Early scare: Wallabies
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Australia recovered from a 6-6 interval scoreline to eventually overcome Italy 32-6 in a four-try performance at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday.
The Golds had struggled to shake off the Azzurri until a second-half masterclass saw them pull away from Nick Mallett's passionate outfit.
Tries from Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor and Digby Ioane sealed matters when the rain and Italian resilience had abated.
Spectators could see that Martin Castrogiovanni and company were brimming ahead of kick-off when the heavens opened. And it proved to help their cause as Australia struggled to apply much pressure on Italy's line, with Mirco Bergamasco and Quade Cooper knocking over two penalties apiece in an intense opening 40 minutes.
But when O'Connor emerged from the sidelines for centre Anthony Faingaa, the Wallabies soon clicked into gear and ran away with the game.
Cooper and Bergamasco were guilty of missing early attempts at goal before the Wallabies playmaker found his range on sixteen minutes before doubling his side's lead on 31 minutes. Bergamasco made it 6-6 on the stroke of half-time after Wallaby indiscretions.
Upon the turnaround, a stolen line-out by veteran lock forward Dan Vickerman then led to wing Ioane finding a hole, which led to prop Alexander burrowing his way over the line.
Australia looked to have found their rhythm and their second score did not take long to arrive as, Ashley-Cooper hit a superb short line off Cooper's left shoulder to go in unopposed.
O'Connor, who was left on the bench in his comeback from suspension, knocked over the two points before converting his own try, with Cooper again the provider from close-range.
Ioane was again involved in Australia's third try when he took a ball from Cooper and went over from distance. O'Connor converted and the game was out of sight for the Italians.
Man of the match: A few years ago, this Italian pack would have been all over the Wallabies at scrum-time. But not anymore, Ben Alexander fully deserved his try and it was interesting to note that Italy's strongest scrummage came when Alexander had been replaced.
Moment of the match: Minute 47, enter James O'Connor. The game turned on its head from that point on and it would be wrong not to attribute that, in part, to O'Connor's arrival. He offered lines off Quade Cooper and looked keen to make up for his recent bad behaviour.
Villain of the match: Nothing shady to report.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Alexander, Ashley-Cooper, O'Connor, Ioane
Con: O'Connor 3
Pen: Cooper 2
For Italy:
Pen: Bergamasco 2
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 James O'Connor.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius Van Zyl, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Edoardo Gori, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Luke McLean.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland))
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Comments
7ton says...
Tri-nats
I don't think you really believe the SA refs are biased? I was annoyed as well when Aus were reduced to 13 as it ruined the game, took the excitement out of it and turned it into a foregone conclusion though I would guess the AB's probably may have still have won. However Mitchell was stupid to do what he done after already getting yellow carded rightly or wrongly earlier in the game.
Its no good moaning about all those penalties you mentioned if Aus infringe.
The AB's and McCaw get penalised plenty but the difference is they usually know when to draw the line.
The other problem is half the people shouting about cheating don't even know the rules. For instance they don't even understand that so long as the tackler has released the player and is on his feet he can then go for the ball from any direction before it becomes a ruck. Like any good loose forward that is what McCaw is good at but you get all these idiots bleating he is offside and getting away with murder.
That's certainly not to say the AB's are all perfect little angels but lets have a bit of balance and reality.
Anyhow rant over and it would be nice to see you in the final. Good Luck
Cheers
Posted 22:36 13th September 2011
Carpelone says...
@ Lucasrg
I thought that a penalty try could have been awarded to Italy because # 20 of Australia was not attached with his ledt arm to the scrum and he captured the loose ball.
Posted 11:18 13th September 2011
7ton says...
Tri-nats.
Trouble is you can't have more than 15 players on the field at the same time unless of course we go along with your theory that NZ have 16 with a S.African ref and Aus have 16 with a NH ref. Then again if your England against Samoa in 2003 you can have 16 Lol!
Posted 00:20 13th September 2011
Lucasrg says...
@ OKRUGBY
yeah, if games would only last 40 minutes then Italy could be in the top 5 teams in the world LOL!!!
@Carpelone
Also...what about the Italian's 5 meter scrum towards the end of the second half, Parisse didn't pick up the ball when it was only a yard away, but an unfortunate left kick fumbled the ball and missed such an opportunity to score 5. awww he was shocked by the missed opportunity.
About Orquera, to be honest he is doing more then I expected, yes he missed that tackle on Digby's charge but he did some good coverages. Definitely not enough, but over his expectancies.
Posted 22:53 12th September 2011
Gstarmayhem says...
