Campagnaro can't wait to start

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs newcomer Michele Campagnaro admitted it was "very exciting" to get his first run-out at Sandy Park, albeit with his national team rather than his club side.

The 22-year-old featured for 35 minutes of Italy's final Rugby World Cup fixture against Romania on Sunday before a hip injury forced him from the field.

In that time, however, the former Treviso back showed Exeter supporters a flavour of what is to come as he helped set up Italy's opening try of the game scored by Leonbardo Sarto in their 32-22 victory.

The Azzurri's success ensured they finished their Pool D campaign in third place - thus ensuring automatic qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan - but Campagnaro felt his country could have done more during the tournament.

"We are not too happy with third in the group because our target was to make the quarter-finals," said Campagnaro, who started at outside centre for Jacques Brunel's side.

"Maybe we could have done a little bit more in the match with Ireland. We were not bad but beating Ireland or France and making the quarter-finals was our target, so I am a little bit disappointed."

Campagnaro, though, will have little to worry in that disappointment as he will check into Devon life immediately, linking up with his new team-mates today ahead of this weekend's Aviva Premiership opener away to Bath.

"It was very exciting to play [at Sandy Park]," he said. "It's a beautiful stadium, beautiful supporters, so I hope to play there again soon.

"For me, it's a dream to play in a team like Exeter and I'm looking forward to starting with them. I'm happy to start this new experience and cannot wait to get involved with the team."

Italy may have secured the victory, but it was underdogs Romania who took an early lead on Sunday at a packed Sandy Park through Florin Vlaicu's penalty.

Italy hit back when Campagnaro teed up Sarto, before Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Allan and Alessandro Zanni added further tries. Fly-half Allan scored 12 points with the boot.

Romania did hammer the Italian line for long periods of time, and Adrian Apostol finally drove over with 15 minute left to play, with Vlaicu adding the extras.

Valentin Poparlan then dotted down with Vlaicu again converting, and there was more late drama as Apostol dotted down again, but sadly it was too little too late.

"I think maybe we didn't attack as much as we could have done. We still controlled the game but we should have attacked more and played with confidence like we did in the first half," Campagnaro added. "I was happy with my performance but it was a shame I had an injury and had to go off early. I was happy when I did play."