The Wallabies unleashed a typhoon of attack on an outgunned Italy in Perth, dismantling them with a stunning 57-10 victory that brought to an end a six-game losing streak. It was a day of high drama and scintillating rugby as Joe Schmidt's legacy came full circle in his farewell Test, setting the stage for new coach Les Kiss to take the reins.
Italy, ranked 10th in the world, had previously pulled off upsets against Australia in 2022 and 2025, but they were caught cold from the outset. The Wallabies' explosive start saw them score three tries within the opening 12 minutes through Josh Canham, Tom Wright, and Brandon Paenga-Amosa, leaving Italy reeling with a 19-0 deficit.
Canham was in scintillating form, bagging a hat-trick in only his third Test match – a performance that left onlookers purring. Italy managed to register their first points through captain Michele Lamaro's try, but the Wallabies' attack continued to rain down like a storm.
Angus Bell and Len Ikitau joined Canham on the scoresheet as Australia reached an astonishing 38-5 lead at half-time – their most prolific first-half showing since the 2003 World Cup. The Italian's attempts to respond were valiant, but the Wallabies' precision and intent proved too great a challenge.
Italy's Monty Ioane scored early in the second half, narrowing the gap to 38-10, but Australia responded with another Canham try – his third of the day. Ryan Lonergan added the conversion, cementing the Wallabies' dominance as the match wore on. Miles Amatosero made a memorable debut, while Italy's Marco Riccioni was red-carded for punching in a tense encounter.
The comprehensive win offers a tantalising glimpse of what Les Kiss can achieve with the Wallabies as he prepares them for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. For Italy, the defeat serves as a harsh reminder of areas that need attention after their coach Gonzalo Quesada's suspension by World Rugby.