History of rugby union matches between Australia and Italy

Australia and Italy have played each other in full tests at rugby union a total of nineteen matches, with the first eighteen won by Australia. Italy achieved their first victory in the fixture in the 2022 Autumn Internationals, some 39 years after the first match between the teams.[1] Australia have met Italy once in Rugby World Cup play, winning 32-6 in Auckland in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. All other matches were Test Matches.

In addition, Australia beat Italy twice in non-Test matches prior to 1983, in games in which Italy gave caps, but Australia, appearing as Australia XV, did not.

History

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Australia first played Italy on their way home from European tours in the 1970s, though they were not given full international status. The first encounter was in 1973 when Australia ran up 59 points to 21, but the second was the closest ever, with Italy losing by a single point 16-17. Officially, the first test between the two countries was in 1983, following an Italian tour of Australia in 1981 in which the visitors acquitted themselves well against secondary opposition. They toured again in 1986 and played their first test match away from home. Two years later the Italians were soundly beaten at the end of the 1988 Wallabies tour, but their next tour of Australia in 1994 saw a big improvement with all state matches won and an unlucky defeat in the Brisbane test match. Since then results have generally been convincing wins to Australia, but the one in 2012 was close with Italy unlucky to lose by 3 points. In November 2022 Italy won their first game against Australia 28-27 as part of the 2022 Autumn International.

World Cup History

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In 2011 they met for the first time in a World Cup match at the group stage in Auckland with Australia starting their campaign towards the Semi-finals with a 32–6 win.

Summary

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Note: Summary below reflects test results by both teams.

Overall

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Details Played Won by
Australia
Won by
Italy
Drawn Australia points Italy points
In Italy 11 10 1 0 370 160
In Australia 7 7 0 0 256 113
Neutral venue 1 1 0 0 32 6
Overall 19 18 1 0 658 279

Records

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Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

Record Australia Italy
Longest winning streak 18 (22 Oct 1983 – 12 Nov 2022) 1 (12 Nov 2022 – )
Largest points for
Home 69 (25 Jun 2005) 28 (12 Nov 2022)
Away 55 (3 Dec 1988) 27 (24 Jun 2017)
Largest winning margin
Home 48 (25 Jun 2005) 1 (12 Nov 2022)
Away 49 (3 Dec 1988)

Results

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No. Date Venue Score Winner Competition
1 22 October 1983 Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini, Rovigo 7–29   Australia 1983 Australia tour of Italy and France
2 1 June 1986 Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane 39–18   Australia 1986 Italy tour of Australia
3 3 December 1988 Stadio Flaminio, Rome 6–55   Australia 1988 Australia tour of Great Britain and Italy
4 18 June 1994 Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane 23–20   Australia 1994 Italy tour of Australia
5 25 June 1994 Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne 20–7   Australia
6 23 October 1996 Stadio Plebiscito, Padua 18–40   Australia 1996 Australia tour of Great Britain, Ireland and Italy
7 23 November 2002 Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genova 3–34   Australia 2002 Australia tour of Argentina and Europe
8 25 June 2005 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne 69–21   Australia 2005 Italy tour of Argentina and Australia
9 11 November 2006 Stadio Flaminio, Rome 18–25   Australia 2006 Australia tour of Great Britain, Ireland and Italy
10 8 November 2008 Stadio Euganeo, Padova 20–30   Australia 2008 Australia tour of Great Britain, France and Italy
11 13 June 2009 Canberra Stadium, Canberra 31–8   Australia 2009 Summer International
12 20 June 2009 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne 34–12   Australia
13 20 November 2010 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence 14–32   Australia 2010 Autumn International
14 11 September 2011 North Harbour Stadium, Auckland (New Zealand) 32–6   Australia 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool match
15 24 November 2012 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence 19–22   Australia 2012 Autumn International
16 9 November 2013 Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin 20–50   Australia 2013 Autumn International
17 24 June 2017 Lang Park, Brisbane 40–27   Australia 2017 Summer International
18 17 November 2018 Stadio Euganeo, Padova 7–26   Australia 2018 Autumn International
19 12 November 2022 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence 28–27   Italy 2022 Autumn International

XV Results

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Below is a list of matches that Italy has awarded matches test match status by virtue of awarding caps, but Australia did not award caps.

Date Venue Score Winner Comments
21 November 1973 Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila 21–59   Australia XV Not considered full internationals by Australia
4 November 1976 Arena Civica, Milan 15–16   Australia XV

List of series

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Played Won by
Australia
Won by
Italy
Drawn
3 3 0 0
Year Australia Italy Series winner
  1986 1 0   Australia
  1994 2 0   Australia
  2009 2 0   Australia

References

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  1. ^ "Rugby Data".
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