Flyhalf Carlo Canna contributed 11 points as Italy claimed a hard-fought 19-10 win over Fiji in Catania on Saturday.

Both teams scored just the solitary try, with prop Simone Ferraria going over for Italy in the 28th minute, and Waisea Nayacalevu dotting down for an important score just before the break.

However, it was Canna who slotted two penalties during the third quarter to keep Italy in front, while replacement Ian McKinley slotted another three-pointer in the 80th-minute to finally secure the result.

The Springboks will face Italy on 25 November in Padova.

Italy – Try: Simone Ferraria. Conversion: Carlo Canna. Penalties: Canna (3), Ian McKinley.
Fiji – Try: Waisea Nayacalevu. Conversion: Ben Volavola. Penalty: Volavola.

Italy – 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Tommaso Boni, 12 Tomasso Castello, 11 Mattia Bellini, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Dean Budd, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Andrea Lovotti.
Subs: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Marco Lazzaroni, 20 Giovanni Licara, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Ian McKinley, 23 Matteo Minozzi.

Fiji – 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Jale Vatubua, 11 Timoci Nagusa, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Semi Kunatani, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4  Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 1 Campese Ma’afu.
Subs: 16 Sunia Koto, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Ropate Rinakama, 19 Sikeli Nabou, 20 Mosese Voka, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Levani Botia, 23 Vereniki Goneva.

Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP Photo