Australia Completely Disarm the Azzurri
Australia claimed an emphatic 57–10 victory over Italy at HBF Park in Perth in Round 3 of the 2026 Nations Championship.
The Wallabies were already leading 38–5 at half-time, following one of their most dominant opening-half performances in recent years.
The story of the match can be linked to one of the best-known spells from the Harry Potter universe: “Expelliarmus”, the disarming charm. With winger Harry Potter starting in the No. 11 jersey, Australia completely “disarmed” Italy through the power of their forwards, the efficiency of their driving maul and the speed with which they exploited gaps in the opposition defence.
The Wallabies scored nine tries, with Josh Canham completing a hat-trick and emerging as the standout performer of the contest.
Wallabies Make a Devastating Start
Australia began the match at a ferocious pace and opened the scoring in the third minute. After a lineout maul advanced more than 30 metres, followed by several pick-and-go phases, Josh Canham, wearing No. 4, forced his way over the try line.Ryan Lonergan, No. 9, missed the conversion, leaving the Wallabies with an early 5–0 lead.
Rain affected the conditions in Perth, but the Australians managed the ball far more effectively and controlled both possession and territory.
In the eighth minute, Tom Wright, No. 15, accelerated through a gap in the Italian defence and scored the hosts’ second try. Lonergan added the conversion to make it 12–0.
Australia continued to apply pressure and, in the 11th minute, another series of attacks close to the Italian try line ended with Brandon Paenga-Amosa, No. 2, finishing from short range. Lonergan converted again and the score moved to 19–0.
At that point, the question was no longer whether Australia could take control of the match, but whether they could maintain the same intensity until the final whistle.
Michele Lamaro Leads Italy’s First Response
Italy responded in the 19th minute. Following an attack close to the Australian try line, Michele Lamaro, Italy’s No. 7 and captain, initially appeared to have been held up by the Wallabies’ defence.
However, the television match official’s review showed that Lamaro had grounded the ball legally, and the try was awarded. Paolo Garbisi, No. 10, missed the conversion, reducing the deficit to 19–5.
Australia thought they had secured the attacking bonus point in the 24th minute when Max Jorgensen, No. 14, finished in the corner. The try was ruled out, however, after the TMO identified a knock-on earlier in the move.
The hosts were not affected by the decision.
In the 27th minute, Canham scored his second try of the match following another powerful close-range assault. Lonergan missed the conversion, but Australia extended their lead to 24–5.
Four minutes later, a well-organised lineout maul drove the Italian defence back towards its own try line, allowing Brandon Paenga-Amosa to complete his brace. Lonergan converted to make it 31–5.
The Wallabies had another try disallowed in the 38th minute after the TMO spotted a knock-on just before the ball was grounded.
Len Ikitau Sets the Half-Time Score
Australia maintained the pressure until the final play of the first half.In the 40th minute, the Wallabies moved the ball quickly after another sustained period of pressure near the Italian try line, and Len Ikitau, No. 12, crossed for the hosts’ sixth try.
The move was reviewed by the TMO following Italian protests, but the try was confirmed. Lonergan converted, giving Australia a commanding 38–5 half-time lead.
The Wallabies finished the opening period with approximately 71% possession, dominating the contest from start to finish.
Their forwards controlled the set piece, while the backline efficiently exploited every gap that appeared in the Italian defence.
Montanna Ioane Scores Immediately After the Restart
Italy began the second half with greater purpose and scored in the 41st minute.
After the Azzurri moved the ball across the full width of the field, Montanna Ioane, No. 11, finished the attack in the corner. The referee requested another video review, but no infringement was found and the try was awarded.
Paolo Garbisi struck the post for the second time, missing another conversion and leaving the score at 38–10.
The Italian try did little to alter the overall balance of the match.
Hat-Trick for Josh Canham
In the 52nd minute, Australia returned to the Italian 22 and once again applied enormous pressure through their forwards. Following several pick-and-go phases, Josh Canham, No. 4, grounded the ball to complete his hat-trick.
Lonergan converted to make it 45–10, further strengthening the Wallabies’ commanding advantage.
Canham was one of the main architects of the Australian victory. The lock took full advantage of his pack’s dominance and finished three close-range opportunities.
