Robbie Deans’ experimental Wallabies backfired rather than exploded for a scrappy 34-12 win over a second-string Italian outfit at a third-full Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Australia scored five tries to nil for a 2-0 series clean sweep but only shook off the inexperienced Azzurri in the last 10 minutes with skilful tries to pacey backs Lachie Turner and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
With captain Stirling Mortlock, playmaker Matt Giteau and the entire front-row rested, it was hardly a match to remember for the Wallabies’ generation next and Deans’ reserve combinations.
With the score 20-12 in the 70th minute, Quade Cooper, who helped the Wallabies out of jail with a late solo try in Padova last November, again snuffed out Italy’s hopes with a neat flick pass to put winger Turner over to seal the match.
In keeping with the strange display from Australia, replacement three-quarter Ashley-Cooper finished with the man-of-the-match award along with his two entertaining tries before a crowd of just 20,280.
While Ashley-Cooper played more than 60 minutes with winger Peter Hynes (ear) injured early, halfback Luke Burgess was also a star for Australia with plenty of threatening snipes.
Although Italy were never expected to upset the home side and score a first win in 12 Tests between the nations, the Azzurri planned on exposing Australia’s second-string front-row at scrum time.
The home side’s front three stood tall but hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau’s woeful throwing let the lineout down badly and took the pressure off the grateful visitors in dangerous positions.
Italy did have success attacking enigmatic centre Cooper’s defensive channel with Craig Gower, taking the line on far more than in the 31-8 first Test loss in Canberra, twice putting backline runners past him for breaks.
But Cooper also showed some impressive signs, notably pillaging effectively at the breakdown to pass to fullback James O’Connor who gave a deft inside ball for Ryan Cross to score Australia’s second try in the 25th minute.
A three-try hero in his run-on debut in Canberra, O’Connor began the second Test with a red face after spilling an innocuous bomb in the first 30 seconds.
The mistake, Cooper’s miss on Giulio Rubini and then a ruck penalty allowed Townsville-born fullback Luke McLean to open the scoring with a three-pointer in the third minute.
The lead lasted eight minutes before Burgess made the Wallabies first clean break and Polota-Nau crossed from the next phase after Cooper threw a long cut-out pass to Turner, who popped the ball to the hooker a metre from the line.
A stop-start first half could have been much closer if McLean had slotted two missed penalties which would have drawn them in to 15-12 but Ashley-Cooper made them pay near halftime by starting and finishing a fine backline try.
Ashley-Cooper said he was surprised to get an hour on the park let alone the best player award.
“I was very surprised with the time. PJ (Hynes) lost half an ear (due to two cuts) so I got 60 or so minutes and I’m very happy to be a part of it,” he said.
Stand-in skipper George Smith attributed the problems in the lineout to miscommunication within the forwards but praised the pack’s effort in the scrum.
Coach Robbie Deans preferred to highlight the positive rather than the negatives.
“There was some good stuff and not-so-good stuff but it was a good turnout for guys who don’t have a lot of background together,” he said.
“Once again the Italians were successful in stymying our game but the boys worked hard and we were able to score five tries.”
Deans was also pleased with the performances of debutant prop Pek Cowan and flyhalf Berrick Barnes, who showed great poise throughout the match.
Italian coach Nick Mallett was delighted with his team’s performance, especially considering the last time the Azzurri travelled to Melbourne, in 2005, they were blown away 69-21.
“I think the performance today was a big step up from what we did (in Canberra) even though the score didn’t reflect that,” he said.
“I was very proud of the performances in the last two weeks … to lose by 20 points in both games against the Wallabies is a great result.
“Playing away from home I would have signed up any day on conceding just thirty points in either Test match.”
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MVDave said | June 21st 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
20,000. The fans voted with their feet…Rugby here has no foundation (very small numbers of juniors) and unless thousands travel in from interstae or overseas there isnt much interest to boost crowd numbers. Will this effect the Super (insert own number) chances for Melb? The authorities may get cold feet? Remembering this was the only chance to watch the Aus team in Melb this year and there are hundreds of thousands of Italians in Melb.
tarpo said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
MV, They played in front of a similar size crowd last week, does this mean te Brumbies are doomed?
The reality is of course the Italians are never going to attract a hige crowd.
If the Wallas were playing France this week in Melb they would pull more than twice the crowd.
LeftArmSpinner said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
MV, it was a 2nd tier rugby power, Italy, and that affects the ticket sales, then a second string Wallabies team would affect walk ups, but on a day when AFL is effectively dozing, it was good timing, but obviously not good enough.
Anyway, to the rugby. Experimental, scrappy. Come on. Give me and the team a break. It was neither. The Italians played much more passionately and cleverly. It was a golden opportunity for the young guys to get some run on experience as opposed to a once off lab rats Possible V probable game. Rugby is a hard game to play well.
In those circumstances, the Wallabies played well. 5 tries, some very good and scored out wide.
