Italy fall to Fiji in Lautoka

Caucau and company leave Azzurri standing

Italy were handed a lesson in island rugby on Saturday, going down 29-18 to Fiji in Lautoka.

The result of the tour match punctuates the Azzurri's season and ensures that the Fijians go into the next round of the Pacific Five Nations with their heads high.

Amid shaky hands and a number of missed opportunities, tries from Norman Ligairi, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Isoa Domolailai and Kini Salabogi gave the locals an unassailable lead of 29-8 at the break.

The tourists got Andrea Lo Cicero over the line in the first half and mounted a belated response via a second-half from Josh Sole, but it was too little too late.

The result at Churchill Park means that Fiji go 4-3 up in the overall 'series' between the two countries. Italy took the honours when the sides last met - in the snows of Monza in November.

The scorers:

For Fiji:
Tries: Ligairi, Caucau, Domolailai, Salabogi
Cons: Bai 3
Pen: Bai

For Italy:
Try: Sole, Lo Cicero
Con: Pez
Pen: Pez 2

The teams:

Fiji: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Mosese Luveitasau, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Seru Rabeni, 11 Rupeni Caucaunibuca, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Alivereti Doviverata, 6 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 5 Isoa Domolailai, 4 Simon Raiwalui (captain), 3 Apisai Nagi, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Jo Bale.
Replacements: 16 Joeli Lotawa, 17 Ravuama Samo, 18 Kini Salabogi, 19 Akapusi Qera, 20 Emosi Vucago, 21 Jo Tora, 22 Maleli Kunavore.

Italy: 15 David Bortolussi, 14 Pablo Canavosio, 13 Mirco Bergamasco (captain), 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Michele Sepe, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Sergio Parisse, 5 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4 Santiago Dellapé, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacement: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Fabio Staibano, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 Simon Picone, 22 Gert Peens.

Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: George Ayoub (Australia), Gary Wise (New Zealand)
Assessor: Ian Scotney (Australia)