Huge

Nice. Australia need to stop employing part time coaches.

Is this the first Italy win over Aussie?

Second

In Florence

A massive blow to Australia's chances of being seeded in the top six in their own World Cup.

Wallabies just never looked desperate to me. They look like a team who thinks just doing what you do on training field is enough? Trouble is in a game you have desperate fellas against you.

The capitulation of the Wallabies since their win over SA has been almost as bad as under Eddie Jones. They have lost 9 tests this year and easily could have lost to both Fiji and Japan as well. Schmidt is probably lucky that he has already resigned to be honest .

@Stag said in Italy v Australia:

The capitulation of the Wallabies since their win over SA has been almost as bad as under Eddie Jones. They have lost 9 tests this year and easily could have lost to both Fiji and Japan as well. Schmidt is probably lucky that he has already resigned to be honest .

And that win was because SA were treating the match as a training run. Gave the aussies a false sense of confidence

schmidt’s winning percentage with the wallabies is 38%. By comparison deans was 58%.

@sparky said in Italy v Australia:

A massive blow to Australia's chances of being seeded in the top six in their own World Cup.

Funny thing is because it their home WC, they always end up in pool A, so no disadvantage ending up outside the top 6 anyway.

Losing Ikitau and Wright plus the non selection of Skelton are reasons why the Wallabies aren't firing. Lack of depth.

@cgrant said in Italy v Australia:

Losing Ikitau and Wright plus the non selection of Skelton are reasons why the Wallabies aren't firing. Lack of depth.

Ahh, the old “it’s the cattle” problem.

Some of the tactics tonight were poor, especially against a team that loves to play the width.

The Carter try highlights the problem with the over reliance on the TMO. The more replays they watch, the more they convince themselves that the Italian player was the last to touch the ball and therefore ignore that Wilson actually lost it. Not a fan of that sort of thing

What was Suaalii's YC for? It looks to have been costly (14 pts).

@Bovidae said in Italy v Australia:

What was Suaalii's YC for? It looks to have been costly (14 pts).

High tackle in the red zone. Italy scored from the ensuing play whilst he was still on.

It's a knock on. Why is anyone debating?

Anyway, Tier 2 status secured.

Suaalii needs to lower his body height. Several times this year, particularly from behind, he's gone over the shoulder

@Bovidae said in Italy v Australia:

What was Suaalii's YC for? It looks to have been costly (14 pts).

The YC was technically awarded after the first try as it happened in the lead up.

So while he was off they scored 7

@cgrant said in Italy v Australia:

Losing Ikitau and Wright plus the non selection of Skelton are reasons why the Wallabies aren't firing. Lack of depth.

Can't agree.

While they're excellent players, we've got 4 fucking professional teams to pick from and we can't get anyone capable?

I've only watched highlights but the usual issues appear to be there: defensive alignment, fitness, and cohesion.

These guys aren't battle-hardened. That's why we aren't getting results, only injuries

@Dan54 said in Italy v Australia:

@sparky said in Italy v Australia:

A massive blow to Australia's chances of being seeded in the top six in their own World Cup.

Funny thing is because it their home WC, they always end up in pool A, so n0 disadvantage ending up outside the top 6 anyway.

They end up in Pool A but that doesn't mean they'll be top seeds in their pool. They'll be second seeds, so they'll still have a top team alongside them.

@Mr-Fish said in Italy v Australia:

@Dan54 said in Italy v Australia:

@sparky said in Italy v Australia:

A massive blow to Australia's chances of being seeded in the top six in their own World Cup.

Funny thing is because it their home WC, they always end up in pool A, so n0 disadvantage ending up outside the top 6 anyway.

They end up in Pool A but that doesn't mean they'll be top seeds in their pool. They'll be second seeds, so they'll still have a top team alongside them.

Yep mate what I meant was even if they get second in their pool, the second place getter in pool A and C get easier draw for round of 16. Saw it explained somewhere, can't remember the show.

@NTA said in Italy v Australia:

@cgrant said in Italy v Australia:

Losing Ikitau and Wright plus the non selection of Skelton are reasons why the Wallabies aren't firing. Lack of depth.

Can't agree.

While they're excellent players, we've got 4 fucking professional teams to pick from and we can't get anyone capable?

I've only watched highlights but the usual issues appear to be there: defensive alignment, fitness, and cohesion.

These guys aren't battle-hardened. That's why we aren't getting results, only injuries

Played a Lions series and Rugby Championship - and Super rugby, where almost every game was a dogfight to qualify - might be running out of steam.

@Chris-B given we're in the second rank now for RWC qualification, might as well give some blokes a rest.

At this rate we will be lucky to get knocked out in the QFs. Of our own RWC.

@NTA said in Italy v Australia:

@Chris-B given we're in the second rank now for RWC qualification, might as well give some blokes a rest.

At this rate we will be lucky to get knocked out in the QFs. Of our own RWC.

Won't be the first

And we'll be happy to contribute. Fail to believe we won't be in the same group. Again.

@Chris-B said in Italy v Australia:

@NTA said in Italy v Australia:

@cgrant said in Italy v Australia:

Losing Ikitau and Wright plus the non selection of Skelton are reasons why the Wallabies aren't firing. Lack of depth.

Can't agree.

While they're excellent players, we've got 4 fucking professional teams to pick from and we can't get anyone capable?

I've only watched highlights but the usual issues appear to be there: defensive alignment, fitness, and cohesion.

These guys aren't battle-hardened. That's why we aren't getting results, only injuries

Played a Lions series and Rugby Championship - and Super rugby, where almost every game was a dogfight to qualify - might be running out of steam.

I think so. It's been a hard year fixture wise for them.

What was Andrew Brace thinking?

Rugby needs to get its act together.....sharpish.