Ange Capuozzo scores terrific try as Italy thrash Namibia in World Cup opener
Ange Capuozzo marked his maiden World Cup appearance with a fine solo try in Italy’s 52-8 victory over Namibia in Pool A.
Speed merchant Capuozzo has developed a reputation as one of the world’s best finishers since his international debut last year and delighted the Saint-Etienne crowd with his 55th-minute effort.
Capuozzo, who plys his trade in France with Toulouse, exchanged passes with Monty Ioane before he dived over the line in a rare opportunity to stretch his legs in a bonus-point win for Italy.
Namibia opened the scoring at Stade Geoffroy Guichard when fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel sent over an early penalty but it was not the beginning of a shock win for the African nation.
It had been a similar story in their World Cup clash in 2019, where Namibia got on the scoreboard first before they succumbed to a 47-22 loss.
Kieran Crowley’s Italy quickly responded with Tommaso Allan kicking his own successful penalty before number eight Lorenzo Cannone crashed over after 12 minutes.
Namibia hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld had been sin-binned in the play before after a collapsed maul and from the resulting penalty Italy grabbed the first of seven tries.
Allan added the extras and produced another conversion after quarter of an hour when Paolo Garbisi waltzed through the Namibia defence after a poor line-out.
There was a moment for Namibia, stripped in blue, to savour when Swanepoel’s fine pass found wing Gerswin Mouton, who raced over in the corner for a fantastic try.
It remained 17-8 to Italy at the interval before Crowley’s men improved after the restart with Dino Lamb able to jot down after being carried over by his team-mates.
All eyes were then on Capuozzo, who ran inside before he traded passes with Ioane and showed his predatory finishing skills by wheeling over to score his first World Cup try.
With the bonus-point secured, Italy started to play with more freedom in the final quarter and Epalahame Faiva, Manuel Zuliani and Paolo Odogwu grabbed tries during the latter stages of the clash to ensure the tier one nation made a strong start to their campaign.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments