Live Commentary: Italy 32-22 Romania - as it happened

Good afternoon everyone! Pool D comes to an end at the World Cup today, and I'm here to talk you through the action from Italy vs. Romania as both sides aim to record their second win. A victory will be enough to ensure that the winner books a spot at the next tournament in 2019. Who will triumph at Sandy Park?

There have been few surprises in the two campaigns, with both Italy and Romania losing to Ireland and Italy but triumphing against Pool D minnows Canada. In truth, it can be said that this World Cup comes as another example of Italy not kicking on in their development, while Romania have won plenty of supporters with their performances.

It was a dramatic afternoon in Romania's last outing against Canada on Tuesday. Trailing for most of the match in Leicester, it took a brace of tries from Mihai Macovei as they fought back to claim a 17-15 win. Romania proved their resilience on that day, despite arguably playing better rugby against the two top sides in Pool D.

If you missed the news in midweek, here is a quick reminder of the Italy side for today's game.

ITALY: Luke McLean; Leonardo Sarto, Michele Capagnaro, Tommaso Benvenuti, Giovanbattista Venditti, Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori; Matias Aguero, Andrea Manici, Lorenzo Cittadini, Quintin Geldenhuys (captain), Josh Furno, Francesco Minto, Simone Favaro, Alessandro Zanni

REPLACEMENTS: Davide Giazzon, Alberto De Marchi, Dario Chistolini, Valerio Bernabo, Samuela Vunisa, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Enrico Bacchin

Here is the Romania side.

ROMANIA: Catalin Fercu; Madalin Lemnaru, Paula Kinikinilau, Florin Vlaicu, Ionut Botezatu, Michael Wiringi, Valentin Calafeteanu; Mihaita Lazar, Otar Turashvili, Paulica Ion, Valentin Poparlan, Johannes van Heerden, Valentin Ursache (captain), Viorel Lucaci, Daniel Carpo

REPLACEMENTS: Andrei Radoi, Andrei Ursache, Horatiu Pungea, Marius Antonescu, Stelian Burcea, Tudorel Bratu, Adrian Apostol, Csaba Gal

RESULT! The first game of the day is over. Argentina have come out on top with nine tries in a 64-19 victory over Namibia, who finished their campaign with the last score of the game. There is no doubt that Argentina are a threat in the knockout stage.

The big blow for Italy today is that Sergio Parisse misses his side's final game of the 2015 World Cup. After sitting out the opening two matches with a calf injury, the skipper returned to play 65 minutes in the 16-9 loss to Ireland. However, the injury has flared up once again.

"I would only be at about 55% for a match which you need to be near 100%," he told reporters after handing the captaincy over to Quintin Geldenhuys.

Excitement building in Exeter's Fanzone as kick-off between #ITA and #ROM approaches. Who's going to take this one? pic.twitter.com/w258lSkUI5 — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 11, 2015

This is the second meeting between these two sides at a World Cup. It was Italy who triumphed in 2007 with a 24-18 victory. They need a similar result this afternoon. As a tier one nation, they really must be finishing at least third in Pool D. If Romania come out on top, the pressure for a change to the Six Nations format could increase.

Here we go then. The two sides are out on the pitch at Sandy Park and we're just the national anthems and a few handshakes away from the game getting underway now.

KICKOFF! Florin Vlaicu gets the game underway as Romania immediately take charge with a lineout.

Good start from the Italy forwards as they win a penalty out of the ruck, but Tommaso Allan fails to find touch as Romania come back at their opponents once again. A knock-on moments later hands possession to Romania.

The Exeter crowd can't help but voice how impressed they are as Romania's scrum break out into a jog to force Italy back before winning a penalty. Incredible power shown before the penalty is won.

PENALTY! ITALY 0-3 ROMANIA (VAICU): Florin Vaicu is 40 metres away, but confidence is high as he becomes Romania's leading points scorer at a World Cup with a penalty.

Italy think they have scored the first try of the game when Romania open up to offer Gori an easy route through their midfield. A kick starts the charge to the line, and despite a few celebrations, the TMO confirms that the ball was not grounded, with replays showing the knock-on was the right call.

Much better from Italy now. They are moving the ball across the line well and win a penalty when a Romanian comes into the maul at the side. The kick for touch is on target this time as the pressure grows.

