15:00
80’+4: Italy wins by a large margin (52-8)!
It’s over in Saint-Etienne! Despite good Namibian resistance at the start of the second act, the Squadra Azzurra took advantage of an opponent who pushed physically to widen the gap, scoring seven tries including three in the last ten minutes! Italy takes the offensive bonus and will meet Uruguay on September 20.
14:58
80’+3: Italy continues to attack (52-8)
Namibia no longer responds! While Swanepoel tries to restart his team, the ball is recovered by Paolo Odogwu, who has just come on. The Treviso ¾ leaves alone on the left wing and concludes without problems. The essay is then transformed once again by Allan!
14:54
79′: It’s transformed (45-8)
Tommaso Allan is once again impeccable against the poles!
14:52
78′: Zuliani’s try (43-8)
He also entered the game, Zuliani completed the beautiful Italian afternoon. Found on the right, the latter eliminates Roussow and goes back 40 meters to flatten without difficulty, the Namibians no longer being able to respond physically.
14:51
77′: Italian offensive bonus
This large victory will allow the Squadra Azzura to win the offensive bonus.
14:49
75′: Allan without worries (38-8)
Without fault by Allan who converts for the fifth time of the afternoon!
14:47
74′: Faiva scores the fifth Italian try (36 – 8)
New Italian try! Following a sequence marked by two skipped passes, the Italians found themselves close to the 5 meter line. Entering the game, Faiva progresses in strength and manages to flatten.
14:47
72′: Ioane’s inspiration
Following a scrum, Namibia comes out and shifts towards the left side. Captain Deysel tries to open with his foot towards his left winger but Monty Ioane intervenes and goes on a counter-attack, eliminating several opponents, first wide, then along the left side. The Lyonnais was stopped but allowed the Squadra to free themselves.
14:43
69′: Italy suffers
The Namibian backs come to lend a hand to the forwards and push with their partners into the maul! However, the ball is not released in time. Italy is holding on.
14:41
68′: Namibia continues its effort
Third penalty in a row for Namibia which fails to progress against the Italian defense. Tiaan Swanepoel’s teammates really lack power in the fight sequences.
14:39
66′: Big Namibian sequence
The African nation lost the ball following the throw-in but got another chance because the Italians made a mistake by not dropping the ball to the ground. Namibia takes a penalty again.
14:38
65′: Pénaltouche for Namibia
Namibia tried everything to reduce the gap and found the penalty near the opponent’s 5 meters.
14:37
64′: Swanepoel inspired at the foot
Swanepoel is the main Namibian danger this afternoon. Very dangerous at the foot, the fly-half tries to find his winger on the left side. It’s a bit long.
14:32
61′: Italian try refused
While Namibia takes the hit physically, the transalpine forwards push and find themselves five meters from the opposing line. The try is scored but in the sequence preceding it, Garbisi commits a forward while trying to flatten. The video referee finally refuses the try and the African nation manages to free itself.
14:28
59′: Italy continues to spin.
Fischetti is replaced by Nemer while Lamb comes out for Sisi on the Italian side.
14:23
56′: Transformed try (31-8)
Tommaso Allan does not tremble and once again transforms the Italian try, 40 meters from the touchline on the left.
14:22
55′: Capuozzo’s try (29-8)
Not rewarded after its streak, Namibia was immediately punished by Ange Capuozzo, the Toulouse winger, who scored the fourth try for Italy. At the end of a sequence of passes going from right to left, the Franco-Italian overflows on his wing, overtakes the Namibians and flattens without problem.
14:21
54′: Namibia pushes
The changes have been good for growing Namibia. Stevens hits for himself in the Italian camp and loses the leather. But, faced with opposing pressure, Ioane made the mistake 5 meters from the Italian goal. Namibia plays by hand and pushes hard, without managing to score the try because Zuliani scratches the ball.
14:17
50′: New changes
Kieran Crowley makes two new changes for Italy: Nicotera and Ferrari are replaced by Faiva and Riccioni.
On the Namibian side, Coetzee is replaced by Viviers. Ludick gives way to De Kler while Van Jaarsveld comes out for Van der Westhuizen.
14:14
48′: Italian triple change
Negri, Varney and Morisi give way to Zuliani, Page-Relo and Bruno.
14:12
47′: Allan converts the try
Third successful transformation by Tommaso Allan. Italy takes off (24-8).
14:10
45′: Italian try (22-8)
Italy dominates the scrum and Garbisi finds the penalty within 5 meters. A maul is formed and despite Namibian resistance, Dino Lamb, the Harlequins second row, flattens and scores the try.
14:08
44′: Namibia loses the ball
As the Namibians approach the opposing 22 meters, they lose the ball and Tommaso Allan is able to clear his team.
14:07
43′: Namibia clears
Italy once again showed imprecision by committing a forward attack close to 40 meters. The referee designates a penalty after a challenge from the transalpines, which allows Namibia to break free.
