Italy found the going tough against a spirited Romania side
Italy: (8) 24
Tries: Dellape, penalty
Con: Pez
Pens: Bortolussi, Pez 3 Romania: (0) 18
Tries: Manta, Tincu
Con: Dimofte
Pens: Dimofte 2
Italy's stuttering World Cup campaign continued with a less-than-convincing win over Pool C minnows Romania.
The Azzurri, thrashed 76-14 by New Zealand at the weekend, took the lead thanks to a Santiago Dellape try and a penalty from David Bortolussi.
Romania fought their way back into the game and tries from Alexandru Manta and Marius Tincu put them 12-10 ahead.
But indiscipline cost Romania dear and a penalty try plus three penalties from Ramiro Pez were enough for Italy.
Italy coach Pierre Berbizier had made six changes following the thumping by the All Blacks and his side started brightly.
606: DEBATE
Recalled fly-half Pez created Dellape's score after just six minutes although the lock played no further part in the game as he fell awkwardly while touching down.
Bortolussi increased the lead seven minutes later and Italy could have added a second try but hooker Carlo Festuccia's score was ruled out when video evidence indicated he had taken the ball into touch.
But Italy went off the boil as Romania fought back, and the Azzurri started making a catalogue of errors as well as looking lacklustre in defence.
Romania finished the first half the better team and then took the lead with two tries in the opening eight minutes of the second period.
Hooker Tincu scored Romania's second try on 48 minutes
Manta was awarded a try by the video referee despite appearing to lose control of the ball as he was bundled over, while Tincu added a second score after brushing off some poor tackling.
The introduction of scrum-half Alessandro Troncon as a replacement for the injured Paul Griffen on 49 minutes seemed to lift the Italians and the sin-binning of Manta for bringing down a maul turned the game in their favour.
Italy camped on the Romanian line and after a series of infringements, referee Tony Spreadbury finally lost patience and awarded a penalty try.
Pez added three penalties to settle his team although two three-pointers from Ionut Dimofte kept Romania in the hunt.
Italy were able to hang on for the win but they look a shadow of the side that defeated both Scotland and Wales in this year's Six Nations and their inability to claim a bonus point could prove costly.
Romania, meanwhile, did themselves proud and could have even celebrated a shock win had full-back Iulian Dumitras landed his three penalty attempts.
A relieved Italy coach Pierre Berbizier said: "We won but not without hardship and Romania knew how to make it difficult for us."
Italy skipper Marco Bortolami added: "We had a lot of possession in the first half, but we didn't score much, then in the second half, we showed the Italian spirit.
"I always believed we could win. Our scrum was outstanding and it was one of the keys for our victory."
Italy: Bortolussi; Robertson, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Masi, Pez, Griffen; Lo Cicero, Festuccia, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Bortolami (capt), Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse.
Replacements: Ghiraldini, Aguero, Bernabo, Vosawai, Troncon, Galon, De Marigny.
Romania: Dumitras; Fercu, Gal, Gontineac, Brezoianu; Dimofte, Sirbu; Toderasc, Tincu, Balan, Socol (capt), Petre, Corodeanu, Manta, Tonita.
Replacements: Mavrodin, Popescu, Ratiu, Tudori, Calafeteanu, Tofan, Vlad.
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In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga started their campaign with a 15-25 win over the United States. Fiji won their opening match by four points in a close contest against Japan. 

Romania, playing their first match of the tournament, led Italy just after half time but eventually fell to a 24-18 defeat.
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In Pool A, Tonga raced to an early lead after Finau Maka scored a try in the second minute and Pierre Hola added the conversion. However the United States pinned them back for most of the first half with Pierre Hola scoring just two penalties for Tonga, giving them a 13-0 lead. Shortly before half time Mike Hercus scored a penalty for the United States to take the score to 13-3 at the interval. 

The Americans controlled the game for much of the second half. Mike MacDonald scored a try for the Americans to pull the score back to 13-8, but Tonga hit back with a try from Joseph Vaka. Louis Stanfill scored a try to close the gap to three points, but Viliami Vaki scored with ten minutes remaining to claim the victory for Tonga.

The win takes Tonga to third place in Pool A with four points, behind South Africa with five and England on points difference. The United Stated have no points from two defeats.
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Fiji overcame Japan in a dramatic encounter in Pool B. Nicky Little kicked Fiji to an early lead, but Shotaro Onishi scored two penalties to give Japan a 6-3 lead in the 30th minute. Fiji went ahead with a try from Akapusi Qera, and Japan's Onishi scored a penalty just before half time reducing Fiji's lead to one point.

Onishi scored another penalty after the restart and Japan led once more. Qera scored his second try for Fiji in the 49th minute, but Luke Thompson scored a try for Japan two minutes later. A try from Seru Rabeni once again gave Fiji the advantage, but Japan were kept in the match by a Tomokazu Soma try. Fiji stretched their lead to 11 points after Kele Leawere scored a try, and a last minute Luke Thompson try was not enough to snatch the win for Japan.

Fiji are third in the pool with five points, behind Australia and Wales on points difference. Japan are fourth, taking one point from this defeat.
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In Pool C, Italy led Romania 8-0 at half time through an early try from Santiago Dellapè and a David Bortolussi penalty.

Romania took the lead early in the second half after Alexandru Manta and Marius Tincu scored tries. Italy regained the lead after they were awarded a penalty try due to several fouls from Romania. Ionut Dimofte scored two penalties for Romania to keep them in the game, but Ramiro Pez scored three to keep Italy ahead.

Italy are third in Pool C with four points, behind New Zealand and Scotland with five each. Romania are fourth, earning one point in this match.