Join us from 1:30pm AEST for live coverage and wanging on as the Wallabies play Italy in their opening World Cup match. Simply refresh the page to get minute by minute coverage.
Match Details
Ground: Eden Park, Auckland.
Match Officials
- Referee: Alain Rolland (IRE)
- Touch Judge: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
- Touch Judge: Chris Pollock (NZL)
- TV match official: Giulio De Santis (ITA)
Head to Head
| # | Australia | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sekope Kefu | Andrea Lo Cicero |
| 2 | Stephen Moore | Leonardo Ghiraldini |
| 3 | Ben Alexander | Martin Castrogiovanni |
| 4 | Dan Vickerman | Carlo Antonio Del Fava |
| 5 | James Horwill | Cornelius Van Zyl |
| 6 | Rocky Elsom | Alessandro Zanni |
| 7 | David Pocock | Robert Barbieri |
| 8 | Radike Samo | Sergio Parisse |
| 9 | Will Genia | Fabio Semenzato |
| 10 | Quade Cooper | Luciano Orquera |
| 11 | Digby Ioane | Mirco Bergamasco |
| 12 | Pat McCabe | Gonzalo Garcia |
| 13 | Anthony Faingaa | Gonzalo Canale |
| 14 | Adam Ashley-Cooper | Tommaso Benvenuti |
| 15 | Kurtley Beale | Andrea Masi |
| 16 | Tatafu Polota-Nau | Tommaso D’Apice |
| 17 | James Slipper | Lorenzo Cittadini |
| 18 | Rob Simmons | Marco Bortolami |
| 19 | Ben McCalman | Paul Derbyshire |
| 20 | Scott Higginbotham | Edoardo Gori |
| 21 | Luke Burgess | Riccardo Bocchino |
| 22 | James O’Connor | Luke McLean |
Our quick match report will be updated below as it happens, please refresh to see the latest news.
Pre Match
16 degrees with wind 25 km/h gusts up to 40 km/h in Auckland. It’s fine at the moment but Still overcast. There is a chance of showers during the game. The Italians have arrived looking ready to play. no signs of a smile on any of them. The Australians Are out warming up looking as professional as ever. Both teams on the field ready for the anthem. The kick off is about to happen and the skies have opened up again.
First Half
First 5 minutes
Australia kicks off. wind blowing across the field. the Australian turn over the Italian maul and are hard on attack in the Italian quarter. Italians win the defensive line out and clear the ball. Australia trying to move the ball immediately. Vickermans first run results in the Italian 12 receiving treatment on the ground. Garcia is up and is back in position if a little shakey. Cooper shoots for goal for the offside penalty. He misses. Australia still moving the ball as the sun comes out.
5 to 10 minutes
So far the Italian defence is up for everything the Australians have thrown at them. The Italians have the ball over the line first from a pretty kick through but Cooper cleans up beautifully. And now the first scrum to Australia from an Italian knock on. And a good start popping the Italian hooker and moving slightly forward. Both sides are attacking now in a very entertaining match.
10 to 15 minutes
The Italians have a line-out on the Oz 22. the elect to maul of the back of the line. But they allow Pocock in and he wins a penalty for not releasing. Italy win a penalty for the same and are back on attack at the 22 but they are also penalised for obstruction from their lineout. Lots of penalties at the ruck.
15 to 20 minutes
Italy have a shot 40 metres out but it falls short. Cooper is taken out after the kick and the Aussies have a shot 40 out from the Italian line. He slots it Australia 3-0. Good run from Elsom but he takes the tackle rather than pass to Ioane and Beale.
20 to 25 minutes
ElSom still injured but 7 man Aussie scrum good enough to hold the Italians. McCabe making the add line as usual. AAc on the fly inches away from scoring on the Kick through from Cooper. Kepu give a penalty from the lineout relieving the pressure on the Italians. The Italians kick out on the full after some nice forward play. Australian line-out on half way.
