PERTH, Australia (AP) 鈥� Joe Schmidt’s tenure as Australia’s head coach ended with a victory on Saturday, with the Wallabies beating Italy 57-10 in the to end a six-test losing streak.
The Australians scored six tries to one in the first half, with lock Josh Canham crossing for two, and led 38-5 to set up the win in Perth.
Canham scored again 鈥� his third try 鈥� when he picked up at the base of a ruck meters from Italy’s tryline and burrowed over in the 52nd minute to give the home team a 45-10 lead.
The Wallabies had big leads in their last two tests but surrendered them in a and a . The Australians were determined to end Schmidt’s stint on a positive note. They started well, and this time held the momentum in Perth.
鈥淲hen you鈥檝e done that a few times, you鈥檝e got to learn from those experiences, and I felt we did tonight,鈥� Schmidt said. 鈥淲e got far enough in front that it wasn鈥檛 really going to matter if we weren鈥檛 as good in the second half, but, there was some good stuff in there.鈥�
Canham crossed in the fourth minute and fullback Tom Wright and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa also scored in the opening 12 minutes. Canham, prop Angus Bell and center Len Ikitau all scored in the 15 minutes before the break.
Canham and Billy Pollard scored in the second half before replacement back Ben Donaldson dived over in the 80th minute to cap the victory after a rampaging run from backrower Rob Valetini.
Captain Michele Lamaro scored Italy’s only points of the first half with a try in the 20th minute, and Montanna Ioane crossed just after halftime in some rare highlights for the visitors. The Italians had a try disallowed for a knock-on in-goal in the 75th on video review.
The first phase of the new Nations Championship tournament ended without a win for the Italians, and with coach Gonzalo Quesada suspended and not allowed on the sidelines. It got worse when a wrestle between players in the 66th minute spilled from the touchline into the technical area and knocked some Italy support staff off their chairs. It resulted in a red card for Marco Riccioni, the Italian prop who had already been replaced.
鈥淕utted. Obviously very disappointed with the result and the performance we put in,鈥� Lamaro said of Saturday’s result, and the tour generally. 鈥淲e played a very good first half against the All Blacks last week, but apart from that we’ve been pretty poor.鈥�
Quesada was initially issued a for referee criticism following to New Zealand last week, but had the ban reduced to one game on appeal.
He had criticized the match officials for a yellow card issued to lock Niccol貌 Cannone for a head-butt. The card was upgraded to red and Cannone was later handed a . Italy also lost
Schmidt announced last year that he was standing down as Wallabies鈥� head coach but remained in the role to give , time to complete his obligations with the Queensland Reds.
Schmidt said he was handing over a squad that had made progress over the last 2 1/2 years, despite its relatively low winning percentage, and was working positively toward next year’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.
鈥淚 think the players are more connected. I think the leaders are more vocal,鈥� Schmidt said. 鈥淥ur fundamentals, our set piece is getting better.
鈥淭o the rugby public, thank you for sticking with us. We鈥檝e just had massive support, and it makes a difference to the players.鈥�
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