Italy hold off gallant Romania

Cape Town - Italy have defeated Romania 32-22 in their Rugby World Cup Pool D encounter played at Sandy Park in Exeter.

As it happened: Italy v Romania

The victory, Italy's second in the tournament, ensures that they finish the group in third position and that they qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.  

Italy, who lead 22-3 at half-time, outscored their less fancied rivals by four tries to three, but Romania were the far better side in the second half putting the Italians under immense pressure in the final quarter in particular. 

Scorers

Italy

Tries: Leanardo Sato, Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Allan, Alessandro Zanni

Conversions: Allan (3)

Penalty: Allan (3)

Romania

Tries: Adrian Apostol (2), Valentin Poparlan

Conversions: Florin Vlaicu (2)

Penalties: Vlaicu

Teams

Italy

15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Tommaso Benvenuti, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (captain), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Matias Aguero

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Enrico Bacchin

Romania

15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Madalin Lemnaru, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Florin Vlaicu, 11 Ionut Botezatu, 10 Michael Wiringi, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu, 8 Daniel Carpo, 7 Viorel Lucaci, 6 Valentin Ursache (captain), 5 Johannes van Heerden, 4 Valentin Poparlan, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Otar Turashvili, 1 Mihaita Lazar

Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Andrei Ursache, 18 Horatiu Pungea, 19 Marius Antonescu, 20 Stelian Burcea, 21 Tudorel Bratu, 22 Adrian Apostol, 23 Csaba Gal