Wallabies face Italy in Perth as Joe Schmidt era concludes

By Liam Wright — 17 July 2026 — 4 min read

The Wallabies are set to face Italy in Perth this Saturday, marking the final match for head coach Joe Schmidt and assistant coach Laurie Fisher. This encounter is part of round three of the Nations Championship, with the Wallabies aiming to secure a victory after a challenging start to 2026.

Schmidt‘s tenure, which began in 2024, has seen the team win eight of 27 Tests. The Wallabies have experienced a difficult run, losing six consecutive matches and nine of their last ten, a performance level not seen since 2016. Should they lose to Italy, as they did in 2022 and 2025, Schmidt‘s win-loss record would fall below 36%, which is the lowest win-rate for an Australian coach since rugby became professional.

The team’s recent form includes a 42-26 loss to France, where Les Bleus scored 30 unanswered points after trailing 21-12 at halftime. The week prior, Ireland overcame a 24-19 deficit to win the Nations Championship opener 33-31. These results highlight a pattern of the Wallabies struggling to maintain leads and close out matches, as evidenced by allowing a try on the stroke of halftime against Ireland and missing two penalty kicks in the final nine minutes. Against France, Tom Wright‘s sin-binning led to Les Bleus scoring three tries in seven minutes.

Incoming coach Les Kiss will take over following this match, facing the task of preparing the team for a home World Cup in 14 months. Schmidt‘s contract extension into 2026 was intended to facilitate a smooth transition, but the current situation risks creating instability for the team. Kiss‘s initial Tests will see the team travel to Hokkaido, then return for a match in Townsville, before heading to Argentina for away Tests in San Salvador de Jujuy and Mendoza. These upcoming opponents, including Japan coached by Eddie Jones and an improved Argentina side, present significant challenges.

Italy, coached by Gonzalo Quesada, is also seeking their first win in the Nations Championship this season. They lost 27-10 to Japan and 47-17 to New Zealand. Despite the loss to the All Blacks, Italy trailed by only 14-10 at halftime. Quesada will not be present on the sidelines due to a suspension under World Rugby‘s new match official abuse sanction process.

Team Changes and Key Selections

For the clash against Italy, Schmidt has made three changes to the starting XV that played against France. Perth-born Carlo Tizzano will start at openside flanker in his hometown, making his first Test appearance of 2026. His club teammate, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, will start at hooker. Harry Potter has been selected on the wing, replacing Dylan Pietsch, who is unavailable due to a calf contusion.

Declan Meredith retains the flyhalf position, earning another start after his debut against France. He will partner with Brumbies teammate Ryan Lonergan, who starts at scrumhalf for the third consecutive match. Ben Donaldson, who missed the France match due to a calf injury, will come off the bench. This decision to start Meredith over the experienced Donaldson has been noted.

The front row will feature Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa. Josh Canham and Western Force captain Jeremy Williams will start as locks for the third Test in a row. Tizzano will join Rob Valetini and captain Harry Wilson in the back row. On the bench, Billy Pollard and Zane Nonggorr are selected for their first Tests of 2026, with veteran James Slipper also among the replacements.

Miles Amatosero is in line for a potential debut, named as a replacement lock. Fraser McReight, a dual try-scorer in the previous match, will provide additional forward cover from the bench. Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson are the substitute halves, and Filipo Daugunu‘s versatility secures him the final spot in the matchday 23.

Schmidt commented on the team’s performance, stating, “We’ve shown some encouraging signs but we need to sustain our accuracy and effort throughout the match. The challenge for us this week is to perform at a consistently high standard against a dangerous Italian side, who were hugely competitive in the Six Nations, beating both Scotland and England as well as running other teams close.”

Italy has made nine changes to their side. Giulio Marini will make his first Test start, partnering Federico Ruzza in the second row. Lorenzo Pani returns at fullback, while Monty Ioane and Paolo Odogwu are on the wings. Alessandro Garbisi will start at scrumhalf alongside his brother Paolo Garbisi at flyhalf. Injuries have ruled out Tommaso Allan and Lorenzo Cannone.

Looking Ahead

The Wallabies are hoping to avoid the unwanted record of losing all three July Tests, a feat last seen in 2016. The team has shown flashes of brilliance, including five tries against Ireland, but has struggled with consistency throughout 2026. Schmidt expressed his desire to leave the team in good order, stating, “I want to leave the house in good order. You don’t take on jobs like this to come second. I’m incredibly competitive. I just want these guys to get a little bit of reward.”

The match against Italy will be played at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday, July 18, at 6:00 PM AWST.

Source: theguardian.com