TRY! ITALY 5-3 ROMANIA (SARTO): Italy moved ahead in Exteter. The ball is shifted to the left as Michele Capagnaro evades a tackle with a dummy pass before offloading to Leonardo Sarto, who is quick enough to charge over while cutting in from the wing. Allan is not even close with the conversion attempt.

Romania seem to have Italy in trouble again as they backtrack to handle the power of the forwards, but a mistake leads to a penalty which allows the Azzurri to relieve the pressure.

The try proved that Italy have the quality and pace to penetrate the defensive line, but the key for Romania is too use their forwards as much as possible. A couple of breaks in play affect the rhythm as Italy begin to control.

YELLOW CARD! Silly from Johannes Van Heerden. After a tackle he attempts to stop the move from the ground, first with his hand and then with a trip on Gori. Romania are down to 14 for 10 minutes.

PENALTY! ITALY 8-3 ROMANIA: Allan makes no mistake with a routine penalty after Van Heerden's error.

There's plenty of pats on the backs for the Italians as they improve in the scrum. Romania turn and the penalty is awarded to Italy, who take the opportunity to move forward after a lineout.

Romania are lucky. They do not react to an attempt at a quick lineout as Quintin Geldenhuys collects the ball unchallenged, but the pass is not straight. It looks they do cross over a few moments later but there is a clear knock-on out of the lineout.

Romania are just starting to get a bit sloppy with 14 men on the pitch. They are forced to ground the ball with two Italians hunt for the try, before play is brought back to another scrum close to the line. Can Italy capitalise?

TRY! ITALY 15-3 ROMANIA (GORI): It was certainly coming. Italy fail to push over with the scrum, but they recycle the ball well and Gori bounces off one tackle before stretching over to make up for his earlier error. Allan converts to extend the lead to 12.

Excellent defence shown by Italy, who hold the line well to force Romania to go sideways on a few occasions. An error does hand a penalty to Romania as Wiringi kicks for touch. Van Heerden is back on.

Ursache makes the first breakthrough out of a lineout by holding off a couple of challenges, and Romania retain the advantage to kick for touch once again as another charge begins.

Credit to Italy. They are frustrating Romania with some excellent tackling on the line. Brave defending from the Azzurri, but the penalty goes to Romania again. Patience required.

Fantastic from Italy! A try for Romania looks inevitable as they go through 11 phases with the ball close to the line, but they are then punished for not releasing when it is finally shifted to the wing. Brilliant defensive rugby on display at Sandy Park.

Italy are forced into a change as Capagnaro limps off on his home ground to be replaced by Enrico Bacchin. It looks like it could be a hip injury for the centre. That's certainly a blow. He has been excellent on his new home ground.

Italy are lacking a spark with the ball in hand, and the loss of Capagnaro certainly does not help. Romania are growing in confidence with their defensive shape as they continue to fight back at Sandy Park. Just a couple of minutes remaining in the first half. Italy in possession.

TRY! ITALY 22-3 ROMANIA (ALLAN): This could be the key moment in the match. A couple of lovely offloads offers a path to Allan, who shows excellent pace to sprint clear and evade Fercu on the way to crossing over in the penultimate minute of the first half. He then adds the conversion to tighten Italy's grip on the game.

The job is half done for Italy. They've been the more clinical when gaps have appeared and the pace to breakthrough has been crucial. Romania enjoyed a long spell of dominance, but the defence from the Azzurri was superb as they restricted their rivals to just a penalty. Italy are heading for third spot in Pool D.

#ITA have a half-time lead and are on course to qualify for #RWC2019, but it's been hard work! #RWC2015 #ITAvROM pic.twitter.com/ZN5E151tKg — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 11, 2015

You can now read a recap of the first-half action at Sandy Park as Italy target third spot and a automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

© Getty Images

The players are back out for the second half. Romania have already produced one memorable comeback at this tournament, but can they set up another dramatic finish?

A drop from the kickoff puts the pressure on Romania immediately as Italy take control with the scrum at the start of the second half.

Gori has been excellent breaking away from the scrum this afternoon and he threatens to score a second try before being forced out of play by the tackle from Lemnaru.

Clever from Allan as he takes his side forward with a kick over the top. Romania retrieve the ball, but Sarto is in place to take a quick lineout off the clearance to begin another charge from the Italians.