Talking is all the wallabies are good at!! Their 'weapon' scrum didn't do anything they talked about, they held their on and that's about it. If Italy had backs they may have been more competitive. Still a contender but winning tests in a row..and away from home must still weigh heavily in their minds. Should make the semis but if they get England they will be in trouble in the forwards!
Posted 03:09 12th September 2011
OKRUGBY says...
Funny to read all of the comments of the wallaby scrum being encouraging for the other teams and how mauled they got in the 75th minute. Italy has one of the best if not the best scrum in world rugby, and the scrum contest was incredibly even all match long. One 5m scrum with an emptied bench in the 75th minute ahead by 26.....ooh, so encouraging for the rest of the tournament.
Very resilient opening account, they absorbed pressure well in the first half and unleashed the hounds in the second half. Italy are pure 10 man - no 9 man - rugby, and its good to see that type of game plan look competitive for 40 mins but get crushed on the scoreboard after 80. Very good to see.
BTW - How can anybody suggest that the ref was any good? Talk about ruining the spectacle, the penalty count on both sides was an embarrassment to the officials. Let the game be played for goodness sake....
Posted 22:34 11th September 2011
7ton says...
trinats
still bleating about the b team crap
Posted 20:36 11th September 2011
brands says...
are Aus still in the world cup? very average, Cooper was a clown yet again, back three were woefull, forwards would struggle against our local under 8s, ref handed them the game, terrible!!
Posted 20:24 11th September 2011
carpelone says...
On the Italian side, a good display which can be only improved with more game time.
Italy's main problem is to put points on the scoreboard, to reflect the amount of fine work the forwards do. Orquera is a liability on defense (see Ioane's break on Oz's first try). Bruynel may want to try McLean at flyhalf. The backline is not bad and, with Benvenuti, can strike from long range. Should Benvenuti not knock on a turnover ball in the second half, he would have put a five pointer between the post.
Posted 18:56 11th September 2011
Lucasrg says...
well done Aussies. I'm convinced they will get to the final and likely to win this RWC. I'm pretty happy about Italians showing some reall good intesity.
They got a chance against Irland, October the 3rd is my birthday..please win!!!
Posted 18:46 11th September 2011
carpelone says...
I repeat that this can be considered as a good start for Australia, with few 'buts'.
Italy is not match fit as Oz. In case they were, the mistakes which led to Oz tries could be avoided.
Genia was completely shut down by the Italians.
The scrum may have improved, however they struggled against the Italians today. One crucial penalty given away, the final whitewash which did not resut in a penalty try only because Rolland was on the other side.
Last but not least, the schedule. After Italy, they will play Ireland soon and they will be without any hard test before QF. The risk is to arrive undercooked.
The most important player for Oz is Ioane, he runs lethal inside lines and provides questions to the defence.
Posted 18:43 11th September 2011
Honestpom says...
If i was an Aussie i'd be very satisfied with today's game and result. Watching Italy every year in the six nations they can make things very awkward for the opposition and have a habit of making supposed far better teams play badly. 32-6 is a good start for the Wallabies in this World Cup.
Posted 15:47 11th September 2011
joyce1bro says...
Rossco74 says...
you call 6 all at half time cruise control!!!! baaahaha
Posted 14:59 11th September 2011
davodiablo says...
"Australia storm clear to beat Italians"
Thats the headline from stuffnz. Just for some balance.
Posted 11:39 11th September 2011
Rossco74 says...
Wobbly ?
Australia were on cruise control, hardly an "intense" first half
32 - 6 without raising a sweat is a pretty good result
Posted 10:42 11th September 2011
porridge_time says...
Looking forward to Italy putting out Ireland.
Posted 10:33 11th September 2011
melkdave says...
@trappa
Yes Italy have scored a flowing backs try .but they are rare lol
Posted 09:11 11th September 2011
carpelone says...
@ trappa
Ask Ireland, Scotland and France.
Benvenuti is somebody to watch out. Their problem is the distribution to the back line, not the backline itself.
Posted 09:07 11th September 2011
OldSchool says...
We'll take it, after a couple of weeks off. Scrum went well, rusty backs getting a decent run, no injuries. Very good platform to build from. Lots of involvement from the ref, too early to call however hopefully not a bad omen for the rest of the cup.
Posted 09:03 11th September 2011
rugby_phile says...
Mmmmmmmmmm. Win is a win but that scrum still looks a bit dodgy, time will tell. Still feel this is an amazingly open world cup and I didn't think Oz looked that flash. Please no excuses about the weather or ball or rubbish like that, this is spring in NZ and it will RAIN again and again!!!!
Just watching the Ireland / USA game, doesnt look OZ has much to beat, not sure this is necessarily good.
Posted 08:11 11th September 2011