In an electrifying Pool A showdown at Stade de Nice, Italy mounted an impressive second-half resurgence, scoring four tries to claim a resounding 38-17 triumph and shatter Uruguay’s hopes of a stunning upset.
The game began with Winger Lorenzo Pani propelling Italy into an early lead. However, the momentum shifted when second-row Niccolo Cannone received a yellow card, allowing Uruguay to level the score with a penalty try, which also led to prop Danilo Fischetti joining Cannone in the sin-bin.
Taking advantage of their two-man superiority, Uruguay sent wing Nicolas Freitas over the try line, and Felipe Etcheverry added a drop goal, granting his side a 17-7 lead at halftime. It could have been more substantial if the fly-half hadn’t missed two early penalty attempts.
Yet, Italy orchestrated a remarkable turnaround with three tries in just 10 minutes, courtesy of skipper Michele Lamaro, Montanna Ioane, and Lorenzo Cannone. The first two tries came after Andres Vilaseca received a yellow card. Juan Ignacio Brex added a fifth try, sealing Italy’s second consecutive victory with a bonus point.
Michele Lamaro, Italy’s captain and the Mastercard Player of the Match, expressed his joy at emerging victorious after a challenging first half for the Azzurri. He emphasized the unity and strength of the team, acknowledging Uruguay’s commendable performance.
Kieran Crowley lamented his team’s untidy performance in the first half but commended their resilience. He highlighted the need to address discipline issues that led to turnovers and praised the team’s second-half efforts.
Uruguay flanker Santiago Civetta, whose team is ranked 17th in the World Rugby rankings, had targeted this match as an opportunity to secure qualification for the Rugby World Cup 2027 against the 12th-ranked Italy. Civetta described the match as an epic battle and acknowledged their mistakes, which Italy capitalized on. He expressed frustration but emphasized the need to keep working hard and prepare for the remaining matches.
Head coach Esteban Meneses acknowledged Italy’s strong performance in the second half and congratulated them on the win. He outlined their initial target of facing Italy and Namibia and affirmed their commitment to preparing for the upcoming match against Namibia.
