Canada win the penalty as Michele Campagnaro holds on in the ruck.

Peter Nelson pumps it long and the red shirts will have a line-out on the Italian 22.

Canada are growing into the game now.

DTH Van Der Merwe spots a forward in the Italian line and he puts the burners on as he tries to get around Braam Steyn.

But the Italian number eight puts in a terrific covering tackle and Canada spill the ball forward.

Scrum to Italy.

Time for a bit of aerial ping-pong.

The ball goes to and fro before Giulio Bisegni is nailed by his opposite man Jeff Hassler.

The crowd enjoyed that one but the ball goes out of play off a red shirt during the next phase.

Italy will have the line-out in their own half.

HOWLER ALERT!

Is that the miss of the tournament?

Tyler Ardron bursts through a gap in the Azzurri defence brilliantly and it's a simple two on one to score.

The number eight puts Matt Heaton into space, five metres out, but the replacement fumbles the ball with the try line at his mercy.

He's only been on the field as a replacement for Lucas Rumball for less than a minute.

Is there an opposite for curse of the commentator?

It may have been a poor opening 15 minutes but Canada surge forward and roll through the phases deep inside the Italian half.

Can they get back into this now?

We are just having a brief pause as Lucas Rumball receives treatment on his arm.

It's been a damning opening quarter of an hour as Canada have missed (14) almost half as many tackles as they have made (30).

That is unforgivable on this stage.

Italy are straight back on the front foot as Jake Polledri is sent crashing up in the midfield.

The powerful back-row is proving so difficult to stop.

Right then, we may just have a game on.

It's taken 10 minutes but Canada have finally woken up as they ride a couple of tackles to set up a decent platform from which to attack.

Peter Nelson chips over the onrushing blue line, and finds touch, to the delight of the neutrals in the crowd.

Canada are inviting pressure onto themselves here and the line-out is not straight.

That is a basic error at this level and Italy will have the scrum five metres out.

Italy retrieve the ball from the line-out and Jake Polledri breaks a couple of tackles before moving the ball the full length of the pitch.

Tommaso Benvenuti fumbles the final pass into touch and the chance disappears but Italy are dominant.

Italy have flown out of the blocks in the early stages and they win another penalty for offside just inside their opponent's half.

Tommaso Allan finds touch and we'll have the first line-out of the game.

Tommaso Allan makes no mistake and Italy are on the board.

Italy have a penalty as Canada do not release the attacker before trying to contest the ball in the ruck.

Dean Budd points to the posts.

Canada clear their lines from the kick-off but the ball is run straight back into their half by the Azzurri.

Tommaso Benvenuti prods the ball through and it's a foot race between Callum Braley and Patrick Parfrey.

The Canadian full-back just wins the race and we'll have a five metre scrum to Italy.

Promising start.

Tommaso Allan hoists the ball high into the Japanese sky and we're under way...

Right then, a few tears have been shed and the anthems have been sung.

We're all set for kick-off!

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We'll be sharing your best comments throughout the morning!

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

As well as staying across our thoroughly entertaining text coverage, you can also listen to full match commentary over on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra now.

Happy listening!