Tonga settled for fourth place in the IRB Under-19 world championship after it was beaten by Italy 34-17 on Sunday April 17, at Kings Park, Durbin, South Africa.

The Champion of the Division B of the Under-19 World Championship was Samoa who thrashed Uruguay 31-17, and qualified to move up to Division A in the next Under-19 World Championship in 2006.

An IRB report of the Tonga v Italy final:

Italy proved too strong for their Tongan counterparts in the first game of the final day of the IRB Under-19 World Championship, running out 34-17 victors after holding a 17-0 half-time lead.

Italian stand-out player, Number 8 Marco Filippucci, got the first points of the game as early as the third minute, and got his second, and his team's third eight minutes later. Wing Paulo Buso bisecting these two tries for Italy to hold a 17 point lead after only 12 minutes.

No more points were scored in the half as both teams tried desperately to gain a vital score, for Italy it would put the game out of reach, while Tonga would be back in the match.

Italy got back on the scoreboard early in the second half through hooker Giovanchelli's powerhouse try, and although the conversion was not successful, the game was well within Italy's grasp.

Centre Saia Teaupa finally broke Tonga...’s duck, getting over for his side's first try in the sixth minute of the half but Italy hit back soon after to nullify it.

Two tries and a conversion for Tonga, the first by captain Jonathan Sefanaia saw the deficit reduced to just 10 points with 10 minutes of the match remaining, but Tonga were to be denied victory by the passionate Italians, who made certain of things with a last gasp try in the second minute of extra time, scoring a deserved victory.

Scores -

Italy 34

Tries: Marco Filippucci (2), Ricardo Pavan, Lorenzo Giovanchelli, Enrico Ceccato, Matteo Paoli

Conversions: Michele Sepe (2)

Tonga 17

Tries: Saia Teaupa, Jonathan Sefanaia, Ukuma Ta'ai

Conversions: Jonathan Sefanaia

Quotes -

Tonga captain Jonathan Sefanaia: "We should have done more in the first half, there was just too much catching up to do in the second half. But we did much better in the second half."

Italian captain Marco Filippucci: "We are very happy with the win. Tonga played hard but we played harder I believe. We have enjoyed the tournament, and we are happy that we could finish it with a win."