25 to 30 minutes
Italy does well to turn over the ball but knock on after a back-line move. Elsoms eye is bothering him and he may not make it to half time. Another strong scrum win and great attacking play sees the Australians hard on attack with a penalty in hand. Rolland has had enough last warning to Italy for offside and a penalty in front. Cooper slots it 6-0
30 to 35 minutes
The wind and rain have disappeared the Australians steal the line-out and Pocock breaks clear from the pack on a good run. Italian steal one of ours and put up the bomb and AAC drops his third for the day. Kepu loses the hit on the Italian scrum and the put the power on for the first time today. Well the Australians turn over the ball and break out of their 22 cooper bamboozles everyone and Faingaa takes out a defender for a Shepperd.
35 to 40 minutes
Australia collapses a scrum and Italy line up a shot at goal to trail 6-3 coming into half time. Italy turn over a ruck ball and hack the all down town. Cooper cleans up but AAC flops over the top and Italy shoot for goal in front 6-6 mat half time.
Australia have played the most rugby this half but the Italians have taken their chances to draw the match. Their scrum is looking better but can they keep it up for another 40.
Second Half
40 to 45 minutes
No changes at half time. First line-out 5 metres in Oz half. Italy wins a bash the Oz line to no effect they kick through for an Australian lineout. Australia try to attack but don’t look at their best.Enterprising play from our backs but no joy. Italian line-out on their 22.
45 to 50 minutes
The Italian try a scrum but we are up to the task and win the second shove. I’m in old prop heaven here. Ant Faingaa off for James O’Connor. Italy are right in this contest . Iaone breaks through and Beale and Samo hve a 3 man support play fest to run into the Italian 22 The support play arrives and Alexander eventually drives over for the first try. O’Connor lines up the conversion but sprays it to the right.
50 to 55 minutes
11-6 Australia. Australia running again and the forwards are picking up their game. Australian Line-out 35 out. Patient build up unyil a wild pass is pushed into touch by the Italians. From the lineout Cooper draws the man to put AAC through the gap for a try. 16-6 with the kick to come. Converted. 18-6
55 to 60 minutes
When i get excited i forget to type. The Australians support play has arrived. O’Connor gets an inside pass from Cooper to go over. And he converts. 25-6
60 to 65 minutes
McCalman on for Pocock and Simmons on for Vickerman. Burgess on for Genia and Polota-Nau on for Moore. For Italy Luke McClean is on for sorry missed it. Burgess skews his first scrum feed. The Italians ask for a scrum and get a penalty which they kick. you wonder why they didn;t kick the first one. scrappy play from all for a few minutes. moving up and down the field with nothing really happening
65 to 70 minutes
Slipper on for Alexander. Slipper holds his own in the scrum. Samo dishes to Burgess, who gives it to Cooper running straight at the scrum but he in turn hits Ioane who runs through he Italian back line to score beside the posts. It’s converted for a 32-6 score line. Parisee breaks through after the kick off but the Aussies scramble in defence. Until the Italian winger gives a penalty for not releasing the ball. Higginbotham on for Elsom.
70 to 75 minutes
A hand in a ruck gets Australia an attacking line-out 5 out from the line. But the Italians steal it and box kick up field. Knock on Australian scrum. Again the Scrum looks good. Ioane looks good on the crash ball but the movement breaks down at the next ruck. Castrogeovani replaced. and TPN cut so Moore back on. The Italians are still trying everything they can. 5 metre line-out. They drive the line-out but we pull down the mall. and are penalised. The call for the 5 metre scrum.
75 to 80 minutes
The Beautiful Italian scrum drives through us and gets to the line before the ball pops out and Higginbotham flops on it and the Australians hack the ball down field. Samo left foot kick! TPN back on. Old man Samo still full of running in 78th minute. And that’s the game. Australia win 32-6.
Score
Wallabies
Tries:Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley Cooper, James O’Connor, Digby Ioane
Conversions:James O’Connor 3/4
Penalties:Quade Cooper 2/3, James O’Connor 2/3
Drop Goals:
Italy
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties:Marco Bergamasco2/3
Drop Goals:
Crowd:?
