Italy prepare for Springboks by hammering Namibia

FULL-BACK Jacopo Trullo scored three tries as Italy warmed up for a two-Test series in South Africa by crushing Namibia 73-6 in Windhoek yesterday.

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The tourists were ahead within three minutes when awarded a penalty try that led to Namibia hooker Louis van der Westhuizen being sin binned.

Namibia fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel kicked two penalties to reduce the arrears to a single point after 15 minutes at Hage Geingob Stadium, but the home team failed to score again. As Italy took control, Trullo (twice), inside centre Leonardo Marin, winger Simone Gesi and outside centre Tommaso Menoncello crossed the tryline in the first half.

Fly-half Giacomo Da Re succeeded with four of five conversion kicks to give Italy a 40-6 half-time advantage.