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Blues cruise Italy rolls over Romania ahead of All-Blacks game
Updated: Saturday November 18, 2000 4:49 PM
BENEVENTO, Italy (AP) -- Italy's national rugby union team cruised to a 37-17 win over Romania in a test match Saturday, one week before the Italians host the vaunted All Blacks of New Zealand. On Friday, Italian head coach and native New Zealander Brad Johnstone told reporters he feared that forecasted rain would favor the Romanians. The rains held off and the Italians waltzed to an easy home victory in this town outside of Naples. Carlo Caione notched two first-half tries for the hosts, who were up 15-3 at halftime. Italy got tries from Giovanni Raineri and Ramiro Pez within the first four minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach. After their offense sputtered early, Romania added 14 points in the second half, including two tries in the last five minutes, to make the score respectable. Italy, which was coming off a 22-17 defeat to Canada last week, joined the rugby elite last spring, entering the Six Nations tournament for the first time. After surprising Scotland in the first match, the Azzurri lost the next four to finish last in the prestigious European tournament. Following the win Saturday, Italian veteran Alessandro Troncon said the match was a needed stepping stone for his teammates who now must prepare for their match with New Zealand next Saturday in Genova. "We have a lot more work to do," Troncon said. Lineups: Italy - Christian Stoica, Nicola Mazzucato, Luca Martin, Giovanni Ranieri, Denis Dallan, Ramiro Pez, Alessandro Troncon, Andrea Piovan, Carlo Caione, Zaffiri, Andrea Gritti, Wilhemus Visser, Muraro, Alessandro Moscardi (captain), Andrea Lo Cicero, Matt Pini, Nicola Mazzucato, Luca Martin, Nick Zisti, Cristian Stoica, Diego Dominguez, Mauro Bergamasco, Walter Cristofoletto, Carlo Checchinato, Romania: Gabriel Brezoianu, Gheorge Solomie, Christian Lupu,
Nicolae Oprea, Vasile Ghioc, Bogdan Munteanu, Petre Mitu, Catalin
Draguceanu (captain), Florin Corodeanu, Petru Balan, Erdinici
Septar, Ionat Ciofu, Silviu Florea, Razvan Mavrodin, Dragos Dima.
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