Wallabies ready for New Zealand after fighting off Italy 40-27
Second string Ireland brush aside Japanese challenge to finish with perfect record on their three-game tour
Coach Michael Cheika said Australia were improving and would be ready to take on New Zealand in the Rugby Championship after fighting off Italy 40-27 yesterday. Ireland overpowered Japan 35-13 to finish with a perfect record on their three-game summer tour.
Late tries to Bernard Foley and Reece Hodge staved off the threat of a second shock defeat following last week’s loss to Scotland, after Italy had narrowed the scores to 28-27 with 10 minutes left. The nature of the win will do little to ease the pressure on the hosts, who were criticised ruthlessly both by media and supporters following the 24-19 defeat to Scotland.
Australia’s next game is against New Zealand on August 19, but Cheika was upbeat about their chances against the world champions.
“We know there’s a lot of things we need to do, but we’ve got to just go for the critical few that we can achieve over the next block of time,” Cheika said.
“From there we have to get ourselves a strategy that we can compete against them.
“We’ll know a bit more after we watch them play the threematch series against the (British and Irish) Lions.”
Italy, the Six Nations wooden-spooners, came into the match after consecutive losses to Scotland and Fiji and without a win against Australia in their 16 previous meetings.
“There is a mentality (in the team) that if we work hard and make changes and we get the support we need, we will become a competitive country again,” said visiting coach Conor O’Shea.