Match result:
A try from Bernard Foley in the 76th minute has sealed a win for the Wallabies over Italy, but it was a long way from being a convincing victory.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Wallabies 40
Italy 27
Match preview:
The Wallabies head to Brisbane this Saturday to take on Italy. The men in gold are desperate to save face after last week’s 19-24 loss to Scotland in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and updates, starting from 3pm AEST.
Coach Michael Cheika has shuffled his squad, recalling captain Stephen Moore to the front row as one of six changes to the starting 15.
Scott Sio, Rory Arnold, Lopeti Timani, Sefa Naivalu, and Rob Horne are the others to earn recalls.
Jack Dempsey also features on the bench for a possible debut despite missing almost the entire Super Rugby season through injury.
As for the Italians, they’ll be frustrated on the back of a narrow 22-19 loss to Fiji thanks to a late Ben Volavola drop goal.
The Azzurri have not won a Test since November 2016 when they upset the Springboks, but they’ll hardly get a better chance to topple a Wallabies outfit low on confidence and cohesion.
The visitors have made just two starting changes, bringing in Tito Tebaldi at scrumhalf, as well as Andries Van Schalkwyk at No.8, while Marco Lazzaroni joins the bench.
“We came so close, we should’ve beaten Fiji on the balance looking back on the game, but we know this is a step up in class,” said Italy coach Conor O’Shea.
“We’re on a huge growth curve in Italian rugby. Changes that should’ve been made years ago, we’re making now with group of young players who are learning a lot, getting better.”
It shapes as an interesting tactical battle ‒ O’Shea’s team made headlines during the Six Nations when they refused to engage in rucks and swarmed around a bewildered England side.
Meanwhile, some have questioned Cheika’s apparent lack of game plan, let alone a Plan B or C.
Prediction
The Wallabies have never lost to Italy in their previous 16 encounters, although they look mighty vulnerable at the moment.
The visitors will bring physicality plus a few tactical tricks up their sleeve, but the home side will be determined to defuse the heavy scrutiny they’ve been copping.
Wallabies by 10.
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Mike
Guest
You could believe so after this game.
Republican
Guest
.........Georgia to put the Wannabies to the sword, to be sure......
Mike
Guest
Hunt played the full 80. Horne was taken off and replaced by Cooper.
Mike
Guest
With a performance like that, we will be lucky to beat Argentina, let alone Bokke and ABs. All credit to Italy, they should have had the disallowed try. Benvenuti and Ferrari especially stood out, those guys are class. And Azzuri gave a us a lesson in box-kicks as well as scrums. Trying to find the positive: KH continues to improve at 12, Rob Horne is an old dog who provides useful depth for 13. Quade and Foley gives us as much depth at 10 as we have had for a long time. Arnold is finally coming out of his shell. TPN is getting better each game. Genia well... the important thing is we know he can do much better than tonight. I assume Izzy was taken behind the dressing room and given a thorough pounding by the piggies afterwards. That's what used to happen when a back has a brain snap which gifts the feed to an opposing dominant scrum right in front of our posts...
Tooly
Roar Rookie
So who gets the chop this week ? And how many more Tut Tahs will Chekko select ? Let's not forget that it was Italy we were playing in Brisbane as did the Fox commentators . Thankfully I went for a walk at half time and then tubbed up for the main game . It will be a while before I gird up the loins enough to watch the second half , the first half was bad enough . The other game was a cracker and the Lions played well and were very competitive . They did show how to restrict the mighty ABs and it wasn't by passing at all cost and running around like headless chooks . Well drilled , well coached and fit . Like us not well selected so I think that Eddie and England would be stronger than the Lions and harder to beat .
rebel
Guest
He runs like Adam Sandlers Waterboy.
Riddler
Guest
Mate.. It is boiling.. Lovely it is.. Shortest night of the year last night.. big beach parties.. Where did it all go wrong???
Fionn
Guest
Fair, Riddler, I know the arguments, but a lot of modern halfbacks take steps. Hope you're doing well, mate, see it's super hot it Spain. Hope you're enjoying the sangria!
ethan
Guest
Haha well played. Poor guy, his rant didn't work.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Reece Hodge runs like a duck. All I could think of when they showed the front on view of him running is Quack Quack! :)
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
Damn I never was a piggy. I'd edit my comment but that would feel like cheating. I think the point applies though! Tom Robertson not looking so bad in comparison!
Bib
Guest
As long as cheika is swinging that club hey!
Charlie Lawry
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Very nice blog Charlie and many thanks for your efforts. WB played well at times, but far too many simple errors gifting points unnecessarily. Playing helter skelter instead of constructive pressure rugby with tight buildups then backed by the flashy backs. The WB coaching group will use this result as proof that their "running rugby" is a winner. I wonder if any of them have thought how much more devastating the WB attack would be if the opposition were unsure that the WB would just run the ball at them. Not once in that whole match did I see an offensive kick with chasers to contest ball or ruck over the catcher. This was the sort of match where plays like that should be trialled, just one or two to get everyone such as kickers, blockers and chasers all on the same page. The WB are fast becoming a one-trick pony, capable of beating teams like Fiji but being outsmarted by scrappers like Ireland and Scotland.
Fionn
Guest
You're 100% right here. It would be sheer stupidity to eithe put him on the EOYT or for him to accept. He needs to recover for longer and get a full SR season.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Nah mate not talking about defence. Anyway I'd explain what I mean to you but I'd be wasting both of our times. I don't have any crayons.
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
Insert W in between R and C and we may be talking. No chance for TRC. Whilst a great comeback he looks a season out of shape and maybe 5 or more kegs down on his playing weight...and that will be all muscle.
Fionn
Guest
Some might say he's been better than both Cooper and Foley at various points of their respective careers.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Not at international level no. But certainly a good 10 at provincial. I'm happy to have the guy back in the mix. The more competition the better. But he needs a full season under his belt. Or maybe get taken on the EOYT. Get him back amongst the group.
Highlander
Guest
Props round the wrong way Huw