Player ratings: Rock bottom
Italy will have to go back to the drawing board after suffering a 10-39 defeat to Samoa in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The Azzurri lacked a sense of urgency and were worryingly lackadaisical, which had them behind the eight ball and playing catch-up for most of the game.
Former Italy coach Nick Mallett called it the worst Italian performance in the last two years and one would have to agree with him.
They will need to do some soul-searching if they are to take anything positive from their South African tour.
Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the Italian players.
15 Andrea Masi
The experienced No.15 was electric from the back and made a number of line breaks. By far the best Italian player on the day.
7/10
14 Giovanbattista Venditti
Made a menace of himself on attack but was less effective on defence.
6/10
13 Gonzalo Canale
Missed a great opportunity to score at a vital time when he was unable to scoop up a grubber just before half-time.
5/10
12 Gonzalo Garcia
A defensive liability, missing no less than six tackles in midfield.
4/10
11 Tommaso Iannone
Kept the ball alive well but another player who let the team down on defence.
4/10
10 Luciano Orquera
Lacked direction and missed a regulation penalty.
4/10
9 Edoardo Gori
Played the fringes well to win some ground but conceded two penalties.
5/10
8 Sergio Parisse
Showed a full array of skills with some delicate touches and a chip kick – a world-class ball player.
6.5/10
7 Mauro Bergamasco
Did more than his fair share of tackling.
5.5/10
6 Alessandro Zanni
Came good in the second half, making 49 metres in 12 runs and didn’t slip any tackles.
6/10
5 Marco Bortolami
Contested the restarts well, a safe target in the line-out and workmanlike on defence.
6/10
4 Valerio Bernabo
Very industrious for a tight forward, Bernabo led the Italian tackle count with 13 hits.
6/10
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
A rare off day for the veteran, perhaps not yet 100 percent.
5/10
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
Won an early turnover inside his 22 before making his departure in the 25th minute after getting two teeth knocked out.
5.5/10
1 Alberto de Marchi
Conceded a penalty and was slow to the breakdown.
5/10
Replacements:
16 Andrea Manici (on for Ghiraldini, 25th minute)
Prominent with ball in hand and filled Ghiraldini’s boots well.
5.5/10
17 Michele Rizzo (on for De Marchi, 54th minute)
Turned up the heat in the scrum.
5.5/10
18 Lorenzo Cittadini (on for Castrogiovanni, 59th minute)
Like Rizzo he added real value to the set-piece and helped win a penalty try.
5.5/10
19 Antonio Pavanello (on for Bortolami, 54th minute)
Good on defence but his workrate wasn’t up to international standard.
5/10
20 Manoa Vosawai (on for Bergamasco, 59th minute)
Defended bravely, won a turnover and featured in the line-out.
5.5/10
21 Tobias Botes (on for Gori, 60th minute)
Shied away from responsibility, making just the one run and one kick.
5/10
22 Alberto di Bernardo (on for Orquera, 43rd minute)
Offered some creativity when he came on with his offloading ability.
5/10
23 Luke Mclean (on for Iannone, 54th minute)
Made good ground with the little ball he got.
5.5/10
