Rugby Union – Women‘s World Cup – Pool B – United States v Italy – Okara Park, Whangarei, New Zealand – October 9, 2022 Italy’s Aura Muzzo scores her third try REUTERS/David Rowland
Oct 9 (Reuters) – Aura Muzzo scored two tries as Italy battled to a 22-10 win over the United States in their opening Pool B game at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday, while Wales gets the final victory. over Scotland in their Pool A competition.
Hallie Taufoous’s fourth-minute try gave the Americans the lead in Whangarei, New Zealand, but Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi crossed for Italy before Muzzo’s double and Maria Magatti’s powerful solo effort sealed victory.
“We are very happy,” said Italy coach Andrea Di Giandomenico. “We won, we have a bonus point. Of course we had to work on possession during the game but I think it’s a very good start.”
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Italy’s pack was weakened by the early loss of Ilaria Arrighetti to injury and the United States took advantage, passing the Italians in the scrum, and a Taufoous try gave the Americans the lead. See the article : Home to 28,000 US troops, South Korea is unlikely to avoid a conflict in Taiwan.
But for all their control, the Americans were unable to add to their first half tally and two minutes before the break Italy took the lead.
Francesca Sgorbini burst through the American defense before the ball was eventually moved to the right for Minuzzi to score in the corner.
11 minutes after the restart, Muzzo connected with Beatrice Rigoni to give Italy a 12-5 lead.
Jenny Kronish tried to bring the Americans back following Minuzzi’s yellow card, but Rigoni sent Muzzo back in the 63rd minute to restore Italy’s advantage.
Magatti then sealed the win in style 10 minutes from time with a dashing 40-metre cross to score in the corner.
Canada joined the Italians to win the bonus prize in their Pool B match, with Emily Tuttosi scoring a hat-trick of tries in a comfortable 41-5 win over Japan.
Paige Farries gave the Canadians the perfect start when she scored with one minute on the clock, when Komachi Imakugi’s free kick was blocked.
Japan’s Maki Takano scored to level the scores after four minutes but the Canadians showed the gap between the teams.
Tuttosi gave her the first from behind the maul 14 minutes into the game and Briana Miller added to the lead 10 minutes later.
Tuttosi crossed again in the 29th minute and Miller grabbed the second with five minutes left in the half.
Ten minutes into the second half, Tuttosi completed his hat-trick before another try from Mikiela Nelson gave Canada a complete victory.
In Sunday’s final, Keira Bevan scored a penalty just minutes from time as Wales fought back to beat Scotland 18-15.
Wales scored tries through Alisha Butchers and Kayleigh Powell to lead 15-5 at the break. Scotland stepped up a gear, with Megan Gaffney crossing the line twice to level the scores at 15-all, before Bevan showed nerves of steel to seal victory in the 86th minute.
“Credit to our girls for having the guts to play to the end, try to get that penalty, and fair play to Keira for putting it in,” Wales coach Ioan Cunningham said.
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Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, additional reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Edited by William Mallard and Ana Nicolaci da Costa
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