In an all sold out San Michele stadium, Italy U20 makes its debut in the World Rugby U20 Championship. New Zealand’s opponent of the day, for a debut immediately impactful for the Azzurrini, who is missing – for the U20 national team – since 2011, the year of the first Wru20 Championship hosted by Italy.
The blues lose after less than three minutes Bruno Vallesi, replaced by the pilone Nicola Bolognini. After the stop for the rescue of the Italian pylon, the match resumes and New Zealand takes advantage of it, marking the destination of the advantage in the 9th minute with Letiu.
At 16 ‘Stanley Solomon, wing of New Zealand receives a mystery for an entrance to Ducros’s head. After Bunker review, the referee Martin opts for the maintenance of the decision. Italy struggles and remains on the result of 7-0 until the first half water break, essential to counter the heat of Calvisano.
The second destination of New Zealand arrives at the end of the first half with pledger: therefore we go to rest on 14-0.
The recovery opens immediately with Italy forward: a beautiful offensive progression of the blue brings Niccolò assets to the destination in flag (14-5).
The game remains in balance: Piero Gritti returns to the eleventh of the second half, who returned to the national team after an injury that kept him out for several months.
The Azzurrini struggle in an intense game, against a team – New Zealand – who manages the game spaces well, but which grants Italy of dangerous asks to Italy.
Italy tries to attack strongly, looking for points, but the result remains on the 14-5 for “Baby Blacks”.
In the end, New Zealand takes another yellow card and remains in 14: the Azzurrini try to go to the poles with Pietramala, to try to take the defensive bonus point. The punishment, however, comes out to the side. He ends 14-5, with the awareness, for Italy, to have put a proof of great character in place, which has put the New Zealanders in serious difficulty.
Calvisano (BS), San Michele Stadium, 29 June 2025
World Rugby U20 Championship – I turno
New Zealand V Italia 14-5 (14-0)
MARKERS: PT 9’ m. Letiu Tr. Cole (7-0); 40’ m. Pledger tr. Cole (14-0) s.t 3 ‘m. Me (14-5)
New Zealand: Simpson; Seed, roberts, Wiseman (13’ss Harvey), Machmon; COLE (21’ST ​​spoken), Pledger (32’uct); Bason (21’ss houses), Wodoley, McLood; Was (1’ST Baker), Tresence; Wallace (23’ppt houses), LATUA (CAP, 21’nt Kempton), Pole (21’nt Johnston)
all. Chris Boyd
Italia: Tordaro; Drago (25’st Pietramala), Zanandrea (34’st Rossi), Casarin, Ducros; Fasti, goods; Casartelli (14’st Bianchi), Miranda (11’st Gritti), Milan (Cap); Opoku-Gyamfi (23’st Fardin), Midena; Vallesi (3’pt Bolognini), Corvasce (14’st Caiolo-Serra), Pelliccioli (14’st Mistrulli)
all. Roberto Santamaria
arb: Peter Martin (JRFU)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (use); Alberto Favaro (FIR)
TMO: And Jones (RFU)
Tags: 17’ pt.giallo a Solomon (NZ); 38’st giallo a Baker
Footballers: Cole (2/2); Fasti (0/1); Pietramala (0/1)
Note: Hot evening, Sold out stadium
