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On this day in 2015 Canada pushed Italy to the limit. The Rugby World Cup 2015 match in Leeds, England saw Italy coming out 23-18 winners. With professional rugby Canada could be expected to win such close matches in the future.
For both sides a loss would spell elimination at the pool stage. Both teams had lost their opening matches on the prior weekend. Italy had fallen short against France while Canada were overwhelmed by Ireland. Ultimately it would be Ireland and France who would reach the Quarter Finals.
As a Six Nations competitor the Italians entered as favorites. Canada’s lack of any comparable competition was very much to the Central Europeans advantage. The Canadians, though, have a history of being able to lift their game in Rugby World Cups and so it proved to be the case in Leeds.
Italy’s 13-10 half time lead was not a case of a poor Italian first half effort. To the contrary, the Canadians had played well and they did so throughout the game. Impressive tries from winger DTH Van Der Merwe and fullback Matt Evans underlined the talent of the players and will of the team.
Italy scored two tries of their own. Scoring were prop Michele Rizzo and center Gonzalo Garcia. Interestingly the latter of the two is a South American, from Mendoza, Argentina to be exact.
Italy’s inability to overpower the Canadians saw the goal-kicking of Tommaso Allan being called upon to secure the result. His 13 points proved decisive.
The Canadaians many of the 33,000 in attendance thought that Canada had set up a second half win. But a storming try from winger Phil MacKenzie was disallowed. It was called back after it had been judged to have been the result of a forward pass.
The teams met again in Toronto this past June. The match was another closely fought contest. The Europeans won 20-18. It was an additional case in point of Canada’s prospects. With professionalism Canada could return to the glory of the 1990’s.
