Playing 6 Nations and then Austrlaia and New Zeland isn’t a great prospect for any 12th placed team.

I think those of us who reckon they should be playing opposition closer to their level, are thinking that it’ll give the coaching staff a better chance of tinkering with team structures.

Italy need to know what it feels like to win a few on the trot. Constantly losing must be tough to deal with. If winning becomes a habit maye losing does too.

I have to disagree with the notion that Italy shouldnt be playing Australia though. To improve you need to play against better opposition. To play weak teams will not make them better. What will they learn from beating Georgia or Romania? Yes they will win but long term I dont believe it will improve them one iota.

How the hell the Azzuri number 9 had not practiced with Gower & yet was palying was beyond me. What kind of coaching decision was that? When the reserve 9 came on things went far better for Italy.

Not too sure what to make of Craig Gower’s efforts. He pulled off one nice inside flick pass to score a try & defended very well but apart from that he stood so far back from the 9 that we all wondered ‘what ploy is this’? Seems it wasn’t one. He also took a few dumb options even for a newish boy to Rugby. What’s with the field goal attempt when Italy had us under pressure? And general kicking in play was below poor. Still I reckon he’ll improve and hopefully next week in Melbourne he’ll take the next step up.

These games do nothing for Italian rugby and probably lower team esteem and confidence unnecessarily.

I just can’t see what’s in this for Italy. I expect them to get absolutely hammered in what promises to be little more than a training run for the Wallabies. Better for their development for them to play a team of similar standard. Zimbabwe, Japan, Canada, USA, Uruguay, etc.

Azzuri seemed to have our number in Padova but for a Cooper try that could so easily have been called back. So they’ll be up for it.

Will the weather play it’s role in helping the boys in blue? Coldest June night in Canberra in how many years?

Gower Power – Is there such a thing? He wasn’t bad at all in the NRL and has been learning his trade at a decent level in France. We know their forward pack will be competitive & Craig Gower may well pull off a few surprises.

I’m expecting the Wallabies to run riot after about 10 minutes. I’m hoping Robbie has put the fear of God into them and ‘Woe behold anyone who eases off…even a wee but’.

Let me check my list for tonight good coffee (check), tim tams (check), tawny port (buy some when in town), beanie (check), heaters (check). At least I’ll be warm & merry.

Here’s to the Wallabies starting as they finished last week. Keep on building chaps the Big Boys are waiting for us down the track.

They’ll be beaten handsomely – or else Australia don’t turn up to play. At all.