Italy 24 - 16 Fiji: Mirco Bergamasco kicks Fiji in the teeth with eight penalties

Mirco Bergamasco's 100 per cent accuracy with the boot saw Italy come from behind to edge Fiji at the Stadio Braglia in Modena.

The Racing Metro centre was his side's only scorer as he slotted eight penalties from as many attempts in a game which saw Fiji start strongly before fading after the break.

Tuapati Talemaitoga's ninth-minute try and Seremaia Bai's kicking had inspired the visitors early on before Italy turned the game around.

The visitors were 7-0 ahead after nine minutes when Talemaitoga burst over and Bai converted.

Italy were sparked into life and responded through the boot of Bergamasco, the wing slotting a routine penalty to reduce the deficit to four.

Eight minutes later he ate into the lead with another penalty from the 22 after Campese Ma'afu was punished for collapsing the scrum.

Italy's fightback only served to inspire Fiji, who took the initiative and extended their lead to 13-6 through two quick Bai penalties in the 25th and 28th minutes. Bergamasco made it 13-9 with his third penalty before the half was out as another Fijian infringement was punished. Italy lost Martin Castrogiovanni to the sin bin before half-time as the gap grew to 16-9 with another Bai penalty.

Fiji began the second half as they ended the first, running with the ball and looking to reach the line. However, Italy were scrapping for anything they could get and two easy Bergamasco penalties put them just a point behind the visitors.

And the 59th minute saw Italy lead for the first time as Bergamasco's sixth penalty edged them in front 18-16.

Yet again Fiji were penalised at the scrum and this time it looked decisive as Bergamasco made it seven from seven with a penalty which left the away side needing a try.

The awarding of an eighth penalty a minute from time threatened Bergamasco's 100 per cent record but he kept his nerve to add the gloss to a superb individual performance.