RLWC 2022 | Pool B – Australia 66 Italy 6 Match Centre *

Rugby League World Cup is in the final round of the group stages and the Pool B action continues with Australia v Italy where the Australians will the hottest of favourites, and looking to gain revenge for the loss of the Socceroos to Italy all the way back in the 2006 Football World Cup. Or maybe not.

Our Group B Australia v Italy Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.

If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.

Australia v Italy Match Summary

Australia have won their final group stages match with a easy and almost devilish 66-6 defeat of a spirited Italy at St Helens.

After an opening which saw the Italians playing some entertaining rugby league, Australia broke through for their first try of the match in the 6th minute. It was simple enough, with Daly Cheery-Evans putting on the perfect cross field kick for Valentine Holmes. Nathan Cleary proved he was human by missing the relatively easy conversion.

Australia’s next try was also simple enough, with Australia sending the ball left until Murray Taulagi was left with space in front of him in the corner. Cleary missed a second conversion so the score remained 8-0.

The Kangaroos went in again a few minutes later through former Italian representative James Tedesco. The fullback powered through the line from 10 metres out with the final pass thrown by Nathan Cleary. This not before Campbell Graham went close, Daly Cherry-Evans was held up over the line, Australia received a penalty for a too-short drop out, blew a set restart by kicking and received another drop out. Nathan Cleary kicked his first conversion of the night for a 14-0 lead.

Despite the ease of some of Australia’s tries, Italy were certainly hanging in there, and on the flip side, Australia weren’t overly sharp with a few mistakes creeping through the first half. A few tries went begging with some simple errors.

Campbell Graham continued his scoring ways for Australia in the 27th minute, he caught a short Italian drop out and then broke through a few tackles to score. The conversion made it 20-0, and Italy were at least avoidng a point a minute like Scotland.

With five minutes until half time Latrell Mitchell got his first try of the night. It was a neat blind side play on the last tackle, with Mitchell jinking back inside and bulldozing his way through the Italy defence.

Australia snuck in one more try before half time, this coming on the back of Italy spilling one of those monster Nathan Cleary bombs. Murray Taulagi got his second for the night in the corner, but it laid on by a sensational flick pass offload from Latrell Mitchell at pace. Cleary missed the sideline conversion and the half time score was 30-0.

HALF TIME – AUSTRALIA 30 ITALY 0

Italy started the second half brightly with a line break down the left after shifting the ball around on just the second tackle. The infield kick ended up with Ben Hunt, but the intention was there.

Australia got the second half scoring underway in the 46th minute when Isaah Yeo scored beside the posts. The try was set up with a James Tedesco break, with Cherry-Evans (who threw the final pass to Yeo) and Yeo in support of the Australian captain. Cleary converted for a 36-0 lead.

Liam Martin charged his way to the line a few minutes later, a try with real Penrith connection with Yeo and Cleary involved in the lead up. MArtin still had a bit of work to do with a 30 metres run and breaking a few tackles along the way. Australia led 42-0, and looking so comfortable that James Tedesco was given some time off.

Much to the excitement of the crowd Italy scored their first try. After a brilliant short kick off take by Daniel Atkinson, Italian halfback Radean Robinson took advantage of the good field position and put in a grubber behind the line and Ronny Palumbo chased it best for Italy. With around 25 minutes to go it was 42-6 to Australia.

Normal transmission resumed a few minutes later with Cameron Murray after some sharp passing close to the line finding Murray a gap to crash through. Cleary converted for 48-6.

It took a little while but Australia passed the 50 point mark when Campbell Graham’s storming inside run off a Daly Cherry-Evans pass saw him score his second try of the night. That made it 54-6 with just over the minutes remaining.

Australia made it to 60 points with six minutes to go when Jeremiah Nanai ran in to score. His passage to the line was short and easy with the final pass thrown by Daly Cherry-Evans, and Isaah Yeo involved in the lead up as ever.

The Kangaroos had time for one more try, the last of the night going to Lidnsay Collins who crashed over from short range. Cleary converted for a final score of 66-6.

Australia got the job done, and there were patches of brilliance, but also times where they looked like a team still trying to sort out their combinations, which is exactly where they are. They top Group B as expected, and have a semi final date with New Zealand if results go the way we expect.

