Italy v Australia | Saturday 8 November | Bluenergy Stadium
The cavalry has arrived just in time for the Wallabies, who looked out on their feet during their 25-7 defeat at Twickenham last weekend. A packed fixture schedule and the absence of several key players—unavailable due to the international window—proved costly for Joe Schmidt’s side, who simply ran out of steam against a fresher England outfit.
A trip to Italy, however, should bring renewed optimism. Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper return to the fold after being bizarrely withheld by their Gallagher Premiership clubs, despite English players being released for Test duty. Their inclusion, along with Carter Gordon’s addition to the squad following his stint in the NRL, gives the Wallabies a significant boost. All three played key roles during Australia’s mid-year campaign and will be vital to their recovery effort.
The Azzurri, meanwhile, have played far less rugby this year but continue to make steady progress. They avoided the Six Nations wooden spoon once again, finishing fifth after a 22-15 win over Wales, and gave Ireland a real test in a narrow 17-22 defeat. Their subsequent two-match tour of South Africa proved more challenging, ending in 42-24 and 45-0 losses.
Looking at the hosts’ squad, Italy have bolstered their lineup since the July Series, with stars Ange Capuozzo, Paolo Garbisi and Tommaso Allan all returning. Possible Test debuts await Edoardo Todaro (Northampton Saints), Enoch Opoku Gyamfi (Bath) and Damiano Mazza (Zebre Parma).
Verdict: Italy (+)
While a repeat of Italy’s famous one-point win in their last meeting may be a stretch, this has all the makings of another close contest. Expect the Azzurri to stay well within the handicap.