Match Italy 26 v Australia 19 - 08/11/2025 - Quilter Nations Series

After a first half that ended with just three points, Italy found - ironically - the tries through the “Australians” Lynagh and Ioane. Garbisi was flawless from the tee, and a courageous defensive stand at the end did the rest.

An incredible day for Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane, the scorers of Italy’s two tries. The first is the son of Michael Lynagh, an Australian rugby legend of the 1980s and 1990s (World Cup winner in 1991), the second born in Australia and nephew of former Wallaby winger Digby Ioane.

The hosts started brightly, moving the ball wide after five minutes, with Ange Capuozzo crossing the try line but being held up.

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Referee Andrew Brace went back for a previous advantage, and Paolo Garbisi kicked the first three points of the match. By the end, the Toulon fly-half would finish with 16 points and an incredible 100% success rate from the tee.

Three minutes later, Ioane took center stage, recovering a high ball and kicking ahead to pressure the visitors’ defense with help from captain Ignacio Brex.

Harry Wilson saved the situation but dragged the ball into his own in-goal, leading to an Italian scrum five meters out. From there, Italy earned another penalty, which Garbisi converted for 6-0.

Australia showed signs of life after 15 minutes with a strong break from Carter Gordon, assisted by Harry Potter and Corey Toole, taking the Wallabies into Italy’s 22. But Manuel Zuliani proved a true “breakdown beast,” winning a crucial turnover to clear the danger.

It was, however, a warning that Joe Schmidt’s men were starting to apply pressure.

Brex was penalized for hands on the ground attempting a turnover. Unlike Italy earlier, Australia went for the big prize, kicking to touch 10 meters out and driving over with the pack and several backs, allowing hooker Matt Faessler to score the first try of the evening.

Andrew Kellaway missed the conversion badly to the right, leaving Italy ahead 6-5.

It was clearly not a good day for Australia’s kickers, with Carter Gordon struggling on his return to international rugby, sending three open-field kicks straight into touch.

Around the half-hour mark, Gonzalo Quesada feared he might need an early change: scrum-half Stephen Varney took a heavy knock and stayed down for several minutes. The Exeter Chiefs No. 9 recovered, however, and went on to be named the Quilter Player of the Match.

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Soon after, Australia scored their second try. This time the break came from scrum-half Jake Gordon, assisted by captain Wilson down the left. After a series of close phases near Italy’s line, prop Angus Bell stretched over, giving Kellaway an easy conversion to put the visitors ahead 6-12.

Just before halftime, Brace was called by the TMO for foul play by Taniela Tupou on Danilo Fischetti (contact without the ball), and Garbisi narrowed the gap, sending the teams into the break at 9-12.

The second half began with Australia still struggling with their kicking game. From another error by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (again straight into touch), Garbisi leveled the score at 12-12.

Things seemed bleak for Italy in the 51st minute when Carter Gordon scored under the posts, silencing the crowd. The move started from a Wilson carry, which appeared to involve a knock-on in contact with Zuliani. Ioane stopped, expecting the whistle, and Tommaso Menoncello’s tackle attempt was hesitant. Brace checked the monitor but ruled the play legal, saying the ball was lost during Zuliani’s strip attempt.

The decision sparked fury from Quesada, who kicked his seat repeatedly in the coaches’ box.

Kellaway converted, and Australia led by a break, but from that moment, they vanished as Italy mounted a stunning comeback.

It took just seven minutes to draw level. Suaalii tackled Garbisi high, and play continued with Varney spreading wide to Lynagh, who showed great strength to finish in the corner for his third international try – even more special in front of his family and given his personal history.

Suaalii was sent to the sin bin, with a bunker review confirming the yellow card, while Garbisi nailed the difficult conversion.

Italy were flying, and three minutes later, they took the lead.

Menoncello broke tackles in his own half before Varney burst through again, keeping the ball alive for Ioane. The Lyon winger could have used the overlap, but his desire to score against his country of birth was too strong. He powered through, evading a desperate tackle and stretching for the line, sending the Udine crowd into raptures.

Garbisi converted: 26-19.

Australia tried to respond, but Italy’s defense was heroic around the 67th minute, repelling phase after phase near their own line.

There was even time for a near-breakaway when Federico Ruzza intercepted and raced forward, but lacking pace, he recycled to Menoncello, who was too exhausted to gather.

Finally, an Australian infringement ended their faint hopes. Garbisi kicked to touch, Italy secured the lineout, and Martin Page-Relo booted the ball into the stands: the sky over Udine turned blue.