Azzurri edge Canucks in Leeds thriller

The teams scored two tries each, but the boot of flyhalf Tommaso Allan – with two conversions and three penalties – proved the difference.

Canada may have been undone by their own over-exuberance and some strange calls from the match officials.

However, the record books will only reflect that Italy had scored more points than their rivals.

Gonzalo Garcia scored Italy's 50th World Cup try to help his country secure the narrow, but vital victory.

The result was cruel for the Canadians, who lost a similarly tight duel with the same opponents (14-19) in the 2003 World Cup.

They dominated for long periods and scored the try of the tournament so far through DTH van der Merwe.

Italy's win after a heavy defeat to France in their opener gives them a boost eight days from an intimidating encounter with Six Nations champions Ireland.

Canada's sole consolation was a defensive bonus point.  

Nathan Hirayama gave Canada a deserved lead in the 15th minute with a penalty after the Canadians had threatened the Italian tryline on several occasions in the opening salvoes.

A minute later Canada scored the try of the tournament so far, started and finished by van der Merwe, who broke from deep inside his own half down the left wing and passed to Ciaran Heard.

Heard sucked in his man and passed back to the onrushing van der Merwe, who had come inside and easily danced round the remaining Italian defender to touch down under the posts.

The jolt had the desired effect on a somnolent and indolent Italy, who struck back immediately prompted by a superb solo run from scrum-half Edoardo Gori.

He outfoxed John Moonlight and quickly put daylight between himself and the lumbering back row forward before being brought to ground. The chance was not lost as Michele Rizzo went over once the ball had been worked back.

Tommaso Allan converted for 10-7 and the former Scotland Under-20 international – who opted for the land of his mother's birth for senior Test rugby – levelled affairs in the 25th minute with a penalty.

Allan had to go off shortly afterwards for a head injury assessment and replaced by Carlo Canna, who put Italy ahead on the stroke of half-time as he converted a penalty for a 13-10 lead.

Canada regained the lead early in the second-half with another superb try. Fullback Matt Evans easily handed off centre Tommaso Benvenuti and given a free run at the line by Leonardo Sarto he needed he took the opportunity with aplomb for his eighth Test try.

Hirayama missed the conversion and he was unfortunate not to have a quick opportunity to make up for that after another wonderful passing move by the Canadian backs only for the TMO to rule there had been a forward pass in the move that led to Phil Mackenzie's try.

Italy breathed a sigh of relief. Mauro Bergamasco came on to become the second player to appear at five World Cups – Samoa's Brian 'The Chiropractor' Lima being the other.

Italy soon retook the lead.

Captain Leonardo Ghiraldini created it sneaking down the blindside from a throw in – which didn't travel the required five metres, but was not spotted by the match officials – and when the ball was freed up Garcia was on hand to go over from close range and touch down.

Allan back on after his head injury assessment converted for 20-15 but the Italians came under the cosh for the rest of the half.

The Canadians were unable to transform their pressure into a try – Hirayama kicking a penalty to leave them just two points in arrears with under 10 minutes remaining.

Allan added gloss to the Italian margin by slotting over a penalty in the final minute.

Man of the match: DTH van der Merwe showed why he is so highly rated in Europe and on the other wing Phil McKenzie was also a major threat on attack. Nathan Hirayama directed play very nicely for the Canadians, while Matt Evans produced some sublime tactical kicking and a scintillating and crucial score early in the second half. Phil Mack made a huge impact when he came on for the final quarter. Edoardo Gori provided a crisp service at the base of scrums and rucks, while a few sniping runs earned him some good territory . Leonardo Sarto had his moments on attack, while Luke McLean was a rock in the last line of defence and made some good ground with ball in hand. Flanks Alessandro Zanni and Francesco Minto put their bodies on the line – especially on defence when the Canadians attacked in waves. Samuela Vunisa was Italy's main ball carrier among the forwards and did some sterling work on defence as well. However, our award goes to Italian flyhalf Tommaso Allan – who was the general that directed play and made some crucial tackles, especially in the final quarter when the Canadians were searching for  the winner. He also kicked 13 crucial points.

Moment of the match: This goes to the Gonzalo Garcia try just short of the hour mark – a well-worked try, but unfortunately started with an illegal line-out throw (when the ball did not travel the required five metres) which escaped the attention of the match officials. On such mistakes matches are won and lost.

Villains of the match: We are giving it to the match officials who got a number of crucial calls badly wrong and – intentionally or not – had a huge influence on the outcome of the game.

The scorers:

For Italy:

Tries: Rizzo, Garcia

Cons: Allan 2

Pens: Allan 3

For Canada:

Tries: Van der Merwe, Evans

Con: Hirayama

Pens: Hirayama

Teams:

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Michele Rizzo.  

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Michele Campagnaro.

Canada: 15 Matt Evans, 14 Phil Mackenzie, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Connor Braid, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Nathan Hirayama, 9 Jamie Mackenzie, 8 Tyler Ardron (captain), 7 John Moonlight, 6 Nanyak Dala, 5 Jamie Cudmore, 4 Jebb Sinclair, 3 Doug Wooldridge, 2 Ray Barkwill, 1 Hubert Buydens.

Replacements: 16 Aaron Carpenter, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Andrew Tiedemann, 19 Evan Olmstead, 20 Kyle Gilmour, 21 Phil Mack, 22 Connor Trainor, 23 Harry Jones.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)