Italy 36 Tonga 12
Italy's chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup are likely to hinge on their Pool D meeting with Wales after they saw of the challenge of Tonga today.
Brothers Denis and Manuel Dallan scored Italy's three tries in the second half, while flyhalf Rima Wakarua kicked 21 points on his debut as John Kirwan's side bounced back from a 70-7 drubbing by New Zealand in their opening match.
Italy led 9-7 at halftime following three penalties by Wakarua and the New Zealand-born flyhalf kicked another two goals and three conversions after the interval.
Wing Denis Dallan scored two tries and centre Manuel Dallan one.
Tonga, whose flanker Ipolito Fenukitau was sin-binned in the second minute for a high tackle, claimed consolation tries through centre John Payne and wing Tevita Tu'ifua.
The Dallans became the fourth pair of brothers to score tries in the same World Cup match, following Argentina's Juan Fernandez Miranda and his brother Nicolas, who both claimed tries in the Pumas' 67-14 drubbing of Namibia on Tuesday.
Scotland's Gavin and Scott Hastings achieved the feat twice, in 1991 and 1995, with England wings Rory and Tony Underwood completing the list after grabbing tries in the same game against Italy in 1995.
Having overcome the physical challenge of the South Sea Islanders, Italy will approach their next match against Canada with confidence before meeting Wales in their final pool game on October 25th.