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Wakarua impresses in Italy debut
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Brothers Dennis and Manuel Dallan scored three tries and newcomer Rima Wakarua kicked 21 points as Italy beat Tonga 36-12 in Canberra. After their 70-7 drubbing by New Zealand on Saturday the Italians gave an impressive all-round display with Dennis Dallan scoring two tries and brother Manuel one. It gave Italy revenge for their 28-25 loss to the Tongans at the 1999 World Cup. Tonga were reduced to 14 men in the second minute when New Zealand referee Steve Walsh showed the yellow card to Cristian Stoica for a high tackle on Ipolito Fenukitau and the back row was sent to the sinbin for 10 minutes. While he was away, Italy's New Zealand-born fly-half, Wakarua, kicked his team 6-0 ahead with two penalties. When it was time for Fenukitau to return, the Tongans sent on a replacement, Stanley Afeaki, instead. While the confident Wakarua made his first two kicks, Sateki Tu'ipulotu missed two and Tongan fullback Pierre Hola sent a 50 meter drop kick attempt just wide of the posts. The left footed Wakarua kicked his third from close range in the 29th minute to punish a Tongan offside. But the Islanders hit back with the first try of the game in the 36th. Center John Payne went over in the corner at the end of a series of recycled moves which began when Italian No. 8 Aaron Persico dropped the ball at a scrum near his own posts. This time Tu'ipulotu made the conversion and the lead was cut to two points. The Italians moved further ahead in the 50th minute. They won good ball at a lineout close to the Tongan line, formed a rolling maul and then spread the play out left to center Manuel Dallan who burst through a gap in the middle. Wakarua's conversion stretched the lead to 16-7. The Tongans lost captain Inoke Afeaki through injury in the 56th minute but then scored a second try when winger Tevita Tu'ifu burst down the left past two tacklers and crossed the line. Tu'ipulotu missed the conversion and Wakarua made him pay with a penalty that put the Italians ahead 19-12 with 20 minutes to go. The Tongans suffered two more blows when lock forward Viliami Vaki became the second player sent to the sinbin and Wakarua kicked his fifth penalty to make it 22-12. It became 14 vs. 14 for nine minutes when Italian hooker Fabio Ongaro followed Vaki into the sinbin. But Dennis Dallan took the ball at a maul close to the Tongan posts to run unchallenged for Italy's second try and Wakarua's second conversion made it 29-12 with seven minutes remaining. Dennis Dallan collected his second in the final minute and Wakarua kicked his third conversion. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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