Italy
7
76
Australia
21
| T. Allan |  | 46 | ||
| M. Bellini |  | 45 | ||
| 43 | | M. Toomua | ||
| 43 | | T. Tupou | ||
| 36 | | M. Toomua | ||
| 34 | | M. Koroibete | ||
| 30 | | M. Toomua | ||
| 29 | | M. Koroibete |
| 1 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
With their second last game of the year, the Wallabies travel to Padua looking to win for just the fourth time this year – from their 12 games. Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 1am AEDT.
Australia have won just one game away from home this year, against ninth-ranked Argentina, and to come anywhere close to achieving the three-from-three pass mark Raelene Castle gave them, victory today is non-negotiable.
Michael Cheika’s future has been under scrutiny almost since he got the job, but if he fails to beat the lowest-ranked tier one nation, one would think that this is where the rubber will hit the road.
Italy are heavy outsiders, but considering that they’re coming off a win over Georgia, edged out South Africa at home just two years ago and they gave the Wallabies a scare at home in 2017, anything is possible.
While an uncapped Jordan Petaia was named to start in his first test cap, a late hamstring injury sees Marika Koroibete come into the starting side, making Jake Gordon the only debutant for Australia partnering likely goal-kicker Matt Toomua in the halves and forcing Bernard Foley to move to 12.
Israel Folau hasn’t played fullback since Bledisloe one in Sydney, but he now drops back into 15 where he will come up against the New Zealand-born Jayden Hayward, who slots in for Luca Sperandio, in the only Italian change after last week’s victory.
With two wins from nine games this year, the Azzurri’s 22.2 win percentage is only marginally worse than the Wallabies’ 27.3, leaving both sides – Australia in particular – with plenty to do to achieve even a mildly reasonable 2018 record.
First choice team or otherwise, the Australians at their best are far and away better than this Italian team, but the Aussies haven’t been at their best at any time this year.
Australia should be good enough to win in Padua, but it could be very close.
Prediction
Wallabies by 7.
Join The Roar for live scores and blog starting from 1am AEDT.
Venue: Stadio Euganeo, Padua.
Time: 1am AEDT
Referee: Pascal Gauzère
Odds: Aus $1.10, Italy $7.
Wallabies
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Jack Dempsey, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. David Pocock, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Matt To’omua, 11. Jordan Petaia, 12. Bernard Foley, 13. Samu Kerevi, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 15. Israel Folau.
Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Jermaine Ainsley, 18. Sekope Kepu, 19. Rory Arnold, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Will Genia, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Dane Haylett-Petty.
Italy
1. Andrea Lovotti, 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3. Simone Ferrari, 4. Alessandro Zanni, 5. Dean Budd, 6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Jake Polledri, 8. Abraham Steyn, 9. Tito Tebaldi, 10. Tommaso Allan, 11. Mattia Bellini, 12. Tommaso Castello, 13. Michele Campagnaro, 14. Tommaso Benvenuti, 15. Jayden Hayward.
Reserves: 16. Luca Bigi, 17. Cherif Traore, 18. Tiziano Pasquali, 19. Marco Fuser, 20. Johan Meyer, 21. Gugliemo Palazzani, 22. Carlo Canna, 23. Luca Morisi.
AJ
Guest
Teach Koroibete to side step while you're at it.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
According to David Lord, Cheika is the genius of all geniuses because he runs a fashion label. Some people are easier to impress than others it would seem.
BK
Roar Rookie
We have the same problems going forward. Foley has got to go. Falou has to be taught to pass. Aimless kicking up the middle has to stop. Continually going for the wide channels on the first play is obvious and has to stop. Once we got the pick and drive happening we looked better but then Foley would do something stupid...again! AAC was good and combined well setting up plays. Toomu'a passed the test and Gordon played well. Good combo going forward. Cheika was all smiles in the press conference, happy he has saved his own neck. We are going to get monstered next weekend, not because we don't have the players but because the best team is not picked and our coach has delusions of grandeur. Our game plan is sub-par. Ireland would put 50 on us and England will win by 30.
Kane
Roar Guru
Well done Ireland. A deserved win. We need to host you in NZ to settle the score. Now for a list of all the thing lsvthe ref did that I want to have a whinge about:
soapit
Roar Guru
relying on refereeing mistakes to be leading until genias try. Pretty much a continuation of the teams form this year with a lot more luck. Ordinary against poor opposition. Hopefully ra actually watch the match instead of focusing on thevery flattering score when including it in the picture of wether the team is at
soapit
Roar Guru
Do bt think anyone knew what to expect tbh.
Kiwikrs
Guest
England up 20-15 after Wilson strolls i for a relatively soft try
Tom English
Roar Guru
Cheers mate - don't know if I should bother watching it on replay, see how I go.
freddieeffer
Guest
Wallaby backline had a bit more structure and zing than normal; otherwise not much difference this week to 2018 performances. I can't see this Wallabies side troubling England at Twickenham.
Kiwikrs
Guest
13-15 to Japan 55mins in
Dan in Devon
Guest
England are down 10-15 to Japan in second half. Japanese playing some good attacking rugby
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Thanks Tom, you did well. :)
Kiwikrs
Guest
Highly unlikely at the moment. They're still 10-15 down to Japan after 50 mins.
andrewM
Guest
First Wallabies game I've watched for over a year. Not sure why I bothered - England will hardly be shaking in their boots over that effort. Kudos to the Italians, despite their shocking lineouts, for making an effort.
Tom English
Roar Guru
Yeah so that's fulltime here in Padua, the Wallabies getting the win. After a scoreless first half hour, it was late replacement Marika Koroibete scoring the first try of the match in the 31st, before striking again 5 minutes later. After the interval, Taniela Tupou went over for a 21-0 scoreline, but the Italians hit right back with a try to Bellini. Then came another long scoreless period, ended by Will Genia crossing late to make the scoreline look more resoectable for the Aussies. Fulltime: Australia 26-7 Italy. Sorry I didn't have the blog going at 100%, streaming issues. Thanks for bearing with me, seeya next time!
Kane
Roar Guru
According to David Lord, Cheika will be able to swear at them in 5 different languages, and not one of them will make sense ;)
Gary
Roar Rookie
Uninspiring. England must surely have their tails up. No coaching changes until after the world cup.... thanks a lot Italy!
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Watching Japan put it to the poms , much better game and both sides would flog us.
Kane
Roar Guru
I think it was what everyone was expecting was it not? A 20odd point messy win against a poor team?
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Would love to be a fly on the wall in the England rooms at half time, might learn some new swear words. :)