Wallabies once again too strong for Italy
The Wallabies were once again too strong for Italy as they beat them 34-12 to win their two match series, following on from their 31-8 victory in Canberra last weekend.
Scoring five tries for the win, the hosts reached a 20-6 halftime lead, but needed another 30 minutes before rounding off the win with two late converted tries.
"We couldn't find our rhythm at times and that probably hurt us, especially after halftime where they are key minutes in games and we let them back into it through ill-discipline and poor direction," Berrick Barnes said.
"But overall it was a good finish to see us come through at the end."
Replacement Adam Ashley-Cooper scored twice, with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, center Ryan Cross, and Lachlan Turner all crossing for tries.
Hatrick hero from last week, James O’Connor, had a quieter match this week, finishing with two conversions and a penalty.
Coach Robbie Deans felt it was a good learning experience for some newer players, after he had fielded eight changes and three positional switches from last week.
"They had to work hard to create shape and we left them out there toiling away at it and they'll be much better for the experience," Deans said.
"You just can't replicate that sort of preparation in training, the reality is that when the adrenaline starts genuinely pumping your thought process doesn't get tested," he said.
Italy coach Nick Mallett said he was proud of his team's performance on a dry pitch.
"We were never going to win the game, but to stay in touch with 10 minutes to go I was really proud of the guys," Mallet said.
The Wallabies host France in Sydney next weekend, while Italy travel to New Zealand to take on the All Blacks.
We'll try get longer highlights up as soon as possible.
Scoring five tries for the win, the hosts reached a 20-6 halftime lead, but needed another 30 minutes before rounding off the win with two late converted tries.
"We couldn't find our rhythm at times and that probably hurt us, especially after halftime where they are key minutes in games and we let them back into it through ill-discipline and poor direction," Berrick Barnes said.
"But overall it was a good finish to see us come through at the end."
Replacement Adam Ashley-Cooper scored twice, with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, center Ryan Cross, and Lachlan Turner all crossing for tries.
Hatrick hero from last week, James O’Connor, had a quieter match this week, finishing with two conversions and a penalty.
Coach Robbie Deans felt it was a good learning experience for some newer players, after he had fielded eight changes and three positional switches from last week.
"They had to work hard to create shape and we left them out there toiling away at it and they'll be much better for the experience," Deans said.
"You just can't replicate that sort of preparation in training, the reality is that when the adrenaline starts genuinely pumping your thought process doesn't get tested," he said.
Italy coach Nick Mallett said he was proud of his team's performance on a dry pitch.
"We were never going to win the game, but to stay in touch with 10 minutes to go I was really proud of the guys," Mallet said.
The Wallabies host France in Sydney next weekend, while Italy travel to New Zealand to take on the All Blacks.
We'll try get longer highlights up as soon as possible.
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22 Comments:
yay italy!
i suppose i am first??
By Anonymous, at June 20, 2009 7:59 pm
WHY AREN'T ITALY SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT?!
its really dis-heartening for any italy fan to see their side lose again and again and again.
By rugbyazzuri, at June 20, 2009 8:09 pm
maybe italy should clone sergio parisse
By Anonymous, at June 20, 2009 8:11 pm
Coach Nick Mallet says that the player pool is so bad, that he has to look elsewhere, which is why we see guys like Luke Mclean, Craig Gower etc playing for them.
He says every single test match they play, it's a nightmare getting a strong side out there, and the young players simply arent coming through. It's a wonder that they do 'okay' in the six nations when you hear the way he speaks about it.
Hopefully in time, the sport will continue to grow there and more young players will come through.
By Shaft, at June 20, 2009 8:46 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
By Anonymous, at June 20, 2009 11:25 pm
Anonymous said...
"We'll try get longer highlights up as soon as possible."
LIES
Ungrateful prick, you don't deserve what you've got already.
Anyway, I watched this game and I don't think there are any more highlights. I understand Italy's problems but gee they are a very boring side to watch. Do they ever ever think of running the ball out of their own half even when they have a 3 on 1 situation?
Maybe Mallett's attitude of "We were never going to win the game" is part of the problem. When your win/loss ratio can hardly get worse why not chance your arm a little?
