Having suffered a 42-26 defeat to France last time out, Australia head coach Joe Schmidt will be looking for a response from his side when they host Italy in the Nations Championship at HBF Park on Saturday morning.
With nine defeats in their last 10 games, it has been a tough run for the Wallabies but there have been signs of better things to come.
With Italy having some memorable wins in this fixture of late, the Wallabies will be hoping for a taste of revenge when the Azzurri head to Western Australia this weekend.
Australia v Italy Tips Summary
Best Bet - Australia -16.5 handicap @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii anytime tryscorer @ 11/8
Bet Builder - Australia to win both halves, Carlo Tizzano & Max Jorgensen anytime tryscorers @ 9/2
Australia v Italy Prediction
Best Bet: Australia -16.5 handicap @ 1/1
Italy have won both of the last two meetings between these sides but both of those games took place on Italian soil.
Australia have not lost to the Azzurri Down Under and it does not look like they are about to start, even if the Wallabies have been struggling for results of late.
Australia head into this fixture on the back of two defeats, having narrowly fallen 33-31 to Ireland in their Nations Championship opener before being beaten 42-26 by France last weekend.
Despite those losses, Schmidt's men have been tested against two of the world's strongest sides and should be well prepared for a meeting with an Italy team that has endured a difficult start to the tournament.
The Azzurri opened their campaign with a 27-10 defeat to Japan before being comprehensively outplayed 47-17 by New Zealand, leaving them searching for a significant improvement.
One area Australia must address is their defence. The Wallabies have now shipped at least 33 points in each of their last four Test matches.
If the Wallabies can improve their performance without the ball this weekend, then they should have the attacking quality in their ranks to overcome the -16.5 handicap.
Alternative Bet: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii anytime tryscorer @ 11/8
Still working his way back following an injury that curtailed his Super Rugby Pacific campaign this year, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii jumps off the page at 11/8 in the anytime tryscorer market.
The rugby league convert is a man-mountain in the No.13 jersey and he has proven to be tough to stop from close range.
A player who loves taking the direct route on the crash ball, Suaalii to add to his four Test tries in his short time in rugby union appeals.
Australia v Italy Bet Builder Tip
Australia to win both halves
Carlo Tizzano anytime tryscorer
Max Jorgensen anytime tryscorer
Pays 9/2
The Wallabies won both halves when they last hosted the Azzurri in Australia and the hosts are backed to repeat the feat on Saturday in Perth.
Meanwhile, Wallabies hooker Carlo Tizzano and winger Max Jorgensen are both backed in the anytime tryscorer market.
Tizzano has scored in all of his last four matches for Western Force and is tipped to score this weekend, as is Jorgensen, who scored eight tries for the Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific this year.
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Key Match Stats
Australia have lost nine of their last 10 Test matches
Italy have lost five of their last six Tests going into Saturday’s clash in Perth
Italy has won their last two games against Australia, with both matches on Italian soil
The Wallabies have won their two previous home meetings with the Azzurri
Australia won their last home game against Italy 40-27 back in 2017
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