Australia v Italy Final Score

AUSTRALIA 66
Tries: Valentine Holmes 6 Murray Taulagi 11 James Tedesco 18 Campbell Graham 27 Latrell Mitchell 36 Murray Taulagi 39 Isaah Yeo 46 Liam Martin 50 Cameron Murray 57 Campbell Graham 66 Jeremiah Nanai 75 Lindsay Collins 79
Goals: Nathan Cleary 9/12

ITALY 6
Tries: Ronny Palumbo 53
Goals: Jack Campagnolo 1/1

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

3 Pts Latrell Mitchell
2 Pts Nathan Cleary
1 Pt James Tedesco

POINTS OF INTEREST

• In the battle of the halfbacks surely that comes out in Nathan Cleary’s favour. Not that DCE was bad, it was that Cleary felt more involved, especially in the scoring plays. Who knows which way Mal Meninga will go, but those Penrith connections are an advantage with the excellent form of Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin.
• All three big teams have played their three group stages games at this point, and it has to be said that England look the most impressive so far. And they arguably had a tougher draw than Australia or New Zealand.

Australia v Italy Match Stats

Australia v Italy Teams

AUSTRALIA 

1 James Tedesco
19 Campbell Graham
4 Valentine Holmes
8 Latrell Mitchell
23 Murray Taulagi
 2 Daly Cherry-Evans
14 Nathan Cleary

15 Lindsay Collins
 3 Ben Hunt
16 Reuben Cotter
21 Liam Martin
22 Jeremiah Nanai
11 Cameron Murray

 6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
18 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
12 Matt Burton
24 Isaah Yeo

ITALY 

 1 Luke Polselli
 5 Jake Maizen
 3 Daniel Atkinson
 4 Ethan Natoli
18 Kyle Pickering
 6 Jack Campagnolo
 7 Radean Robinson

 8 Alec Susino
 9 Dean Parata
10 Anton Iaria
12 Brenden Santi
15 Luca Moretti
13 Nathan Brown

14 Joe Tramontana
16 Gioele Celerino
17 Ronny Palumbo
20 Jack Colovatti

Australia v Italy Preview

Table: W/D/L/F/A/FA/Pts

Australia recorded a huge win over Scotland 84-0 on last Friday night UK Time. a side that Italy beat in the first round, and you could argue there’s more to come from Australia as the team continues to warm up. The big one is the halves where Nathan Cleary did enough for us to think he need to keep the number <insert any number here for halfback> for the tournament now, but for this match they have thrown Daly Cherry-Evans into the halves alongside Cleary at the expense of Cameron Munster. So if Australia’s attack wasn’t potent enough, now you have a H2H battle going for halfback.

For all the talk of the Tonga and Samoa being dark horses pre-tournament, and the potential Australian stars leaving for their heritage nations, here lies Australia with a 100% win record after two games and looking good for the title, while Tonga have been a touch underwhelming so far and Samoa were thrashed by England, but did bounce back in their second game. Either way, it looks like one of Samoa or Tonga will be out of the World Cup by the quarter finals, Samoa may not even make the knockout stage.

Talking of keeping critics quiet, how about Josh Addo-Carr’s for Australia (and not NSW). He has been truly magnificent for the Kangaroos adding a lot of speed and a little magic. He’s not playing as we presume Mal Meninga is auditioning for the other winger role going forward. Although it should be Valentine Holmes who starts on the bench. A plus for Italy htat they don’t have to deal with Josh Addo-Carr.

On the other side of the game Australia have conceded just eight points in their first game a Fiji and now none against Scotland, which will be a good thing leading into the knockout stage and bad for Italy with any hopes of winning. Italy are now averaging 50 missed tackles, Australia is averaging 13 per game…

Italy were possibly the most disappointing team in week two, as they were comprehensively thrashed by Fiji 60-4. The Italians looked quite good against Scotland in the first game, but they offered very little against Fiji and made it way to east for Fiji to score. And now they take on a side who scored 80 points last weekend.

With battles still ongoing in many positions across the field for Australia’s knockout stage team, we reckon Australia will be as sharp as ever. Potentially, this is the game where the 100 is reached.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Well who do you pick from Australia – a side that put on a point a minute in their last game? And what kind of rotation will there be?

Before the last match’s conclusion, we said to ourselves that Matt Burton has been a little quiet this tournament, then you see his involvement in that final try and hope for more. But it would be if he got some space to produce some more magic. He is potentially up against fellow centre Jack Wighton for the last interchange spot.

Ben Hunt has had quite the 2022 season, and has been good for Australia as the Rugby League World Cup so far. He is starting hooker, but unlike most games for Australia will probably be expected to play the full 80 minutes, as there is no Harry Grant as backup.

There’s a few spots available in the forwards to be decided, and so the players named in this clash will be keen to make those important game so should be pumped.

For Italy, you know that Nathan Brown will always be giving it a red hot go, and they will need that enthusiasm to keep Australia at bay as much as they can.

PREDICTION

Australia 104 Italy 0

Australia v Italy Stats

2022 WORLD CUP STATS SO FAR – AVERAGE PER GAME

H2H / WORLD CUP RECORD