Italy stun Australia 26-19 In historic win

Italy 26-19 Australia, Udine

Italy produced one of the most disciplined and courageous performances in their rugby history to defeat Australia 26-19 in Udine.

The hosts began with composure and tactical clarity, pressing the Wallabies deep inside their half and drawing early penalties. Paolo Garbisi, Italy’s calm playmaker, opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a straightforward penalty in front of the posts.

Just four minutes later, another infringement at the breakdown allowed Garbisi to extend the lead to 6-0, rewarding Italy’s early territorial control and structured defence.

Australia, however, found their rhythm midway through the half. After several phases of patient build-up, hooker Matt Faessler latched onto the back of a rolling maul to crash over in the 20th minute, finishing off a classic Wallabies set-piece sequence.

Italy’s defensive maul resistance faltered again ten minutes later when prop Angus Bell powered through two tacklers from short range to score in the 31st minute. Andrew Kellaway, assuming kicking duties, converted Bell’s try to hand Australia a 12-6 advantage.

Italy remained undeterred. Their forwards tightened up the breakdown, and Garbisi kept the scoreboard moving, slotting another penalty in the 36th minute to cut the deficit to 12-9 at half-time.

The second half started in familiar fashion, with Garbisi continuing his kicking masterclass. Another penalty in the 48th minute levelled the scores at 12-12, restoring Italian belief.

But just as the crowd settled, the Wallabies struck back through Carter Gordon, who finished a neatly worked backline move off a short inside ball near the Italian 22. Kellaway’s conversion restored a seven-point cushion at 19-12.

The match turned dramatically around the 57th minute when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Monty Ioane.

Playing with a man advantage, Italy pounced immediately. A sweeping counterattack saw Louis Lynagh — son of former Wallabies great Michael Lynagh — race down the right wing and finish spectacularly in the corner in the 58th minute. Garbisi’s difficult conversion was pinpoint, tying the game at 19-19 and sending Udine into delirium.

Sensing the momentum shift, Italy struck again just three minutes later. This time, it was Monty Ioane who delivered the killer blow.

Exploiting quick ball from a ruck inside the Australian 22, Ioane stepped inside two defenders and dived over to give Italy the lead in the 61st minute. Garbisi, flawless on the day, added the conversion for a 26-19 advantage.

From that point, Italy’s defence turned heroic. The Azzurri absorbed wave after wave of Australian attack, with flankers Michele Lamaro and Sebastian Negri putting in thunderous tackles, while Garbisi and Lynagh cleared the lines with intelligent kicking.

Despite several late scrums deep in Italian territory, the Wallabies failed to breach Italy's defence as they succumbed to a 19-26 defeat.