Italy have opened up their Rugby World Cup campaign with a comfortable 52-8 victory over Namibia in Saint-Etienne.

Gli Azzurri ran in seven tries - including three in the final 10 minutes - to ease away from Namibia, who faded in the second half after a spirit first-half showing.

Namibia were the first on the board through Tiaan Swanepoel's early penalty, but it looked as though the favourites would run away with it when they went over twice in quick succession.

Lorenzo Cannone and Paolo Garbisi scored within four minutes of each other, but Namibia refused to fold and registered a fine try of their own through Gerswin Mouton midway through the half.

However, those proved to be their final points of the contest and, despite keeping themselves in the game until half time, they fell away after the interval.

Dino Lamb and Ange Capuozzo both touched down before the hour mark - the latter securing a bonus point in some style - and Italy then added three more in the closing stages to add gloss to the final scoreline.

Hame Faiva, Manuel Zuliani and Paolo Odogwu scored in the space of 10 minutes to take Italy past the 50-point mark and secure their biggest-ever Rugby World Cup victory.

The bonus-point win takes Italy to the top of Pool A after their opening game, although they still have France, New Zealand and Uruguay to face.

Namibia, meanwhile, next face New Zealand and France, but will earmark the September 27 match against Uruguay as a chance to pick up their first-ever World Cup win.