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Lynagh (58'), Ioane (61')
Tries
Faessler (20'), Bell (31'), Gordon (50')
Garbisi (58', 62')
Conversions
Kellaway (32', 51')
Garbisi (6', 10', 36', 48')
Penalties
Italy made it two wins from two against Australia, as Gonzalo Quesada’s side fought back in the last quarter to record a memorable 26-19 win in Udine, in Italy’s northeast.
Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane scored the Azzurri’s tries. Paolo Garbisi converted both and added another 12 from penalties. Matt Faessler, Angus Bell, and Carter Gordon scored tries for the Wallabies, with Andrew Kellaway adding two conversions.
It is Italy’s third win this year, after victories over Wales in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, and Namibia on their mid-year tour, and their first back-to-back wins over Rugby Championship opponents. For Australia it is an eighth defeat of the year.
Hanging In There
Former Italy coach Nick Mallett once said that Italy needed to be within five points of their opposition at the 60 minute mark if they wanted to win. This time Italy led, but much of that success came from their strong start.
By the 10 minute mark they were six points ahead and piling pressure on Joe Schmidt’s side thanks to very good kicking from Garbisi, Stephen Varney, Ange Capuozzo, Juan Brex, and Ioane. Even though Australia’s first two tries put them ahead at halftime, Garbisi’s third penalty kept them within a score, and he kicked his fourth to make it 12-12 soon after they returned.
It meant that when Carter Gordon crossed and Kellaway converted, they were still in touch, and when Australia threatened a late comeback after Lynagh’s and Ioane’s tries, their scrambling defence stood firm and while their composure deserted them a little, it happened away from their line where Australia couldn’t threaten.
Channelling La Rabbia
Italy were not impressed that Carter Gordon’s try was awarded, claiming Harry Wilson had knocked on in the build-up. It sparked a tremendous reaction from Quesada, who demonstrated why la rabbia, or rage is one of the key factors in Italian rugby.
In times past that rage would have overwhelmed the blue shirts, with either fists flying, discipline going out of the window, errors compounding errors, or the team going into itself. This time they channelled the rage and used it as fuel for their comeback.
Italy immediately went to work and messed up Australia’s restart collection. Their pressure forced the Australia kickers to kick short, and the Azzurri defenders pinned them into their half. Twice they opted to kick to the corner, and five minutes after that restart, Lynagh forced his way over in the corner to tie up the score.
Italian heads remained clear, so that when Ioane put Italy ahead, they kept their focus. Yes, they missed chances to put the match beyond doubt, but their maintained their discipline in defence and structure to keep Australia out.
Local Lads Do The Damage
The irony will not be lost on anyone that Italy’s try scorers were the Melbourne-born Ioane, and Lynagh the son of possibly Australia’s best flyhalf (with a respectful nod to Stephen Larkham) Michael Lynagh.
The Italy-born, London raised Lynagh was never part of the Australian system, but the fact that Ioane slipped the net and made his name elsewhere shows the mess Australia’s development and pathway systems have been in, especially with the ever-threatening presence of rugby league.
At 16, Ioane joined his uncle and then Wallaby winger Digby Ioane, at Queensland Reds, but the pair went off to Stade Francais two years later. His return to the Chiefs a few years later should have alerted the Australians, but they dithered and he returned to Europe with Benetton, where he qualified for Italy.
They were important tries for the pair. Italy haves wings galore, with the injured Paolo Garbisi, Northampton Saints’ young gun Edoardo Todaro, and Lorenzo Pani waiting for their chance.
Errors On Errors
That glorious period in July and August when the Wallabies recorded wins over the Lions and South Africa feels a long way away. Worse still, many of the problems that dogged them before then have raised their heads and look a long way from being resolved.
There were issues with kicking of all kinds. Kellaway landed two from three conversions but the one he missed brought back memories of some of James O’Connor’s wayward efforts during The Rugby Championship.
Then there were their clearing kicks, which gained far less ground that Italy’s. Carter Gordon looked uncomfortable kicking to touch with his quad giving him grief, and as Australia chased a way back late on, Jake Gordon’s failure to land his box kicks outside his half allowed Italy to pin the Wallabies back.
The biggest failure was at the breakdown. Manuel Zuliani set the tone with an early turnover, and Mirco Spagnolo and Lorenzo Cannone won vital turnovers as the Aussie chased a late score. Too often those turnovers came from a ponderous attack that didn’t that played into Italy’s defence.
With Ireland and France up next, and Australia outside the top six in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, there is a the very real chance that the Wallabies won’t be among the seeded teams for their home World Cup.
