John Kirwans side posted six tries as they humbled the Canadians with Andrea Masi and Fabio Ongaro getting two apiece.

The other tries were scored by Mauro Bergamasco and substitute Pietro Travagli with Rima Wakaruas boot providing 21 points for the Azzurri.

Jared Barker scored Canadas points with two penalties while the visitors were not helped by a sin-bin offence by Jamie Cudmore midway through the second period.

There was little to separate the teams until Masi, playing in front of his home-town crowd, scored a superb try after 22 minutes.

That was the only touchdown in the first period with Italy leading 13-3 at the interval.

However, when hooker Ongaro scored after 56 minutes it killed the match and the other four Italian tries followed in the last 13 minutes as Italy tore the Canadians to shreds.

The only blemish on the performance for Italy was an injury that saw winger Denis Dallan taken to hospital and he looks almost certain not to play against the All Blacks in Rome.