Monty Ioane scored twice as Italy stormed to a 49-17 win over Samoa in their opening game of the Autumn Nations Series.
Juan Ignacio Brex touched down in the first half before tries from Pierre Bruno and Ioane made it 28-0 at the break.
After half-time, Ioane and Bruno scored their second tries of the game before Lorenzo Cannone crossed the whitewash on debut.
Samoa got on the scoresheet through Ulupano Junior Seuteni, Duncan Paia’aua and Saracens star Theo McFarland in the dying stages.
Italy control first half
Tommaso Allan put Italy 3-0 up in the 11th minute from the kicking tee.
Brex then scored the first try of the afternoon, hitting a brilliant line through the middle to split the Samoan defence and touch down underneath the posts.
Italy were playing some superb running rugby, and they went from their 22 to the Samoan try line straight from the kick-off, Stephen Varney finding Bruno, who put his foot down to help his side into a 17-0 lead.
He stepped off his left foot to trick the Samoan defence and touch down in the corner to end a brilliant first 40 minutes from Italy.
Samoa strike back
After the break, Ioane was straight back on the front foot, scoring his second try of the afternoon.
He showed his power to bounce off Rodney Iona and finish intelligently in the corner.
Seuteni made it 35-7 with a brilliant wrap-around that created enough space for the centre to dive over the Italian try line.
Cannone kept Italy in control, scoring on his debut after being found on the touchline by a brilliant pass from scrum-half Varney before diving over the whitewash in the corner.
Bruno scored his second six minutes later after Paolo Garbisi’s grubber kick through the Samoan defence bounced into the winger’s hands.
Samoa had the final word though.
First, they scored through Paia’aua when a turnover at the breakdown put the substitute through.
And McFarland scored his try in a sensational fashion.
He was found out wide, before fending off one defender, stepping another and powering through the final tackle to score.
Still, it was a brilliant victory for Italy, who kick off their campaign in style ahead of a clash with Australia next weekend.
