Italy 28-23 Tonga, November 10
Italy hold on to beat Tonga
ESPN Staff
November 10, 2012
Report Match details
Date/Time: Nov 10, 2012, 15:00 local, 14:00 GMT
Venue: Stadio Mario Rigamon, Brescia
Italy 28 - 23 Tonga
Attendance: 20036  Half-time: 18 - 16
Tries: Cittadini, Ghiraldini, Penalty
Cons: Burton 2
Pens: Burton 3
 Tries: Taumalolo, Vainikolo
Cons: 'Apikotoa 2
Pens: 'Apikotoa 3
Italy prop Lorenzo Cittadini powers through the Tonga defence for his first Test try, Italy v Tonga, Stadio Mario Rigamonti, Brescia, Italy, November 10, 2012
Lorenzo Cittadini got the try-scoring started with his first ever Test try
 © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Tonga tour
Teams: Italy | Tonga

Italy got their autumn internationals off to a winning start with a 28-23 victory over Tonga in Brescia.

Lorenzo Cittadini scored his first ever Test try to start the scoring for the Azzurri when he drove over from close range early on. Tonga fly-half Fangatapu 'Apikotoa had opened the scoring with a penalty and he added two more before hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini grabbed Italy's second try just before half-time.

In the second half Italy's pack was reinforced by the introduction of Martin Castrogiovanni and he and long-time front row partner Andrea Lo Cicero began to establish Italy's dominance in the scrum. It was rewarded in the 63rd minute when the pack won a try when Tonga's scrum went down close to the line.

Wing Fetu'u Vainikolo scored Tonga's second try in the 67th minute to leave Italy holding on over a nervy last 10 minutes, but their defence held out and they now face New Zealand in Rome and Australia in Florence over the next two weekends.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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