In the 64th minute, another lineout maul produced Australia’s eighth try, scored by replacement hooker Billy Pollard, No. 16. Declan Meredith missed the conversion, leaving the score at 50–10.
Marco Riccioni Sent Off After Mass Confrontation
One of the few heated moments of the match occurred in the 65th minute, when a mass confrontation broke out between players from both teams.
English referee Christophe Ridley reviewed the incident with the TMO. After examining the footage, Italian prop Marco Riccioni, No. 3, who had already been substituted, was shown a red card for his involvement in the altercation.
Italy thought they had scored a third try in the 74th minute after replacement hooker Pablo Dimcheff, No. 16, appeared to finish a lineout maul. The TMO review showed that Dimcheff had lost control of the ball before grounding it, and the try was ruled out.
Australia continued to dominate possession and territory, preventing the visitors from mounting any meaningful comeback.
Ben Donaldson Completes the Scoring
The final significant action of the match came in the 80th minute.
After a powerful carry from Rob Valetini destabilised the Italian defence, replacement Ben Donaldson, No. 22, continued the attack and grounded the ball in the in-goal area.
Donaldson converted his own try to complete the scoring: Australia 57–10 Italy
The Wallabies finished the match with nine tries and produced an authoritative performance in every area of the game.
Australia also dominated the attacking statistics, recording 161 carries compared with Italy’s 84, as well as 488 metres carried, while the Azzurri managed 243.
It was a genuine demonstration of Australian power and a match in which “Expelliarmus” worked perfectly: the Wallabies completely disarmed the Azzurri.
Match Scorers
Australia :
Minute Player No. Score 3′ Josh Canham 4 Try 8′ Tom Wright 15 Try 9′ Ryan Lonergan 9 Conversion 11′ Brandon Paenga-Amosa 2 Try 12′ Ryan Lonergan 9 Conversion 27′ Josh Canham 4 Try 31′ Brandon Paenga-Amosa 2 Try 32′ Ryan Lonergan 9 Conversion 40′ Len Ikitau 12 Try 40′ Ryan Lonergan 9 Conversion 52′ Josh Canham 4 Try 53′ Ryan Lonergan 9 Conversion 64′ Billy Pollard 16 Try 80′ Ben Donaldson 22 Try 80′ Ben Donaldson 22 Conversion Missed Conversions Minute Player No. 4′ Ryan Lonergan 9 28′ Ryan Lonergan 9 65′ Declan Meredith 10
Italy:
Minute Player No. Score 19′ Michele Lamaro 7 Try 41′ Montanna Ioane 11 Try Missed Conversions Minute Player No. 20′ Paolo Garbisi 10 43′ Paolo Garbisi 10 Red Card Minute Player No. 66′ Marco Riccioni 3 Starting
Line-ups
Australia:
Angus Bell Brandon Paenga-Amosa Allan Alaalatoa Josh Canham Jeremy Williams Rob Valetini Carlo Tizzano Harry Wilson — captain Ryan Lonergan Declan Meredith Harry Potter Len Ikitau Joseph Suaalii Max Jorgensen Tom Wright
Replacements:
Billy Pollard James Slipper Zane Nonggorr Miles Amatosero Fraser McReight Tate McDermott Ben Donaldson Filipo Daugunu
Italy:
Muhamed Hasa Gianmarco Lucchesi Marco Riccioni Giulio Marini Federico Ruzza Riccardo Favretto Michele Lamaro — captain Ross Vintcent Alessandro Garbisi Paolo Garbisi Montanna Ioane Paolo Odogwu Juan Ignacio Brex Louis Lynagh Lorenzo Pani
Replacements:
Pablo Dimcheff Danilo Fischetti Ion Neculai Andrea Zambonin Alessandro Ortombina Alessandro Fusco Giacomo Da Re Leonardo Marin
Half-time score: Australia 38–5 Italy
Final score: Australia 57–10 Italy
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Referee: Christophe Ridley, England
Tries: Australia 9–2 Italy
Red cards: Australia 0–1 Italy
Photo credits: Rugby Australia, Federazione Italiana Rugby, Nations Championship, Rugby Mania.