Aussies reeling after shock loss to Azzurri
ITALY registered a historic first win over Australia after stunning the Wallabies 28-27 in Florence yesterday. Two tries from full-back Ange Capuozzo set up the victory, with a muchchanged Australia unable to deny them right at the death as debutant Ben Donaldson’s conversion attempt whistled past the post.
It was Italy’s maiden triumph in 19 meetings with Australia and leaves them with two wins from two in the Autumn Nations Series following their success over Samoa.
However, the loss is a concern for the Wallabies, who have suffered back-to-back defeats after also being edged out by one point against France in Paris last weekend, and now face Ireland in Dublin.
Australia trailed 17-3 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi after Pierre Bruno and Capuozzo both touched down for the Azzurri, but Tom Wright pulled one back to reduce
It was the Italian team’s maiden triumph in 19 meetings with Australia
Italy’s advantage to 17-8 at the break.
Fraser McReight scored four minutes after the break to help cut the gap further, but Capuozzo soon went over for his second try of the game after bursting through the Australian defence and touching down in the right corner.
Tom Robertson soon added a third try for the Wallabies to give them a lifeline and Cadeyrn Neville crossed at the end of the match, but Donaldson was unable to convert as Italy held on for a famous win.
Meanwhile, Eddie Jones declared England are ready to take on New Zealand after Japan were swept aside 52-13 to revive an autumn that had opened with a shock defeat by Argentina.
England plundered seven tries to warm-up for the main event of the month against the All Blacks with a heavily improved display.
A thumping semi-final victory over New Zealand at the 2019 World Cup is the highlight of Jones’ seven years in charge. ‘It’s an opportunity to play against one of the giants of world rugby. For an England player it’s a massive opportunity,’ the head coach said.
‘If you look at the history of the sport, the game’s been going for 150 years and England have won 19 per cent of their Tests against New Zealand.
‘If we go after them then they’re there for the taking – and we’re going to go after them.’
Wales put their Autumn Nations Series campaign back on track by beating Argentina 20-13 in an arm-wrestle of a Test match at the Principality Stadium.
Just seven days after shipping 55 points against New Zealand, Wales made a strong response as tries from number eight Taulupe Faletau and scrum-half Tomos Williams saw them home.
Argentina, recent conquerors of the All Blacks, England and Australia, were kept at bay by a defensive red wall as Michael Cheika’s men endured an evening to forget.
It was a welcome result for Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, who oversaw only a third win this year.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe kicked two conversions and a penalty, while Rhys Priestland added a second-half penalty.
Wing Emiliano Boffelli landed two penalties for the Pumas and prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro added a try that Boffelli converted, but they could not reproduce the intensity and organisation that saw them defeat England at Twickenham six days ago.
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie has told his team-mates to draw inspiration from the presence of Doddie Weir today as they bid to conquer New Zealand for the first time in their history.
The 52-year-old former Scotland international is expected to be at BT Murrayfield for the showdown with the All Blacks, five years on from his appearance at the same fixture just months after he revealed his motor neurone disease diagnosis.
The Scots will wear their purple away kit with the numbers on the back in the colour of Weir’s famous blue and yellow tartan to mark the five-year anniversary of his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which has now committed almost £8million to research projects.
‘It will be a proud day to lead the boys out for such a big game, especially with Doddie being there,’ said Ritchie.
‘I told them if they need any other motivation than to do it for him, then I don’t know what to say.’