Italians do the job on USA at World Cup

By Mark Stevens
9/10/22

Italy got their Rugby World Cup Pool B campaign off to a great start with a 22-10 bonus point victory over the USA.

Winger Aura Muzzo led the way for the Italians in Whangārei with two tries as they came back from 5-0 down early on to get over the line by 12 points in the end after a cracking encounter.

Led out by No.8 Kate Zackary - one of six Exeter Chiefs players in the match-day squad - the USA got off to a bright start and they were ahead inside a few minutes when second-row Hallie Taufoou went over from short range.

They then continued to have large patches of possession but could not add to their early try as the Italian defence stood firm. Indeed, the way they were defending clearly fired up Italy - who included Exeter Chiefs newcomer Silvia Turani in their starting line-up - because they started to get a foothold in the game in an attacking sense.

The USA defenders were also doing a good job, but Italy managed to make a breakthrough just before half-time.

They created an overlap by going through the phases and using their big ball carriers and when they put a bit of width to their play full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi dotted down for a try.

Centre Michela Sillari is known as one of the best kickers in the world and she was on target with the conversion to give Italy a crucial 7-5 lead at the interval.

That late first-half score clearly gave Italy confidence and they started the second period well. They got more reward in the 50th minute when Muzzo scored their second try. Sillari could not convert and the Italians were 12-5 up.

With 23 minutes to go, Italy were reduced to 14 players when Minuzzi was yellow-carded by referee Hollie Davidson for a deliberate knock on - and theUSA took advantage to score their second unconverted try through second-row Jenny Kronish.

Italy reorganised, though, and managed to score their third try while they were a player down. Muzzo got her second after a great run and they were 17-10 up by the time Minuzzi returned to the fray.

And with 10 minutes to go another excellent run – this time by Muzzo’s fellow winger Maria Magatti – saw Italy score their bonus-point securing fourth try.