6 hours ago
3
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has taken lessons from Australia’s one-point defeat against Italy three years ago and spoken to former coach Dave Rennie, who ultimately lost his job over the result.
In the team’s 2022 spring tour stop in Florence, Rennie named a Wallabies team with 12 changes to the starting side to face Italy. That included a debut for Mark Nawaqanitawase.
They then became the first Wallabies to lose against Italy. After losing 25-7 to England at Twickenham on Saturday, the Wallabies will this weekend face Italy for the first time since that dark day for Australian rugby.
The Wallabies will fly from London to Venice early on Sunday morning, before making their way to Udine, where they will take on the Azzurri next Saturday.
Last year, Italy lost to England by three points and drew with France. This year, they lost by five points to Ireland and beat Wales for a second successive year.
“We are mindful of what happened last time we went to Italy, I am because I’ve looked back at that game and I caught up with Dave Rennie in Japan, and we discussed it briefly,” Schmidt said.
The Wallabies after losing to Italy in Florence two years agoCredit: Getty
“All we can affect now is how well we prepare to go into that game and be as competitive and get the performance that’s more accurate than what we feel we put out tonight [against England].”
The Test against Italy looms as a significant date under Schmidt’s tenure, as a loss would make it difficult for the Wallabies to earn a vital top-six ranking ahead of the World Cup draw held in December. The Wallabies are now seventh in the world, immediately behind Argentina.
Schmidt acknowledged the risk of not finishing the Spring tour in the top six, but said that he is confident the team can challenge anyone with a full squad at his disposal. On that note, Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau, and James O’Connor are in contention to return for next Saturday’s match.
“If we don’t get to six in the world, all we’ve got to do is just keep building because you can still be a great chance and not be six in the world, but that would be the ideal for us,” Schmidt said.
“But we’ve got to be able to build over the next two years and not be afraid of playing one of the big guns.
“I think having had some big wins this season so far, I think we’ve demonstrated ability with a full squad that we can knock teams over, and we’ve got to build the depth in behind that squad, so this tour is really part of that.
“Italy will be very tough, they were one score away from England at half-time last time they played them, they are a good side, and they are coached by a good friend of mine in Gonzalo Quesada, and I know that Gonzalo is a very good coach.”
Loading
Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon started in the 2022 defeat and understands the threat Italy provides. They will be led by Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo and Louis Lynagh, the son of Australian legend Michael.
Gordon believes that the Wallabies’ ability to rebound from a disappointing performance against England will be vital if they are to avoid a second successive loss against Italy.
“One thing we’ve done really well this year is we’ve had some losses where we’ve been really disappointed, and we’ve bounced back really well,” Gordon said.
Most Viewed in Sport
Loading
