Australia 57-10 Italy: Wallabies Dominate in Nations Championship 2026

The Australia 57-10 Italy Nations Championship rugby union international delivered a dominant performance from the Wallabies in Perth, snapping a six-match losing streak with a clinical display. The first half showcased the upside to this Australian team, and for the first time this tournament the second half did not reveal the same problematic drop-off after the break.

Match Overview: Wallabies' Dominance

Joe Schmidt's era ended with a resounding win at HBF Park, as the home pack was dominant, scoring at will from set-pieces near the line. Six tries went to big men in gold, including a hat-trick to Josh Canham. Ryan Lonergan kept his side rolling, while outside him both centres turned in eye-catching performances.

Italy struggled throughout, with captain Michele Lamaro calling the performance “pretty poor” after a stinker of historic proportions. The visitors were a weight division below Australia, especially in the forwards, and were unable to capitalise on any opportunities.

Key Moments and Try Scorers

The Wallabies kept the ball alive down the left, with Jorgensen finding an offload, Pollard bursting the line hard, and Valetini crossing the 22. Donaldson bounded through the ragged visiting defence and around the back of the posts for a thrilling counterattacking try in the 79th minute.

Try Scorers Summary

Key Takeaways

• Clinical performance from Australia ended a six-match losing streak.
• Josh Canham's hat-trick highlighted the forwards' dominance.
• Italy's struggles continued with a heavy defeat in Perth.
• Joe Schmidt's era concluded with a thumping win.
• Wallabies' second-half consistency improved compared to previous matches.

Post-Match Reactions

Harry Wilson described Australia's effort as “clinical” to end “two weeks of pain.” Michele Lamaro assessed Italy's trip to the southern hemisphere as “pretty poor.” The Wallabies deservedly snapped their losing streak as “Working Class Man” rumbled around HBF Park.

Match Statistics

The second half did not match the first, but Italy were unable to capitalise on any lapses. The home pack was dominant, scoring at will from set-pieces near the line. Australia's counterattacking rugby in junk time still thrilled fans, with the ball coming out and the team running from their 22 to near halfway down the right.

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