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Update
Italy swept Namibia in their first match of this Rugby World Cup. GONZALO FUENTES / REUTERS
Italy made short work of Namibia on Saturday in Saint-Étienne (52-8).
A train that arrives on time. As expected, the Italians won 52-8 against valiant Namibians on Saturday afternoon at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Étienne.
In pool ASquadra Azura pes France and takes the lead with its improved victory (7 tries).
Italy, messy in the first period, still managed to enter the World Cup, facing a much too limited Namibia, obtaining quite easily an offensive bonus point, in addition to the victory. The Squadra Azzura scored 7 tries thanks to Lorenzo Cannone (11), Paolo Garbisi (15), Dino Lamb (46), Ange Capuozzo (55) and Hame Faiva (74), Manuel Zuliani (78) and Paolo Odogwu (80+ 3) for a single scored by Namibia by their winger Gerswin Mouton (21).
With this improved success, Italy temporarily takes the lead, ahead of France, of Group A which also includes New Zealand, Uruguay and Namibia. She will face Uruguay in Nice, Wednesday September 20 (5:45 p.m.), before tackling the two favorites of the group: New Zealand, September 29 in Lyon (9 p.m.) and France, October 6, still at Lyon (9 p.m.).