Italy kicked off their World Cup with a dominant bonus point victory over Namibia.

Tries from Lorenzo Cannone, Paolo Garbisi, Dino Lamb, Ange Cauozzo, Hame Faiva and Manuel Zuliani secured the all important five points with difficult Tests against France and New Zealand to come, while the defeat for Namibia is their 23rd consecutive loss at a World Cup.

Nambia made a fast start and Lions fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel rewarded the underdogs early dominance with a successful shot at goal.

Monty Ioane surged through the middle and after the Italians won a penalty, Paolo Garbisi set up his forwards with an accurate touch finder. 

The Italian forwards burrowed forward and their momentum resulted in a penalty that former Harlequins fly-half Tommy Allan dispatched.

Ioane hit an excellent 50:22 and off the back of his kick, Torsten van Jaarsveld was yellow carded for a cynical intervention in the Azzuri’s driving maul.

Italy went to the corner once more and they utilised their numerical advantage in the following maul as Cannone crossed.

Allan converted from a difficult angle and the Italians second try came from swashbuckling playmaker Garbisi.

Due to hooker van Jaarsveld’s sin binning, Richard Hardwick was forced to throw in at a lineout and his poor overthrow was pounced on by Italy and the ball fell to Garbisi, who showed his electric pace by slicing through the Namibian defence.

Namibia’s forwards powered forward and with a clear overlap out wide, quick hands to the outside allowed Swanepoel to produce a wonderful looping pass for Gerswin Mouton to score in the corner.

With the sweltering conditions in Saint-Etienne, both sides suffered from handling errors with a slippy ball that reduced the game’s tempo after an energetic start.

Nambia’s maul defence held strong as Italy were denied a third try and Italy’s momentum faltered with repeated penalties conceded.

Italy maintained their scrum dominance in the second half and after going to the corner, Harlequins second row Lamb profited from Giacomo Nicotera’s faultless lineout darts as he crossed with a powerful close-range score. 

Capuozzo, who didn’t touch the ball in the first half, made his mark on the game as he broke down the right and played a neat one-two with Ioane and dived into the corner to score a pearling try.

Namibia began to tire in the final 20 minutes as Italy’s attack got into gear and Faiva crossed for their fifth try. 

Replacement back row Zuliani scored as he blasted through the Namibia defenders with his strength and a wicked step before former Wasps centre Paolo Odogwu, who was named in Eddie Jones’ England squad in 2021, rounded off the scoring.