Pacific Islanders land first Test win as Italy fail to perform

Italy 17 Pacific Islands 25:THE PACIFIC Islanders won their first Test match as they stunned Italy 25-17 at the Stadio Giglio in Reggio Emilia on Saturday. It was the ninth time the Islanders had lined up against international opposition and the first time they have tasted success.

However, it is back to the drawing board for Italy and their South African coach Nick Mallett who lost three out of three Tests this autumn after also going down at home to Australia and Argentina. They were very poor in the first half and despite dominating after the break, struggling to break down the visitors' defence. Italy's New Zealand-born winger Kaine Robertson blamed his team's mental approach. He said: "I can't explain our first half . . . We need to be more humble. We should beat this lot if we play to our true level, it's mental."

The Islanders got off to a terrific start as Vilimoni Delasau went over in the right corner. Seremaia Bai kicked over the defence and Sailosi Tagicakibau picked up the ball before off-loading to Fijian Delasau to score after four minutes. Bai kicked the conversion before minutes later Italy's Andrea Marcato kicked a penalty to bring the scores back to 7-3.

That was a rare penalty attempt from the hosts who otherwise kicked to the corners in an attempt to go for a push-over try. That tactic worked as Italy worked the ball from right to left and back again before quick hands from captain Sergio Parisse created the space for Leonardo Ghiraldini to sneak over. Marcato landed the conversion and Bai levelled with a successful penalty on 19 minutes.

But the Fijian outhalf soon found himself in the sin bin after pole-axing Mirco Bergamasco with a high tackle. Yet despite playing a man down the Islanders pinned Italy back in their 22 and Delasau burrowed over from close range for his second score. Samoan Seilala Mapusua missed the conversion. Italy suffered another setback as Kaine Robertson also saw yellow. Now with a man advantage the Islanders capitalised and full-back Kameli Ratuvou picked the ball up from a break down and skipped through a gaping hole in the Italy backline.

Bai converted to give the tourists a 22-10 lead at the break and soon after the restart he added a penalty. Italy then started to pin the Islanders inside their own half. With 15 minutes to go their pressure told as a flicked pass from Parisse sent Mauro Bergamasco over for the score.

ITALY:Masi, Robertson, M Bergamasco, Garcia, Pratichetti, Marcato, Travagli, Aguero, Ghiraldini, Nieto, Reato, Bortolami, Sole, M. Bergamasco, Parisse. Replacements: McLean for Masi (62 mins), Lo Cicero for Aguero (65 mins), Ongaro for Ghiraldini (55 mins), Perugini for Nieto (72 mins), Zanni for Sole (40 mins). Not used: Canavosio, Pavan.

PACIFIC ISLANDS:Ratuvou, Tagicakibau, Mapusua, Taione, Delasau, Bai, Martens, Va'a, Fuga, Pulu, Levi, Hehea, Vaki, Latu, Koyamaibole. Replacements: Williams for Ratuvou (72 mins), Rabeni for Taione (63 mins), Rauluni for Martens (63 mins), Lea'aetoa for Pulu (54 mins), Naevo for Hehea (62 mins), T-Pole for Koyamaibole (56 mins). Not used: Koto Vuli. Sin Bin: Bai (25 mins).

Referee:Wayne Barnes (England).