Wallabies wary of Italian tricks
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he is expecting surprises from unpredictable Italy in Saturday’s Test in Brisbane as the hosts grope for form after last week’s surprise loss to Scotland.
Italy’s canny Irish coach Conor O’Shea has already flummoxed rugby heavyweights England and South Africa over the past 12 months with what has euphemistically been called “creative” rugby.
The Italians upset the Springboks 20-18 in Florence last November, but it was the “offside trap” tactic that bedevilled England and led coach Eddie Jones to wail: “If that’s rugby, I’m going to retire. That’s not rugby.”
England went on to beat Italy 36-15 to stay on course for backto-back Six Nations Grand Slams last February, but the result was overshadowed by the debate about their tactics.
The perennial Six Nations underdogs led England 10-5 at halftime after repeatedly refusing to commit anyone other than the tackler to the breakdown, meaning no ruck was formed.
Cheika said the Wallabies would be prepared for anything Italy throw at them this weekend.
“They’ve got a track record of doing that and we’ve discussed those opportunities that could occur in the game and how we deal with them,” he said.
The Wallabies have yet to lose in 16 encounters with Italy, but are coming off the much-criticised 24-19 loss to Scotland in Sydney last weekend which prompted six team changes.
The Azzurri promise to be awkward opponents.
“We are a team that likes to come up with surprises and cause confusion,” Italian lock Andries van Schalkwyk said.
Stephen Moore returns to captain the Wallabies in his 120th Test, surpassing Italian Martin Castrogiovanni and Englishman Jason Leonard to become the 10th most-capped international player.
Cheika made three other changes in the forward pack, with ACT Brumbies pair, prop Scott Sio and lock Rory Arnold, joined by Lopeti Timani at No 8 in place of rookie prop Tom Robertson, lock Sam Carter and No 8 Scott Higginbotham.
O’Shea has made three changes, bringing in scrum-half Tito Tebaldi to the starting side for the first time in three years,
with van Schalkwyk at No 8 and Marco Lazzaroni in line for a debut off the bench.
TEAMS (15-1):
Australia - Israel Folau; Dane HaylettPetty, Rob Horne, Karmichael Hunt, Sefa Naivalu; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Lopeti Timani, Michael Hooper, Ned Hanigan; Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold; Allan Alaalatoa, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Toby Smith, Sekope Kepu, Sam Carter, Jack Dempsey, Joe Powell, Quade Cooper, Reece Hodge
Italy - Edoardo Padovani; Angelo Esposito, Michele Campagnaro, Tommaso Boni, Giovambattista Venditti; Tommaso Allan, Tito Tebaldi; Andries van Schalkwyk, Maxime Mbanda, Francesco Minto (capt); Dean Budd, Marco Fuser; Simone Ferrari, Luca Bigi, Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: Ornel Gega, Federico Zani, Pietro Ceccarelli, Marco Lazzaroni, Abraham Steyn, Edoardo Gori, Carlo Canna, Tommaso Benvenuti
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng). AFP