The Manu Samoa rugby team has offered an apology to its fans back home after suffering a 49-17 loss to Italy in its opening match of the Autumn Rugby Tests.

It was a performance far less than desired where the home side dominated all aspects of the game, even to an extent where the Azzurri led 35-0.

Seilala Mapusua’s side knew too well the hopes fans back home had for the Manu Samoa. The team on its official Facebook page apologised to their fans who have been flying the Samoan flag high all throughout the week.

“Faafetai tele Samoa mo lau tapuaiga.  O le a toe timata le upega ma tapena au tama fanau mo taaloga e lua o totoe,” the team posted.

“Malū ave i fale i finagalo mai la outou silasila i le taumafaiga a lau Manu Samoa. Thank you all for your support.”

["Thank you very much Samoa for your support. We will start again and prepare ourselves for the remaining two games."]

["We apologise with how we performed, it's just something that the effort has achieved from your Manu Samoa. Thank you all for your support."]

Italy ran in six tries with Pierre Bruno and Monty Ioane both dotting down twice and further scores from Juan Ignacio Brex and Lorenzo Cannone.

Tommaso Allan kicked 12 points and Paolo Garbisi added another seven to give Italy a perfect start to a run of autumn fixtures which also includes the visit of Australia and South Africa.

UJ Seuteni, Duncan Paia'aua and Theo McFarland scored for Manu Samoa.

Italy did the damage in the first half with an exciting display of attacking rugby which built a 28-0 lead through tries from Brex, Bruno and Ioane and Allan's precise kicking.

Bruno's converted 24th-minute score which made gave Italy a 17-0 lead was a case in point, with the ball carried the length of the field with rapid passes before the Zebre wing dotted down.

Australia-born Ioane then took Italy to an unassailable 35-0 advantage with two tries immediately before and after half-time, his second brilliantly taken in the corner and then converted by Allan.

Seuteni opened the away side's account 11 minutes after the break with a brilliant low take and dive which was converted by D'Angelo Leuila.

But Cannone made it a perfect first cap for Italy thanks to the impressive scrum half Stephen Varney, whose long pass set the young Benetton flanker surging across the line.

And with just over an hour gone Italy took their tally to 49 when Bruno ended a spell of pressure by finishing off a delicate kick over the top from Montpellier fly-half Garbisi.

Debutant Paia'aua and McFarland restored some pride for Samoa with two tries in the final 10 minutes but the result had already long since been decided.