14:03
40′: Here we go again!
The second half kicks off with the Squadra Azzura.
13:50
40′: Italy in front at the break (17-8)
After a great first quarter of an hour, marked by two tries scored by Cannone and Garbisi, Italy fell into a false rhythm and let Namibia get back on track. More powerful and dominant in the scrum, the Squadra Azzurra controls without playing its best rugby.
13:48
39′: Audacious attempt by Swanepoel
Following a foul committed near the halfway line, Tiaan Swanepoel attempts an extremely far penalty, more than 50 meters away! But the flyhalf failed to take the points just before the break.
13:47
38′: Mouton intercepts
This time, it is the Italians who lack precision. While the Squadra advances and spreads on the left side, Mouton intercepts in his 22 meters and saves Namibia when the try seemed close.
13:45
36′ : Change Namibia
Desiderus Sethie, the Namibian front row, is replaced by Jason Benade.
13:43
35′: Namibia unclear
A new technical inaccuracy is preventing the Namibians from moving forward! As the block progresses, Swanepoel manages to find Johan Greyling with a superb jump pass. But the winger receives the ball badly and commits a forward move.
13:41
32′: Namibia clears
Italy obtains a penalty but prefers to play sideline. A maul is created and the ball is released for a new transalpine passing sequence. But Negri is guilty of a forward effort very close to the try line. For the first time, Namibia gets out of the scrum and Swanepoel clears his team with his feet.
13:36
29′: Namibia suffers in the scrum
Following this advance, the melee was once again won by the Italians, who once again invaded the opposing camp. The African nation clearly lacks power and suffers when the fight takes hold.
13:35
28′: Namibian imprecision
Swanepoel, using his kicking game, returns the ball to the opposing camp. Namibia advances but Wian Conradie commits a forward on the 22 meter line.
13:33
26′: Italy close to the try
New beautiful Italian sequence, with Cannone found by a chistera from Garbisi. The author of the first try fixes the opposing defense but misses his transmission. On the counter-attack, Namibia advances and obtains a penalty.
13:27
21′: No conversion
Tiaan Swanepoel misses the conversion along the right sideline.
13:27
20′: Essai Namibia (17-8)
Namibia recovers the ball on the 22 meter line and advances towards the opposing goal. Stopped irregularly, Swanepoel gets a scrum which leads to a phase of advancement for his team. In the following sequence, Gerswin Mouton is launched on the right and manages to score the first Namibian try!
13:23
18′: Namibia returns to the opposing camp.
Namibia finally advances in the Italian camp but commits a forward move. Melee to come 30 meters from the Squadra poles.
13:18
15′: Garbisi try converted by Allan (17-3)
Paolo Garbisi, the Montpellier fly-half, is at the conclusion of a beautiful sequence of Italian possession initiated after a Namibian touch. The number 10 finds the opening in the opposing defense against the poles and flattens without worries. Allan converts from close range in the process.
13:15
11′: Transformed try (10-3)
Tommaso Allan transforms the try without trembling. Italy takes the lead!
13:14
10′: First Italian try (8-3)
Garbisi launches a counterattack and taps into touch. The choice pays off for the transalpines who form a maul and advance towards the Namibian line. The latter cannot resist the pressure from the Italian forwards and Lorenzo Cannone scores the first try of the match.
13:11
8′: Italy gets back together (3-3)
First penalty transformed by Tommaso Allan, the Perpignan full-back, full axis facing the poles. Italy entered its match.
13:10
5′: Italy reacts
First sequence of possession for the Squadra with Monty Ioane who finds a space in the opposing defense and rushes towards the goal. The Lyon winger is stopped within 40 meters.
13:07
3′: Penalty converted for Namibia (0-3)
Following a first Italian foul, Tiaan Swanepoel converts the penalty and gives Namibia the advantage.
13:05
2′: Dominant Namibia
The African nation got off to a strong start at the start of the match and held the ball within the Italian 40 meters. The Squadra forwards are resisting for the moment.
13:02
Italy – Namibia: here we go!
The start of this second match in Group A is given!
12:55
The players enter the pitch
The 30 actors are on the lawn of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. Kick-off is imminent!
12:49
Namibia has never won a World Cup
The African nation, which has participated six times, has lost all 22 of its World Cup matches since 1999.
12:46
People in front of Geoffroy-Guichard
For the first match of this World Cup at Geoffroy-Guichard, the Stéphanois responded in force.
12:42
A remake of the 2019 World Cup
Italians and Namibians had already faced each other for their first match of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. La Squadra won 47 to 22.
12:39
Imperative victory for Italy
In a very tough group and in which the first two qualifying places should go to France and New Zealand, Italy must imperatively win against Namibia to aim for 3rd place, which would guarantee the transalpines a ticket for the World Cup 2027.
