Italy/Australia

17-8 to Italy at HT, meaning they're 40 minutes away from their first ever win over Australia. Australia made a lot of changes for this game and have looked quite disjointed as a result. The Aussie bench may yet rescue this for them. Italy have looked dangerous whenever they've had possession and are winning the breakdown battle so far.

Duty281 wrote:Italy have looked dangerous whenever they've had possession

Not something you read every day.

Very odd interaction with the doc for an hia there. Samu called off then waved back on by the aus bench...then belated the doc changes his mind.

Aus haven’t been good discipline-wise. Too many late and high shots, and have got away with some.

And shonky kicking.

Back and forth this game. Wouldn't have liked to have money on this.

Surely that's got to be a yellow?

Great kick that.

Now the player that should have been off scores a try - poor officiating

Oz need to get a card for all these illegal challenges

Italy might make history today.

They deserve to ... Oz should be down to 14 and have 7 fewer points

Going for a scrum is smart considering they need the kick too.

Good try. I think this is what you call a pressure kick.

Misses.

Never looked confident lining that up did he.

Justice done ...

Reminiscent of when Giteau missed the final kick and Australia lost to Scotland as a result.

Italy deserved the win, but their goal-kicking was poor and nearly cost them, and they lacked a killer instinct at times, continually opting for 3 point shots rather than going for the corner and the 7 points. Hopefully a turning point for Italian rugby. Don't expect them to do much v SA next week, but it would be nice to see them do something credible in the Six Nations next year.

Some poor place-kicking, otherwise Italy would be out of sight.

Love how the "win against Wales" keeps getting a mention!

If Oz had nicked that it would have been a travesty ... should have been a YC for that charge in the back that ended up with the Italian 10 having to go off ... for the offender to then score a try just added insult to injury

Heaf wrote:If Oz had nicked that it would have been a travesty ... should have been a YC for that charge in the back that ended up with the Italian 10 having to go off ... for the offender to then score a try just added insult to injury

Not sure it's that bad. Late obviously but he did think Allen still had the ball.

Cynical for me ... and resulted in a head injury

Wonderful - well done to Italy.