Italy stun Australia in Florence

Italy held on to claim their first victory over the Wallabies, claiming a 28-27 victory in Florence.

The hosts were impressive throughout the duration of the match, with dynamic fullback Ange Capuozzo crossing for a double as they led from the start, and held on as a late conversion attempt from Ben Donaldson sailed wide. The visitors fought their way back from a 14-point deficit in the first half, with tries to Tom Robertson and Cadeyrn Neville in the second half bringing the deficit back to one point and giving debutant Donaldson an opportunity to win it.

Noah Lolesio evened the scores with his own penalty kick, but Jake Gordon’s 15^th-minute yellow card for a late tackle on Monty Ioane gave the Italians an opportunity to strike. Italy capitalised, with Pierre Bruno tip-toeing down the sideline to score the first try of the match, then Ange Capuozzo scored his first try on the end of a great backline move, establishing the largest lead of the match at 17-3 as the Wallabies struggled with discipline.

Tom Wright got the Wallabies back into it with an athletic finish in the corner on the end of Noah Lolesio’s looping cut-out pass, with the margin narrowed to 17-8 at the half-time break. The Australians continued their fightback to start the second half, with Fraser McReight burrowing over the line to score – Lolesio’s conversion reduced the home side’s lead to two.

The Wallabies struggled to convert their chances, gifting penalties and turning the ball over when in strong attacking positions as they struggled with their accuracy and execution. Allan’s inability to convert penalty kicks was the only thing that kept the home side from pulling away.

Italy would pull clear again late in the match – some silky hands seeing Capuozzo steaming on to a ball out wide and swan-diving over the try line for his second as the hosts' confidence grew. With the margin at ten points, the Wallabies responded almost immediately, with Darcy Swain forcing a turnover at the base of the ruck, and Taniela Tupou making a break that ultimately saw Tom Robertson slide over in the corner – Lolesio’s wide conversion reduced the lead to three points.

Edoardo Padovani extended the lead to six points after yet another penalty kick. From there, the men in gold applied huge pressure, and replacement Cadeyrn Neville charged through contact to score on the left side of the field, setting up the opportunity for the debutant Ben Donaldson to shoot for the win. His kick ultimately faded to the right, as a jubilant Italy team celebrated their breakthrough victory.

WALLABIES 27 (Wright, McReight, Robertson, Neville tries; Lolesio 2 conversions; Lolesio pen goal) defeated by ITALY 28 (Bruno, Capuozzo 2 tries; Allan 2 conversions; Allan 2, Padovani pen goals)