Italy beat Romania 24-18

September 13, 2007 - Marseille – After the unluky debut with the All Blacks, Italy won the second Rugby World Cup match against Romania at the Stade Velodrome.Despite starting brightly the Azzurri struggled to break down their opponents for long spells and were given a scare when Romania took a 12-8 lead in the second half.But the Romanians' indiscipline cost them dearly in the final half-hour as a series of penalties from Ramiro Pez proved the difference between the sides.Italy full back David Bortolussi kicked one penalty, and fly half Ramiro Pez was successful with three penalties and a conversion while Romania full back Iulian Dumitras missed out on 11 points on offer by sending the ball wide with three penalty and one conversion attempt. Down 8-0 at the half time Romania came out of the break full of intent and got into immediate field position from the kick-off from where Manta crashed over following a line-out drive in the 42nd minute.Five minutes later Romania hooker Marius Tincu scored after some fantastic lead-up work. The powerful front row picked and drove from a ruck and powered through three would-be tackles to give Romania the lead for the first time in the match.But it proved short-lived as Italy piled on the points with the opposition one man down and Romania never recovered.The Azurri face Portugal on September 19th before a crucial game against Scotland on September 29th that could decide a quarter-final place.