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Italy upset Australia with a come-from-behind 26-19 victory on Saturday with the son of a Wallaby great, Louis Lynagh, scoring one try and Australian-born winger Monty Ioane the other to snatch a famous win for the hosts.
Lynagh, born in Italy when his father, Michael, played for Treviso, and Melbourne-born Ioane proved Italy’s heroes as they won for only the second time in 20 tests against the Wallabies.
Australia scored three tries without reply in the opening 51 minutes at the Stadio Fruili before a late surge from the Italians turned the match on its head, with the 100% kicking return from fly half Paolo Garbisi proving the difference.
The result continued a miserable year for Australia who were beaten by England at Twickenham last week and have won five of 13 tests this year.
Italy had a 6-0 lead after Garbisi slotted over two penalties before the Australia hooker Matt Faessler finished off a polished maul to score a 21st-minute try that was the first flex of Wallaby muscle.
Angus 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 fly-half Carter Gordon, returning for his first test in more than 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 Ioane attacking the line – with Garbisi kicking both conversions.
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Italy might have had another in the closing stages after Federico Ruzza intercepted the ball, but his off-load 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.
