Italy beats Japan 31-24 in RWC warmup
Updated: August 13, 2011, 17:57
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ROME(AP) Italy held on to beat Japan 31-24 in a Rugby World Cup warmup at Cesena on Saturday.
Italy led 14-0 after just 11 minutes thanks to converted tries to winger Matteo Pratichetti and scrumhalf Edoardo Gori. But Japan leveled within the half hour with tries by debut winger Takeshisa Usuzuki and center Koji Taira. James Arlidge then kicked Japan 17-14 ahead just before halftime.
Italy regained the lead for good with successive tries to front-rowers Leonardo Ghiraldini and Andrea Lo Cicero in the third quarter, but Lo Cicero's yellow card set helped to concede a penalty try in the 63rd, allowing Japan to close within four.
However, a sin-binning for Japan hooker Shota Horie allowed Italy replacement flyhalf Luciano Orquera to boot a relieving penalty seven minutes from time.
Italy travels to Murrayfield to face Scotland next weekend, while Japan returns home to play the United States.
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Italy 31 (Matteo Pratichetti, Edoardo Gori, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero tries; Riccardo Bocchino 3 conversions, Luciano Orquera conversion, penalty), Japan 24 (Takeshisa Usuzuki, Koji Taira tries; penalty try; James Arlidge 3 conversions, penalty). HT: 14-17.
