'Clueless' Wallabies slump to ugly loss against Italy as wheels start to fall off 2025 campaign

The Wallabies have slumped to a second straight loss against Italy as the wheels start to fall off their 2025 campaign.

Melbourne-born Monty Ioane scored the match-winning try in Italy's 26-19 upset in Udine.

The hosts were more disciplined and desperate than Joe Schmidt's side, who lost Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to a yellow card in the second half on Sunday (AEDT).

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"A bit clueless, like we didn't actually have any direction there, with having Joseph off the field, so it's definitely something for Joe to look at," Wallabies great James Slipper said on Stan Sport.

Italy also beat the Wallabies in their previous meeting in 2022, a historic result that ultimately led to Rugby Australia sacking coach Dave Rennie and replacing him with Eddie Jones.

Louis Lynagh, born in Italy when his father Michael played for Treviso, also scored as Italy won for only the second time in 20 Tests against the Wallabies.

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Australia scored three tries without reply in the opening 51 minutes at Stadio Fruili before a late surge from the Italians turned the Test on its head, with the 100 per cent kicking return from flyhalf Paolo Garbisi proving the difference.

The result continued a miserable year for Australia, who were beaten by England at Twickenham last week and have only won five of 13 Tests this year.

Prop Angus Bell and flyhalf Carter Gordon left the field with injuries to add to Schmidt's woes.

"Pretty gutted, to be honest," Schmidt told Stan Sport.

"We just looked a bit flat, you know. I said progress isn't linear, but that was a flat performance. That's a dip we can't afford to have."

Italy had a 6-0 lead after Garbisi slotted over two penalties before Australia hooker Matt Faessler finished off a polished maul to score a 21st minute try that was the first flex of Wallabies muscle.

Bell stretched out to dot down a second try and put Australia in the lead, although the scores were level four minutes into the second half as Garbisi slotted over his fourth penalty.

A controversial try for Gordon, returning for his first Test in over two years, put Australia back ahead in the 51st minute after referee Andrew Brace ruled that the ball had been stripped out of the hands of captain Harry Wilson as he was tackled on a charge towards the try line.

It was not a knock on as Italy claimed, allowing Gordon to pick up the loose ball and jink his way over.

A furious Italy responded with a double score in the space of five minutes, first through Lynagh in the corner after a lineout maul, and then Ioane attacking the line, with Garbisi kicking both conversions.

Italy might have had another in the closing stages after Federico Ruzza intercepted the ball, but his offload was spilt with several teammates to choose from and the try line beckoning.

The home side held firm, however, with tenacious tackling to stop a desperate Australia from scoring.

The Wallabies won the first 18 Tests between the countries, but Italy triumphed 28-27 in their last clash in Florence three years ago.

The Wallabies take on Ireland in Dublin next weekend.

Slipper believed Australia's schedule list this year was too long.

"Is 15 (Tests) too many? Probably," he said.

"The amount of times we got turned over or we lost possession going into contact, yeah, it was just a really disappointing effort, I thought.

"I can't fault the effort, but just the accuracy around what we're trying to do at the breakdown, our carry, and then some of our kicking. I'm not too sure what was going on there but, yeah, it's gonna be a hard one to take for the boys." - with Reuters