The Wallabies have held on for a less than inspiring 22-19 win over Italy in Florence overnight.
In a match that really was a game of two halves, the Wallabies looked great in the first 40 to be leading 22-6 at the break before a combination of poor second half on their part and a fired up Italian performance saw the game go right down to the wire.
The Italians opened the scoring with a penalty goal from in front to Luciano Orquera when Timani cleaned out at the ruck incorrectly after the Wallabies turned the ball over.
The Wallabies were able to respond immediately with a long-range penalty to Berrick Barnes, settling the early nerves.
The Italians were muscling up in defence and some big hits were being put on, with Wycliff Palu and Kurtley Beale recipents of some tough defence.
Both teams were struggling under referee Lourens van Der Merwe’s calls at scrum time, in what was only his third Test, and he started giving free kicks for slow feeds. In addition, some niggle was starting to set in with both sets of forwards trying to assert their dominance. At scrum time the Wallabies struggled at times against a fired up Italian pack.
Berrick Barnes added another penalty goal in the 15th minute to put the Wallabies up by 3 and keep the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors.
The Wallabies’ pressure on Italy led to the ‘badass Honey Badger’ Nick Cummins scoring a try down the right wing after quick hands through the backline. Barnes added the extras to extend the Wallabies’ lead to ten.
The forwards battle continued and Wallabies’ flanker Michael Hooper was putting his hand up for Man of the Match honours early with some great play on at least two occasions.
The next score for the Wallabies occured while the satellite feed from Florence was interrupted so I can’t say how far out Barnes was when he kicked it. I hope it was 50 metres or so.
The Italians weren’t doing themselves any favours with dropped balls and that was compounded by a yellow card given to their number 7 Robert Barbieri for slapping the ball down at the ruck.
Barnes was struggling with a groin injury so Kurtley Beale stepped up and added his second penalty goal of the afternoon to make the score 22-3 after just 30 minutes.
Not long afterwards, starting halfback Brett Sheehan’s match came to a premature end with a nasty ankle injury suffered making a tackle. Nick Phipps came on to replace him.
Italy then had their best chance to add more points but had to settle for another penalty goal to their fly-half Orquera.
Towards the end of the half the Wallabies had another injury concern with prop Benn Robinson leaving the field for a check on a possible concussion. James Slipper took his place.
The Italians then wasted their best chance of scoring when their fullback Andrea Masi inexplicably grubbered the ball dead after being put through a hole with the tryline beckoning, leaving the score at 22-6 at half time.
The second half was very much a different game and the Wallabies got off to a disastrous start with a dropped ball from Timani being toed ahead by the Italians and after what appeared to be a knock-on in the process of regathering, Italy were awarded the try to Barbieri from the TMO, who must have been watching some other vision.
Orquera added the conversion and the Azzuri were on the charge as they dominated the opening exchanges of the second half. More pressure inside the Wallabies’ 22 saw another penalty to Orquera to leave the Wallabies nervous as the lead was reduced to six points.
That lead was again shortened to just three points after another Orquera penalty that had seen the Italians score their 13th point in just 15 minutes of the second half.
The pressure appeared to be getting to the Wallabies (Timani especially) with some poor decisions in key areas putting them on the back foot when they needed composure.
The Wallabies seemed to always be on the back foot when they managed to get their hands on the ball and could only kick it back to the Italians and give them great field position, which luckily for the Aussies they couldn’t convert into more points.
Digby Ioane made a very brief cameo but found himself in the sin bin for tackling an Italian player in the air and could find himself out of the game for anywhere between one week and two years, based on previous history and the IRB judiciary system.
As the clock wound down it looked like Italy could snatch a draw or even the win with the extra man advantage and they had a chance to draw in the dying minutes but Orquera’s penalty shot sailed just wide and the Wallabies somehow held on for a 22-19 win.
History will show a win for the Wallabies but the second half will need a thorough review. Nothing should be taken away from the showing Italy put up in the second half.
Wallabies 22 – Cummins try; Barnes con, 3 pens, Beale 2 pens def Italy 19 – Barbieri try; Orquera con, 4 pens
