on Wednesday and made sure it's match with Scotland next week will be for a first ever berth in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

Italy's second labored win of the tournament matched its previous best effort four years ago, and left the Azzurri lying third in Pool C on eight points, two behind co-leaders New Zealand and Scotland.

The Italians will meet Scotland in Saint-Etienne in 10 days, a break they'll embrace after the bruising they received from the die-hard Portuguese, whose remarkable heart was on show again four days after a 100-point hiding from the All Blacks.

Two tries in the last 10 minutes made for a flattering scoreline for Italy, which bumbled and fumbled in the face of a terrier defense.

"We didn't know to impose our pressure on defense or attack and lost a great deal of balls which allowed Portugal to stay so involved in the game," Italy coach Pierre Berbizier said. "We have to change our game to be competitive against Scotland."

Defeat eliminated any chance the Portuguese had of advancing from the pool but that was never expected of the tournament first-timers. The fast-improving Lobos came to their first World Cup to prove they were worthy and intend leaving with dignity, if not a victory in their last match next Tuesday against European Nations Cup rival Romania.

"We're happy, I think we played equally well," Portugal coach Tomaz Morais said. "When this team has more games under their belt we will be an equal adversary."

Less than a year ago, the Lobos were hammered 83-0 by Italy in World Cup qualifying, and they showed how much they've progressed by limiting the fourth-best team from the Six Nations to only three tries, two of them when their fitness finally began to flag. Morais regarded it as a victory.

"Compared to the Six Nations we're slightly below our performances from back then," captain Marco Bortolami said. "We're trying to fix what's going wrong and we're not ashamed of our performance in any way."

Inside center Andrea Masi scored Italy's first and last tries and flanker Mauro Bergamasco the other. Fullback David Bortolussi rebounded from a poor goalkicking performance against Romania last week by making six of seven attempts.

But the biggest cheer at Parc des Princes was reserved for the first-half try by Portugal lock David Penalva, the team's third of the tournament - matching the total of defending champion England.

By the time he scored, Italy knew it was in for a tough night, despite its best efforts to mark the 100th appearance by scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon appropriately. Troncon, only the seventh player and first Italian to reach 100 tests, walked onto the field alone ahead of both teams and it was one of the few times the Portuguese allowed any Italian free space.

So confident was Italy that it gave up early kickable penalties to try attacking lineouts.

The first time worked in the fourth minute. After his forwards mauled to the line, Masi easily split the Portuguese midfield to score. The second time three minutes later failed as Portugal, determined not to let in any more soft tries, held out and earned a relieving penalty.

Portugal couldn't take advantage when Bortolami was yellow-carded for punching in the ninth minute but the Lobos continued to soak up the unrelenting pressure and by the time Bortolami returned, his team had added only a penalty for 10-0.

Attack after attack by Italy was stymied by frequent knock-ons, dropped passes and ball-jolting tackles. Italy's scrum shoved Portugal's off the ball in the shadow of the Portuguese posts but the surge ended with a knock-on.

Agencies

(China Daily 09/21/2007 page23)