Italy overcomes competitive Chile performance to win 34-19 in first ever meeting

GENOA, Italy (AP) – Italy recovered from a mid-game slump to record a far from comprehensive 34-19 victory over Chile in Genoa on Saturday.

The Azzurri nabbed five tries with Ange Capuozzo setting Italy on the way, followed by a try in each half from Tommaso Di Bartolomeo before Monty Ioane added another two.

Giacomo Da Re converted three of those and also added a penalty.

However, it was a somewhat poor performance from Italy which allowed Chile to score three tries in what was the first ever meeting between the two nations.

Italy had been leading 15-0 before two of those, from Salvador Lues and Nicolas Saab either side of the interval, saw Chile slash the disadvantage to one.

Clemente Saavedra added another try for the visitors right at the end.

There was another positive note for Italy in that there were debuts for teenagers Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi and Edoardo Todaro, who came on as late replacements.

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada had made 10 changes to his starting lineup from last week’s 32-14 defeat to South Africa. The Azzurri opened its autumn internationals by stunning Australia 26-19.