Match Details

Qantas Wallabies

VS

Italy

34

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Kick off times: 8:00pm (Local) Sat 20 Jun 8:00pm (AEDT) Sat 20 Jun

12

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The Qantas Wallabies scored two late tries to complete a hard-earned 34-12 victory over a committed Italian team in Melbourne tonight in front of an appreciative crowd of 20,280.The Men of Gold, who scored five tries to nil, earlier led 20-6 at half time.

The Wallabies took the field at Etihad Stadium with the roof closed and the much changed line up from last week in Canberra boasting one new cap in Wallaby No.834, Pek Cowan.

Australia won the toss and Berrick Barnes kicked off. Soon after James O’Connor proved he was human in the opening minutes by dropping a straight forward kick from Italian scrumhalf Tito Tebaldi.

Italy looked dangerous from the ensuing scrum with winger Giulio Rubini slicing through from a neat popped pass from Craig Gower.

O’Connor cleared soon after but the Australians were caught offside and Italian-Australian fullback Luke McLean was presented with a regulation penalty from straight in front. Townsville-born McLean made no mistake to put the Azzurri up 3-0 after the same number of minutes.

Adam Ashley-Cooper then got an early chance to get into the game with Peter Hynes going to the blood bin.

With Tebaldi looking lively Italy were on the attack soon after but a knock on saw Australia pick up a scrum and soon after a penalty.

From the resulting lineout Australia attacked impressively working their way through a number of phases before a knock on in the Italian 22 brought the movement to a premature end.

But the Wallabies were in soon after. A Lachie Turner bomb was spilled by Italy and re-gathered by the Men of Gold who surged downfield. From the ensuing ruck scrumhalf Luke Burgess cut through before good work by tighthead prop Ben Alexander saw a long pass from Quade Cooper go into the arms of Turner now on the right wing.

The Waratahs winger was stopped just short but team mate Tatafu Polota-Nau was on hand in support to crash over for his first Test try in his 12^th Test. O’Connor missed the conversion but the Wallabies were up 5-0.

The Wallabies mid-field kicks were causing the Italians problems and a chip from O’Connor and then a bomb from Hynes, who came back from the blood-bin on 15 minutes, caused havoc with the defence.

From Hynes bomb the ball bounced back to the Wallabies and Alexander made a powerful burst in to the Italian 22 before once again committed Azzurri defence stopped the Men of Gold.

Ashley-Cooper returned in the 22-minutes, again for Hynes, who was back in the blood bin.

Another kick went wrong for Italy soon after with Wallabies captain for the day George Smith charging down a Tebaldi kick.

Tebaldi recovered but was penalized for holding on giving O’Connor the chance to extend the lead. This time the 18-year-old made no mistake raising the flags from wide out on the 22. Wallabies up 8-3 after 24 minutes.

O’Connor turned provider soon after from yet another kick that went wrong for Italy.

A midfield bomb from the Azzurri was almost re-gathered but the ball bobbled up into the arms of Ryan Cross who charged down field before being brought down in the Italian 22. The Azzurri held on but from the ensuing ruck the ball popped up to O’Connor who found Cross now backing up inside and the David-esque Western Force centre went over untouched.

O’Connor converted and the Wallabies were well clear at 15-3 after 26 minutes.

McLean had the chance to bring Italy back to nine points soon after but missed with a long range shot from out on the right touchline, 40 metres out. But McLean was successful a minute later from a similar distance, the angle a little sharper, to bring Italy back to 15-6 on 31 minutes.

Lock Dean Mumm then broke through on a powerful forty metre surge but with Gower starting to find his feet in Test Rugby the Italians were on the attack soon after.

It led to a penalty after Italian captain and No.8 Sergio Parisse was taken out after a chip ahead but McLean hit the upright with the goalable opportunity.

And the Wallabies made the Azzurri pay with another five pointer soon after.

Quick hands along the Men of Gold backline saw Turner in space on the right wing. The blonde Waratah outpaced the Italian cover before being dragged down again just metres out. But once more he managed to pop the ball up to a supporting player – this time Ashley-Cooper – who dove over.

O’Connor missed the conversion but at half-time the Wallabies had made the most of their opportunities to lead 20-3.

Hynes returned once more from the blood bin at the start of the second half.

Italy drew closer with another penalty to McLean five minutes into the second period.

The Azzurri looked enterprising as they built into the second half with Gower looking dangerous without managing to cross the Wallabies line.

The kicking nemesis looked to have defeated them again when George Smith charged down a Gower chip to once again have Italy camped deep in their territory. Good work at the breakdown again from Italy stopped the Wallabies. Certainly this was a more competitive Azzurri than in Canberra.

Italy defended well soon after, repelling multiple raids initiated by Reds flyhalf Berrick Barnes. The Wallabies showed Italy a measure of respect when they were awarded a penalty from an ensuing ruck and opted for a kick at goal.

With O’Connor down receiving treatment Barnes himself went for goal, missing the chance from adjacent to the posts.

Italy had another penalty on 63 minutes and McLean made no mistake from straight in front 40 metres out with the Azzurri well in the game at 20-12.

At the 67^th minute Robbie Deans finally went to the bench bringing Tahs captain and flanker Phil Waugh on for Peter Kimlin.

Three minutes later the stubborn Italian resistance was finally breached with a moment of individual brilliance from Quade Cooper, just as he did in Padova against the Italians late last year.

Caught on the Italian 22 by two Azzurri defenders Cooper somehow managed to get an arm free and slip an inside pass to Turner who swerved around McLean to go under the posts. O’Connor converted and the young Wallabies were up 27-12.

Josh Valentine came on for Burgess, his first Test appearance since 2006, and Ashley-Cooper returned again - this time for O’Connor.

And it was the Brumbies utility who split the Italy defence a minute later, charging on to another Cooper pass and pushing off one Italian defender before running thirty metres to score under the posts.

The floodgates threatened to open in the final minutes but desperate Italian defence somehow kept their line intact.

The Wallabies now move on to Sydney where they face a full strength French line up at the ANZ Stadium next Saturday in what shapes up as a thrilling Test match.

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Full Time Score

Qantas Wallabies 34 (Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ryan Cross, Adam Ashley-Cooper 2, Lachie Turner tries, James O'Connor penalty, 2 conversions, Berrick Barnes conversion) defeatedItaly 12 (Luke McLean 4 penlties) at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. (Half time: Wallabies 20 - Italy 6). (Crowd: 20,280)