CANBERRA, 22 October 2003 — Italy survived a spine-tingling finish to defeat Canada 19-14 in a World Cup Pool D match yesterday which eliminated the North Americans from the tournament.
Both sides scored a try each, with kicking by Italy flyhalf Rima Wakarua again proving the difference after a 21-point haul against Tonga last week.
But the Canadians did not give up without a fight and attacked again and again in a bid to peg back Italy’s lead over a desperate closing 15 minutes. Canada attacked frantically, flinging the ball right and left in an attempt to find the decisive break in an impressive Italian defensive line.
Exhausted Italian players fell into each other’s arms on the final whistle as dejected Canadians collapsed to the pitch.
The Italians looked to have worn down Canada’s resistance when number eight Sergio Parisse scored the first try in the 56th minute after a strong Italian scrum drive forced Canada scrumhalf Morgan Williams to spill the ball near his own line.
The converted try gave Italy a 19-9 lead and came not long after Canada center Marco di Girolamo was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball after a general warning.
Di Girolamo’s offense amounted to a 10-point penalty against the Canadians, with Italy flyhalf Rima Wakarua kicking the last of his four penalties when the Canadian was sin binned. But Canada struck back 10 minutes later when Italy fullback Gonzalo Canale also spilled the ball from a long kick.
Canada’s forwards pounced on his mistake and their backs flung the ball to the left wing for Australian-born fullback Quentin Fyffe to cross in the corner.
Canada flyhalf Jared Barker missed a difficult conversion. Barker also missed two difficult penalties in the second half, the second bouncing back off the posts.
Italy’s cause was made all the harder in the last two minutes when hooker Fabio Ongaro was yellow carded for pulling down a maul, forcing his team to defend desperately with 14 players.
The final frantic minutes were in stark contrast to a dour opening 40 minutes. Italy led 9-6 at half time, New Zealand-born Wakarua kicking three penalties to Barker’s two.
Neither side appeared to notice a violent storm which broke just before kick off, both trying to throw the ball around in defiance of the greasy conditions. Constant stoppages and turnovers ruined the first half, but the powerful Italian forwards seemed to have the better of the Canadians, who relied mainly on counter attack.
Canada, quarterfinalists in 1991, have now lost the first three of their four pool matches and will be unable to win enough points from their last match against Tonga next week to qualify for the knockout phase again. Italy’s win was even more significant as no other Italian side has ever won two games at a World Cup.
The Italians now play Wales in a decisive match on Saturday to determine which of the two will qualify for the quarterfinals as runners-up behind Cup favorites New Zealand.
New Zealand Dominate Player Award Nominations
New Zealand have dominated the nominations for this year’s International Rugby Players’ Association Player of the Year award, with four All Blacks included in the final shortlist of six candidates.
New Zealanders Doug Howlett, Richard McCaw, Joe Rokocoko and Carlos Spencer were all nominated for the award along with Ireland center Brian O’Driscoll and last year’s winner, England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson.
New Zealand also dominated the nominations for newcomer of the year, with Rokocoko, Keven Mealamu and Jerry Collins making the final list along with South Africans Juan Smith and Ashwin Willemse and Australia’s Lote Tuqiri.
New Zealand, England, France, Ireland and Argentina were all nominated for team of the year.
