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Italy vs Namibia: Rugby World Cup live scores, blog

22nd September, 2019
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Italy

47

Match Complete

Namibia

22

81
ITA47 : 22NAM

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Expert
22nd September, 2019
106
1290 Reads

Italy

47

Match Complete

Namibia

22

79C. Loubser
78C. Plato
C. Canna76
M. Minozzi75
J. Polledri69
56J. Greyling
50C. Loubser
C. Canna47
C. Canna46
T. Allan44
E. Padovani43
T. Allan42
T. Tebaldi40
T. Allan26
T. Allan25
10
6C. Loubser
5D. Stevens

7
Tries
3
5
Conversions
2
0
Penalty Goals
1
0
Field Goals
0

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Italy and Namibia kick-off their World Cups in this clash that might have no effect on the tournament itself, but will mean so much for both sets of players. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 3:15pm (AEST).

When you’re in a group with both New Zealand and South Africa you’re aspirations for the World Cup tend to become quite simple in many ways. Two victories is really the best you can hope for and so you focus hard on those matches. This is one of those matches so expect to see both teams doing everything they can to lock in one of those precious World Cup victories.

For Namibia, it would be their first-ever win at the tournament, but the odds are stacked against them. They are missing their skipper and hero Johan Deysel who is out with injury and haven’t played a competitive game since June.

The team will be looking to Janco Venter in the back row, Tjiuee Uanivi in the second row and 22-year-old Cliven Loubser at fly-half to bring power, possession and points. If these three can have big games then their team will feed off them.

For the Italians, they will still have belief that they can upset one of the big two in their group and so finding rhythm in this opening game is crucial.

Legendary captain Sergio Parisse will become the second most capped player ever and play in his fifth World Cup and he will, as always, lead from the front.

Sometimes he tries to do a bit too much and one of the best things he can do is let the others around him step up and shine.

While the Italians will feel that they are expected to score a flood of tries, it’s important that they start by winning that battle up front so look for the men in blue to try and dominate in both the set-piece and at the breakdown.

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This shouldn’t be too difficult, especially when you consider that the Italians had the most effective line out in this year’s Six Nations.

Prediction
Namibia will put in a colossal effort and will view this game as one they could win if they have a great game.

It would be an incredible result for them if they can make something special happen. However, while the Italians might be considered the weakest of the Tier 1 European sides, they are still a good side on the broader world stage and they should see of this first of their African challenges in this group.

Italy to win by 20.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 3:15pm (AEST) on Sunday.

Game information

Kick-off: 3:15pm (AEST)
Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Betting: Italy $1.02, Namibia $15
Referee: Nic Berry
Overall record: Played 3, Namibia 2, Italy 1

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Teams
Italy
15 Jayden Hayward
14 Mattia Bellini
13 Tommaso Benvenuti
12 Luca Morisi
11 Edoardo Padovani
10 Tommaso Allan
9 Tito Tebaldi
8 Sergio Parisse (c)
7 Maxime Mbanda
6 Braam Steyn
5 Federico Ruzza
4 Alessandro Zanni
3 Tiziano Pasquali
2 Luca Bigi
1 Nicola Quaglio

Replacements:
16 Oliviero Fabiani
17 Simone Ferrari
18 Marco Riccioni
19 Dean Budd
20 Jake Polledri
21 Guglielmo Palazzani
22 Carlo Canna
23 Matteo Minozzi

Namibia
15 Johan Tromp
14 Chad Plato
13 Justin Newman
12 Darryl De La Harpe
11 JC Greyling
10 Cliven Loubser
9 Damian Stevens
8 Janco Venter
7 Wian Conradie
6 Rohan Kitshoff
5 Tjiuee Uanivi (c)
4 PJ Van Lill
3 Johannes Coetzee
2 Torsten van Jaarsveld
1 Andre Rademeyer

Replacements:
16 Louis van der Westhuizen
17 AJ De Klerk
18 Nelius Theron
19 Johan Retief
20 Max Katjijeko
21 Eugene Jantjies
22 Helarius Axasman Kisting
23 Lesley Klim

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