But the best part was that they found another gear when Italy closed to within 6 points, early in the second half, and accelerated away, literally. The tyros all did enough to show that they are worth persevering with. Kimlin was good, Mumm was busier in the open, using his speed. The front row did well at scrum time. Pocock was excellent. Burgess excelled. Barnes was good and will get better. Cross did all that was asked from him, as he always does. Turner is now more settled and like Hynes and AAC, plays better for his country than his state. (Turner and Hynes have excuses!!!) O’Connor had a reality check. His good fortune of last week returned to normal levels this week, but it is clear, he is one out of the bag. And Quade, well, he will benefit from the run and experience. He played the typical tyro game, some good (kicking and passing), some bad (missed tackles) but still worth persevering with.
The only blemish was PTN’s lineout throwing. I think he is destined for throwing school again this week, and unless it improves, a return to flanker from whence he came.
It again showcased Deans ability to coach the most important muscle/organ in the footballers body, the brain.
So, it was neither experimental nor scrappy.
Justin said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
MVD – You are right, the people voted with their feet. They didnt want to watch a B grade side take on an F grade side. The Melbourne sporting public are pretty switched on and wont watch second rate entertainment.
The Link said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Well Tarpo, last time I checked Canberra stadium only held around 20-25k anyway so that’s a pretty bizare statement.
What last night showed was the ARU can’t send a 2nd string international to Melbourne with a Wallabies B side and take the crowd for granted, rather than Rugby necessarily being on the nose in some way. This being said the ARU were assessing the roll up as part of who would get the S15
MVDave said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
The Italians are one of the top 10 teams in world Rugby! The only chance to watch Australia in 2009 in person. It was a full international and the Oz team had plenty of regular 1st teamers? So you guys reckon the authorities would be happy with 20,000 in a 56,000 capacity stadium with no AFL in Melb etc etc. As l said the problem Rugby has here is no base to work off. Sure there are hard core Rugby people here but not many, the Juniors are very small in number although there is more development programs now in the schools. Rugby has a long long way to go down here and l believe this weekend may well effect the Super ? possibilities for Melb.
Epi said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
MVDave – The Wallabies v Ireland pulled double the crowd same time, same place last year. You think the game has slid that much in 12 months or are you just trying to draw conclusions on insufficient data? I think the latter. Being a rugby loving Melbournian, I can tell you that there is a very healthy grass roots following down here.
Justin said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
MVD – No the Italians are not even in the top 10. They are ranked 12 at the moment and have lost 10 or 11 on the trot. No one has said the ARU would be happy with the crowd, which orifice did you pull that from?
fred said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
italy are one of the top ten rugby teams in world rugby and the reds are one of the top 14 teams in the super 14.
the punters want (just like Aru) strong international teams playing their national team.this has done one thing well;it has made it obvious that melbourne isnt the place for future super 15 rugby,
Peter K said | June 21st 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
At least the Wallabies learnt somethings and can finalise some positions.
1st NEITHER Cowan or Alexander are up to scratch as Intl props as regards their scruamging. Cowan was real weak. Alexander may be passible as a loosehead, terrible as a tighthead.
Turner is the no 1 winger now. He was my MoM btw. The other winger is between Mitchell, Hynes AND Ashley-Cooper.
Horwill great game.
Polotua has improved his throwing, not 1 not in straight. Most of the lineouts that missed were due to poor lifting rather than throwing except for the last one, he threw that far too high.
Horwill SHOWED what a real lock running and hitting the line looks like. He broke the line often unlike Sharpe who falls over at the prospect of a defender.
Kimlin played very well, in tight quite well. Mumm was invisable again in the first half. Later on made a few good runs. When Elsom is back I would have Horwill and Kimlin as locks and Elsom as 6.
Smith outplayed Pocock so still deserves to keep his place. We really need Palu back though. Smith had no running penetration, did not break the line.
Burgess had another brilliant game. All his passing was fine, he did not crap sideways alah Gregan. Running great and defence strong.
Barnes did really well at 10. Adds strength to my argument that Barnes should be 10 and Giteau 12.
Hynes very quiet. AC did very well when on the field. JoC had a poor game at the office.
Cross came into his own in the last 15 minutes and ran well. Quiet before that.
Cooper was terrible in defence, he fell off tackle after tackle. How he can keep his spot in the squad is beyond me. I noticed his long pass to his right was NOT flat it was high and looping, too slow. With 4 men against 2 it would of been better to go through the hands. So as well as a doubtful pass to his right he has poor decision making.
Looking forward to the game against France. This will be our real measure to see how we are going.
LAS – Cannot agree TPN. All the throws were straight. The height was fine, the NEW props mistimed their lifts or not high enough. Only the last throw of TPN’s was too high.
Cooper had a poor game, his pass that TPN scored off was not that great it was loopy and slow and almost cost us. We had a 4 on 2 man and he should of gone through the hands. The new front row were TERRRIBLE in thes scrums. The Italians wheeled and pushed us around at will. Cowan was like a cow with the amount of grass he ate.