Italy scored four tries in a second-half fightback to triumph 38-17 and shatter Uruguay’s hopes of a shock victory in a pulsating Pool A encounter at Stade de Nice.

Winger Lorenzo Pani gave Italy an early lead, but after second-row Niccolo Cannone was yellow carded, Uruguay levelled from a penalty try that saw prop Danilo Fischetti join his team-mate in the sin-bin.

Uruguay used the two-man advantage to send wing Nicolas Freitas over. Felipe Etcheverry added a drop goal to give his side a 17-7 half-time lead which would have been greater had the fly-half not missed two early penalty attempts.

But three tries within 10 minutes from skipper Michele Lamaro, Montanna Ioane and Lorenzo Cannone - the first two after Andres Vilaseca was yellow carded - sealed a bonus point. Juan Ignacio Brex added a fifth as Italy made it two wins out of two.