Italy - Rugby World Cup Team Stats
Italy have only managed one opening round win, a 30-9 victory over the United States in 1991.
Italy have played in all five world cup tournaments and have yet to make it out of the Group stages.
In 2003 they won two matches in a tournament for the first time, beating Tonga and Canada, but finished third in the group behind New Zealand and Wales.
1995 was the only tournament where they have not been drawn in the same group as New Zealand.
Italy have conceded 272 points in their four matches against the New Zealanders – an average of 68 points a match.
Italy are one of only five teams to concede over 100 points in a world cup match when they lost 101-3 to New Zealand in 1999.
They have scored over 100 points themselves twice in world cup qualifying games, against Czech Republic in 1994 and Denmark in 1997.
Italy’s worst three world cup defeats have all been against New Zealand.
Carlo Checchinato is one of only seven players to appear in four world cup tournaments and if Allesandro Troncon plays this year he will become the second Italian to achieve this feat.
Matt Pini played for Italy in the 1999 world cup after appearing for Australia in 1995.
Brothers Mauro and Mirco Bergamasco both played for Italy in the 2003 world cup and are both in this year’s squad.
Brothers Manuel and Dennis Dallan both played in the 2003 world cup, both scoring tries against Tonga.
Twins Marcello and Massimo Cutitta played together in the 1995 tournament.
No Italian has ever been sent off in a world cup match but Fabio Ongaro holds the unenviable world cup record of being the only man to receive two yellow cards, against Tonga and Canada in 2003.
Italy’s highest points scorer in all world cups is Diego Dominguez with 98 during world cups 1991,1995 and 1999.
With Rima Wakarua, Dominguez also holds the record for most points in one Italian world cup match with 21.
Dennis Dallan is the only Italian to have scored more than one try in a world cup match, scoring two against Tonga in 2003.