Rugby 2022: Italy record historic rugby Test win over Australia after hideous selection blunder

It will rank as one of the most reckless selection gambles of all time, with Dave Rennie’s Wallabies stumbling to one of their most embarrassing and deflating defeats.

Tate McDermott of Australia holds his head in his hands at the end of the Autumn International match between Italy and Australia at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Picture: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Dave Rennie may just have two matches left to save his job as Wallabies’ coach.

The last of Raelene Castle’s thanks-for-nothing appointments before she was shown the door, Rennie should have been sacked already after overseeing three years of disastrous results.

He has only survived because Rugby Australia’s inept leaders seem more preoccupied with virtue-signalling than making the tough calls to spare the Wallabies from further shame.

But now the time to act has arrived.

Sunday morning’s humiliating 28-27 loss to European easybeats Italy was the last straw because it has turned the Wallabies into a laughing stock.

Tate McDermott holds his head in his hands at the end Australia’s disappointing loss to Italy. Picture: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

For the Italians, beating the Wallabies is a historic achievement to savour, but heads will have to roll within Australian rugby because this ranks as one of the most embarrassing and deflating defeats ever for the men in gold.

Italy is not some global rugby power or sleeping giant that can match it with the big boys. For next year’s World Cup, bookmakers currently have them listed at odds of $501, sharing the same betting lines as Namibia, Chile and Romania.

The reality is the Italians are a pushover for any international team that has a clue about what they’re doing, which partly explains why Rennie thought he could pick a second-string line-up and get away with a win.

But the New Zealander has shown previously he’s a lousy selector and oblivious to reading the room and so this has backfired badly.

Hunter Paisami is stopped in his tracks. Picture: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Wallabies supporters are a faithful bunch but they’ve seen this charade before and they’re not buying it. They are furious at what‘s happened to their beloved team and want someone to pay — either Rennie or the woke administrators too afraid to pull the trigger.

At best, Rennie’s selections against Italy were a reckless gamble that ignored the obvious threats. At worst, they smelled of arrogance, and cheapened the Wallabies jersey.

Either way, Rennie got it badly wrong.

His toadies will argue he’s still building depth for 2023, but that’s a cop out because everyone knows the Wallabies don’t have a lot of star players at their disposal so he’s just wasting precious time experimenting with line-ups that will never work.

Now, he’s the one running out of time.

Although Rugby Australia has publicly assured Rennie he’s safe through to the end of next year’s World Cup in France, his woeful record has set off the rumour mill and led to a rethink.

Australia's fly-half Ben Donaldson show his despair after missing a decisive penalty. Picture: AFP

Sources said his position will be reviewed after Australia’s two remaining matches in Europe — against Ireland and Wales.

Winning both matches should save him but two losses — and more selection blunders — will pile on the pressure.

On paper the Wallabies will start as underdogs in both those matches after dropping back to ninth in the world rankings, just ahead of Japan, with Rennie facing the ignominy of creating more unwanted history.

It’s already well known the Kiwi has the lowest winning strike rate of any Wallabies’ coach in over half a century — with his 12 wins from 32 matches representing a pitiful 37.5% success rate.

But what’s less known is that he’s now on course to become the first international coach to lose Tests against every team in both the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship.

During Rennie’s three years in charge, the Wallabies have been beaten by New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, France, England, Scotland, Wales and now Italy.

Only Ireland — currently ranked No. 1 in the world — remain and they play each other next weekend so the stakes are high.

Australian rugby just hit a new low

Italy stunned Australia with a 28-27 win in the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday, their first ever win over the Wallabies and a landmark win against one of rugby’s heavy hitters.

Ange Capuozzo dotted down twice and Pierre Bruno scored the Azzurri’s other try on a remarkable day for Kieran Crowley’s side in Florence, with Tommaso Allan and Edoardo Padovani kicking the remaining 13 points between them.

Italy’s joyous players did a lap of the Stadio Artemio Franchi after winning the fifth of their last six Test matches and although Australia changed almost the entire team which lost narrowly to France in Paris last weekend, Saturday’s victory is still a major triumph.

Italy's prop Simone Ferrari (R) and Italy's players celebrate at the end of theTest. Picture: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

They did it after incredible last-gasp drama, Ben Donaldson’s missed conversion from Cadeyrn Neville add-time try leaving Italy with a famous win in front of an incredulous 20,000 crowd.

“It’s an incredible win, there are no words that can describe it,” said hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi to Sky.

“We were ready from the first minute and we went out onto the field with the right spirit. We defended and attacked brilliantly.” It was also a win obtained without Italy’s star man, Montpellier fly-half Paolo Garbisi, ruled out with a hip injury the morning of the match.

Australia scored their other two tries through Tom Wright and Fraser McReight either side of halftime but fell to their second defeat of their three Autumn Tests so far.

Italy face South Africa in Genoa in their final match of the year next weekend and Lucchesi sad there were “no limits” to what they could achieve.

Tom Wright scored a beauty. Picture: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Italy showed defensive solidity in the opening stages, forcing Australia to kick an equalising penalty in the sixth minute after holding off intense pressure.

And after piling into the Aussies with a succession of lineouts the Italians scored the first try of the match, Bruno touching down in the corner in the 19th minute.

Australia were rocked as the volume inside the Franchi was turned up, and nine minutes later the hosts had a barely-believable 17-3 lead with a fabulously taken, and converted, try after Lucchesi recovered possession.

Capuozzo was most famous for his role in the Six Nations winner in Cardiff back in March, but his score on Saturday was possibly even better, the France born full-back finishing off a quick-fire passing move with a slinky-hipped dummy before crossing the line.

Tom Robertson of Australia runs in a try as Tommaso Allan and Toa Halafihi of Italy attempt to tackle him. Picture: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Australia closed the gap to nine points almost straight away through Tom Wright, who strolled into the corner after collecting Noah Lolesio’s defence-splitting pass.

That gap was reduced to two almost immediately after halftime when McReight broke down resilient Italy defending by forcing himself over the line for their first converted try.

Capuozzo had Italy dreaming of a famous win when he added his second excellent try of the day in the 64th minute.

But the hosts then handed Australia the chance to move back to three points with a poor error from Lorenzo Cannone which allowed Tom Robertson to slide into the corner and Lolesio to convert.

Allan’s replacement Edoardo Padovani kicked the last points of the day with five minutes remaining and that penalty proved to be crucial, as after Neville crossed the line Robertson had to make his conversion but shot wide to the delight of the home crowd.

Originally published as Rugby 2022: Italy record historic rugby Test win over Australia after hideous selection blunder