Italy vs Uruguay LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and final score

This was a vital win for Italy, of whom much is expected over these next four years. A brutal group draw, with France and New Zealand to come in Pool A, may cap their quarter-final ambitions this time around but victory here all but secures their spot as an automatic qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

They opened up in grand style here, settling down after spending too much of the early proceedings engaging in petulant scrapping and squabbling. With their forwards increasingly able to win the gainline, the final margin was reasonably large, giving Kieran Crowley’s side confidence ahead of back-to-back meetings with the hosts and the All Blacks.

Italy captain Michele Lamaro, speaking to ITV: “This is a real group, we are a family and that is with all 33 players that are here. It was a really tough game but I told all the Uruguayan lads to be so proud of their performance.

“Our strength is the group, yes I am young but without all these players I cannot do anything. I am really proud of the boys tonight.”

There goes the final whistle! Italy rescue themselves after a woeful first half which saw Uruguay take advantage after Kieran Crowley’s men had two men sin binned.

Italy move to the top of Pool A and secure another bonus point. One more win should be enough to get them through to the quarter-finals but their next matches are against New Zealand and France.

Still, that’s for the future. Right now they’ll be celebrating a fine win in Nice.

Italy win a scrum and punt the ball into Uruguay’s half. They drive for the line but get held up and turn the ball over. Los Teros want the final whistle now.

Inside the final 10 minutes now and Uruguay have not scored a single point in the second half. It’s such a contrast to how well they played in the first half.

The match against France would have been hard work and they look like they’ve run out of gas.

Diego Arbelo gives away a penalty for failing to properly grasp. Italy decide to kick and Tommaso Allan belts the ball down the middle.

The game is gone for Uruguay now. They’ll be properly deflated with the way this second half has gone but there’s still time for them to get back in the match.

Another try will keep the believing as they work some decent territory inside Italy’s half.

A scrum in the middle of the field is won by Italy who kick it forward and win themselves a lineout.

From there they carry the ball for a couple of phases before shipping it over to Paolo Garbisi. He drops the ball into the path of Juan Ignacio Brex who breezes into the try zone to extend his team’s lead.

Tommaso Allan boots over the conversion.

Italy have scored 21 points without reply since the restart, they’ve overturned the deficit and have secured a bonus point. As it stands they’re also heading to the top of Pool A.

Another one! A kick up field brings Italy territory up the field and Uruguay can’t handle the speed with which they’re moving the ball. Tommaso Allan is dictating play and holds the ball up ever so slightly about a metre from the line.

That draws a defender over to him allowing a short pass to find Lorenzo Cannone who now only has one man to deal with as he forces the ball over the line!