A long look at replays ends in disappointment for Italy. Allan is the man to make the breakthrough but Minto is unable to collect the offload. A replay is needed, with proof arriving that the ball came off a Romanian hand. Another replay is required as the officials attempt to find out whether the ball was then grounded over the line, which it was not. Plenty of pressure on Romania.

TRY! ITALY 29-3 ROMANIA (ZANNI): Italy are cruising to the win now. Romania are turned around in the scrum, and with players out of position, it is Alessandro Zanni who takes advantage to charge over in a straight line. Allan continue his fine afternoon with another conversion.

Ursache is forced off before the restart, with a head injury assessment needed. Stelian Burcea comes on to replace the skipper.

Romania are forced to remain patient through the phases once again as Italy make tackle after tackle. A cross-field kick is superbly collected by Vlaicu, but his offload close to the line is intercepted as Romania settle for the penalty they had in the back. The kick to touch follows.

Poor from Romania as Zanni gets up at the lineout to collect the kick. Allan miscues his kicked clearance as Romania win possession back and come back at the Italians.

Manici's hands let him down on the wing as he fumbles the ball with an apparent clear path to the line. Romania continue to battle well, but they just haven't shown the clinical edge Italy displayed to get their tries.

Plenty of changes coming as these two sides enter the closing stages of their World Cup campaigns. Davide Giazzon and Alberto De Marchi are on for the Azzurri. Romania will be desperate for a try in their final Pool D game.

Bacchin makes the initial breakthrough with a brilliant run to evade a couple of tackles, but Romania recover to force Italy to go out wide. It's a move which really should bring a try as Allan's stabbed kick is fumbled out of play by Sarto.

The tempo has slowed since Italy extended their advantage to 26 points. Romania appear to be running out of steam as a wayward kick from Allan brings a break in play and a scrum when the ball goes long.

More excellent defence from Italy as Romania attempt to inject some pace in the midfield, with Kinikinilau's charge being halted by the Azzurri. It won't result in qualification, but this has been a good display from Italy.

The changes keep on coming, with Romania making a number of alterations in the second half. Horatiu Pungea is the latest player to come on.

TRY! ITALY 29-10 ROMANIA (APOSTOL): One of the Romanian replacements makes an impact! Much like the early stages, it is Romania who dominate in the scrum before picking the perfect time to get the ball to Adrian Apostol, who rides a challenge and turns to get the ball down. The TMO confirms the try before Vlaicu adds a conversion.

PENALTY! ITALY 32-10 ROMANIA: There's a few jeers when Allan decides to take on the penalty, but Italy will be wary of handing any boss to Romania. Their slim hopes of a fightback appear to be over as the fly-half splits the posts.

It is Romania who appear to have found another gear, but it is surely too late. The crowd is definitely on their side as they kick for touch after a long spell of possession results in Italy giving away a penalty.

Poor from Italy in the closing stages as they concede three penalties in one spell, and Romania get the advantage after losing the ball just inches away from the line. Valerio Bernabo is on as Italy look to do whatever it takes to keep their rivals out late on.

TRY! ITALY 32-17 ROMANIA: Remarkable moment at Sandy Park. Italy looked set to get back to defending, before the TMO decided to intervene and award a try. It's good work from the official, with replays showing that the ball was grounded by Valentin Poparlan just before the whistle arrived from the referee, who could not see it happen. Vlaicu adds the conversion.

Romania continue to throw everything at Italy in the hope that they can add another consolation try. Three Romanians charge down the kick, before Canna is forced to concede a penalty for not releasing after the tackle.

TRY! ITALY 32-22 ROMANIA (APOSTOL): What a finish from Romania, who are winning supporters in defeat at the moment. They go from right to left, before the influential Vlaicu takes three players out of the game with a superb pass to Apostol, who crosses over on the left wing for his second try of the match. Vlaicu is unable to convert in the final minute.

It's all over in Exeter. Italy claim a 32-22 win to secure third spot in Pool D, despite an impressive second-half display from Romania, who will now be forced to go through qualification for the 2019 World Cup. It's time for Ireland vs. Wales to take centre stage now.

Thanks for joining me this afternoon. That's all from our live text coverage, but make sure you stay with Sports Mole for Sunday's final two games. Goodbye.