Italy once again failed to impress at the World Cup as they scrambled to an unconvincing 31-5 victory over plucky Portugal in Pool C in Paris.

It was hardly the performance the Azzurri were looking for just one week before their do-or-die contest with Scotland, as they managed to score just three tries in comparison to the eight the Scots managed against the same opposition.

What's more, two of those tries came in the final 10 minutes when Portugal's Herculean defensive effort finally caught up on them.

Italy dominated the first-half in terms of possession and made an ominous start as a forward drive off the line-out eventually saw the ball worked out to the backs, with fly-half Roland De Marigny setting up centre Andrea Masi for a try under the posts after just four minutes.

However, while they continued to dominate possession for the rest of the half, sloppy errors prevented the Italians from putting much on the scoreboard with four penalties from David Bortolussi being their only further scores in the half.

Portugal also managed to convert for a try on one of their few attacks forward with second-row David Penalva polishing off a good move in the 34th minute much to the delight of the Parisian crowd who were enthusiastically cheering for the underdogs.

At half-time Italy led 16-5.

The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first, as on more than one occasion the Italians managed to get the ball into the Portuguese 22 before again little errors saw them turn the ball over.

Coming into the last 10 minutes another penalty from Bortolussi was all they had added to their half-time advantage but they finally sealed the game in the 72nd minute when Mauro Bergamasco went over after a 20 metre drive from the Italian pack off a line out.

Two minutes from time and a little chip for De Marigny was picked up by Masi for his second try of the match which put a final gloss on the scoreline that was hardly deserved.

Sean Fay / Eurosport