Wales 12 - 33 Australia

Published on Saturday 28 November 2009 21:20

ITALY ended a 13-match losing run by beating Samoa in a scrappy affair in Ascoli Piceno.

The visitors had wing Henry Fa'afili sent off in the 59th minute for a dangerous high tackle on Azzurri full-back Luke McLean.

The hosts, with inspirational captain Sergio Parisse on crutches on the sidelines after sustaining a knee ligament injury in training, took the upper hand at the start of amatch doggedby errors, infringements and missed kicks.

Wing Mirco Bergamasco put Italy ahead with a penalty in the seventh minute before McLean danced through a series of sloppy attempted tackles to touch down a minute later.

Fullback Titi Esau put Samoa on the scoreboard with a long-distance penalty, but the visitors wasted a fine chance to go over with aloose pass close to the line and Bergamasco extended Italy's lead with another penalty.

Fly-half Craig Gower, who missed some chances in last week's 32-10 defeat by South Africa, temporarily took back the kicking duties to land a penalty inside his own half before Esau brought Samoa back to 14-6 at the break with a place-kick of his own.

Scrum-half Tito Tebaldi scored a sweet drop goal in the 50th minute and Bergamasco scored the extras after the Azzurri wereawarded a late penalty try as they attempted a push-over.

"The results have been getting better with good work and finally we have a victory," Tebaldi told reporters. "I think we deserve it. We certainly can't make do with this. The work we do for the Six Nations must be even more fruitful."

Samoa's first defeat in four matches against Italy means they leave Europe empty-handed after being thrashed43-5 in France and giving Wales a scarein a 17-13 defeat in Cardiff.