Rugby World Cup: Russians outgunned by Italy

Giulio Toniolatti scores for Italy against Russia during their Rugby World Cup pool match. Photo / Getty Images

Italy were on a mission to earn a bonus point for scoring four tries against Russia in Nelson tonight and they achieved it in the 23rd minute of their lopsided Rugby World Cup clash.

The Azzuri ran out eventual winners 53-7 in a clash which emphasised the true difference in class between the haves and have-nots of world rugby.

Russia, who slipped to 21st in the latest world rankings compared to Italy who occupy 10th spot, tried hard but in the opening spell they were completely outplayed as Italy kept the scoreboard rattling along with the game clock.

English referee Wayne Barnes had no sympathy for the Russians and they found themselves on the wrong end of a 9-1 penalty count after 40 minutes.

The bonus point was a must have for Italy due to the potentially tricky calculations that could eventuate from Pool C after Ireland's shock victory over Australia on Saturday.

If Italy were to knock over the Irish in their upcoming game, the bonus point could prove the difference that could see them grab an unlikely quarter-final spot.

In what was the first World Cup game staged in Nelson, Russia fielded the most experienced side they have ever mustered and the run-on XV boasted 568 caps.

The Bears featured plenty of hard workers too, including their dynamic loose trio made up of flankers Vyacheslav Grachev and Andrey Garbuzov and No 8 Victor Gresev, who was also named man of the match.

Reserve halfback Alexander Yanyushkin also had the honour of bagging Russia's first try at a World Cup, when the 1.65m 28-year-old slipped through a small gap in the 34th minute.

Italy's scrum was dominant throughout the game and even earned them a penalty try in the first spell, but it was their back play that would give their fans hope for their future fixtures.

Livewire winger Giulio Toniolatti was busy throughout the game, while promising 20-year-old centre Tommaso Benvenuti also produced some nice touches.

Italian No 8 and captain Sergio Parisse ran like a back and was dangerous with the ball in his hands as he bagged the opening try of the game.

The Azzuri also spent 10 minutes of the contest with only 14 men on the paddock as hooker Fabio Ongaro was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle late in the first half.

As the substitutes spilled on to the field in the second spell the game lost some shape as both sides infringed at the scrum and breakdown, which made for a scrappy affair in the latter stages.

Italy outscored Russia 15-10 only in the second half, but Italian coach Nick Mallett would have been more concerned with his goalkickers, who only banged over four conversions from nine attempts.

Italy 53 (Giulio Toniolatti 2, Tommaso Benvenuti 2, Sergio Parisse, Edoardo Gori, Luke McLean, Alessandro Zanni tries, penalty try; Riccardo Bocchino 4 cons) Russia 17 (Alexander Yanyushkin, Vladimir Ostroushko, Alexey Makovetskiy tries; Konstantin Rachkov con) HT: 38-7

ITALY 53 S Parisse, E Gori, L McLean, T Benvenuti (2), G Toniolatti (2), A Zanni tries; R Bocchino (4) conversions def. RUSSIA 17 V Ostroushko, A Makovetskiy, A Yanyushkin tries; K Rachkov conversion