Wallabies Triumph, Schmidt's Legacy
Wallabies End Schmidt Era with Dominant 57-10 Victory Over Italy, Snapping Losing Streak
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Key Points
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Italy prop Marco Riccioni was sent off with a red card during the match.
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Attendance at Perth's HBF Park was 19,268, with the crowd marking a fifth consecutive sell-out for Wallabies home games.
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Josh Canham is one of Joe Schmidt's 27 debutants since 2024, highlighting his status as a newer face in Schmidt's tenure.
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Schmidt ended his tenure with 12 wins from 31 Tests.
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Italy had defeated the Wallabies in Udine late last year, signaling a competitive pre-match context despite the loss.
The Wallabies crushed Italy 57-10 in Perth on Saturday, delivering nine tries and ending a six-match losing streak in style. The win handed coach Joe Schmidt a winning send-off as he stepped down after 31 Tests in charge, according to France 24.
Josh Canham stole the show with a hat-trick, while the Wallabies led 38-5 at halftime. It was Australia's first win in the Nations Championship, and it came in front of 19,268 fans at Perth's HBF Park — a fifth straight sell-out for a Wallabies home game, per RFI.
Canham Hat-Trick Powers Dominant Six-Try First Half
Lock Josh Canham was the standout performer on the night. He crossed three times and drove the forward pack's rolling maul attack to shreds Italy's defence. Canham is one of 27 debutants blooded by Schmidt since 2024, according to eritvnews.com, and he looked right at home on the big stage.
Tom Wright, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Len Ikitau, Billy Pollard, and Ben Donaldson all scored too. Australia's precision was sharp from the first whistle. A clever pass from Alaalatoa helped unlock space for Wright early, setting the tone for a relentless attacking display, per Head Topics.
Red Card and Injuries Left Italy Hopelessly Short
Italy arrived in Perth already missing several key players. Their troubles got worse when prop Marco Riccioni was sent off with a red card during the match. Playing 14 men for a long stretch against an in-form Wallabies pack proved impossible to manage.
Italy's coach Gonzalo Quesada was also suspended for this match, removing another layer of leadership from the visitors. Despite beating Australia in Udine late last year, Italy had no answer for Australia's power and organisation on the night, according to France 24.
Schmidt Exits with 12 Wins, Hands Baton to Les Kiss
Joe Schmidt ended his time as Wallabies coach with a record of 12 wins from 31 Tests. The victory meant he avoided finishing with the worst winning percentage of any Wallabies coach in the professional era — a small but meaningful consolation, per RFI.
Incoming coach Les Kiss now inherits a team with renewed momentum heading toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The Perth crowd's energy and the team's clinical performance gave the program a genuine morale boost. Schmidt's farewell was as clean as his coaching exits come, according to 24newshd.tv.
Perth Crowd Signals Growing Appetite for Wallabies Rugby
The 19,268 fans packed into HBF Park marked a fifth consecutive sell-out for a Wallabies home fixture. That kind of crowd backing has been rare in recent years for a program that struggled through a rough stretch of results.
The atmosphere matched the performance. Australia's dominance on the night — nine tries, a 47-point winning margin — gave supporters plenty to cheer about. With Les Kiss set to take over and the World Cup three years away, the mood in Perth felt like the start of something new, per Head Topics.
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