By danny, at June 21, 2009 4:33 am
i was there at the stadium, have to admit the wallabies were lackluster at times. i'm sure italy would be a much better team next time around.
sergio parisse = god among men.
btw, good job rugbydump.
By gorie, at June 21, 2009 5:53 am
Hey Gorie, I was at the ground too! were you also cheering the tiny ball boys? BTW, that's not a euphemism, the ball boys must have been about 6 years old...
Pretty boring game. Poor crowd attendance. I ended up having an extra ticket left over before the game, couldn't give it away :(
By granite, at June 21, 2009 8:19 am
watched the match and got pretty bored after a while!
i feel sorry for the italiens...its not great to see your team get mauled in every match and this isnt going to improve conditions in the team and at home for rugby!!
think they should be aloud enter the chruchill cup...i know its mainly A teams and Gorgia and Romaina but if italy win that it'll at least be a bit of silver ware!!
should try enter a club or 2 in H-Cup as well!!
By creggs08, at June 21, 2009 2:20 pm
Italy couldn't give a shit about rugby, like most of Europe.
By Anonymous, at June 21, 2009 6:11 pm
Creggs, Italy A just won against Romania 24-13...
By Anonymous, at June 21, 2009 9:26 pm
To anon above
sorry about that man didnt know italy A were in it lol!!
there most be something else to get Italy better so???
By creggs08, at June 21, 2009 11:01 pm
Anonymous said... Italy couldn't give a shit about rugby, like most of Europe.
So what! Italian rugby players give a shit about rugby, if you don't then see ya later.
By benny, at June 22, 2009 2:55 am
Italy were foolish. Aus fielded a weakened team for this one and instead of taking advantage Italy also fielded a weakened team. They also have injuries to some good players like Marcato and Masi.
Gower played well and Italy will be a handful in the next 6N.
By Anonymous, at June 22, 2009 3:42 am
This Italian team is better than any Italian team I've seen in the past.
They created far more dangerous attacking play then I've ever seen them do before, and it was largely due to gower's influence.
By Anonymous, at June 22, 2009 6:27 am
Well, at least Italy can say that they're better than the USA...as far as I know, we've only lost to Italy whenever we've played them.
...talk about disheartening - we can't even do well in the Churchill Cup.
By Elliot, at June 22, 2009 7:47 am
to Rygbyazzuri, what do you mean no improvement? dont you recall the last time they played in melborne (2004?) it was something like 66-12, with the italians beaten all over the field in every facet of the play. they have removed markedly over the past 5 years.
By henry, at June 22, 2009 8:28 am
I played rugby in parma last year, and the attitude to rugby is half hearted. Its not taken nowhere near as seriously as other countries, and is full of foreigners, very little native talent. To improve the F.I.R should spend more money on promoting rugby in schools.
regarding anonymous above, italy played against australia last year and lost by only 10 points, this year we've gone back downhill again.
eitherway I will keep supporting italy!
By rugbyazzuri, at June 22, 2009 4:13 pm
Australia at home are a compeltely different team than away mate.
I've seen NZ get beaten byt a similar margin as the amount Italy got beaten by and that was only last year.
By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 3:40 am
why don't Italy ever run with a ball??
it's like watching Ronan O Gara out there....every time they got the ball no matter how much of an over lap they had they always tried kicking for the corners!!
not very nice to be watching
By creggs08, at June 23, 2009 10:34 am
Actually, they ran with it more than I'd ever see them do in this game, and it was all gower's influence.
He was very good, he kept running at the line, challenging defenders and using offloads and short passing to put players through gaps. They made quite a few line breaks and Gower was always dangerous with ball in hand.
Same thing he did in rugby league, and does at Bayonne. If he just had a few decent runners outside him, Italy would be alot more dangerous.
By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 11:40 am
Ashley Cooper for Fullback!
I wish Cameron Shepherd wasnt injured right now,
i think he wouldve made a statement in these June tests for the fullback or wing positions.
Wallabies vs France this w/end at ANZ will be a must-watch,
compared to the scrappy state of origin finish at ANZ last night
By Tuilagi-Inspired, at June 25, 2009 7:31 am
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