The Junior Wallabies have started their World Rugby U20s campaign with a 36-12 bonus-point win over Italy.
Australia had come to Argentina with all eyes on a positive start after some near-misses in recent seasons and they made a big statement with a first-up victory in Santa Fe.
It wasn’t a perfect start for the Australians who were tested by a physical Italian side and forced to defend for much of the afternoon.
As they did in the Oceania championships last month, the Aussies stood up in that defensive area and took their attacking chances when they presented themselves.
Italy’s scrum proved to be the biggest obstacle for the Junior Wallabies - a timely test of the Aussies’ set piece ahead of pool games against Ireland and England in the coming days.
Australia’s back row was immense in the clash, led by captain Fraser McReight who proved himself to be a menace over the ball as Italy tried to mount attacking charges.
While they spent much of the match without the ball, when the Junior Wallabies had attacking chances they made the most of them in a five try-to-two performance.
It took Italy until the 75th minute to score against the Junior Wallabies, who had not conceded a point in their past two matches, but it did little to take the shine off the Aussies' win.
Australia’s set piece started shakily - their first lineout throw missed its target and Italy monstered the Australian pack in a dominant opening scrum.
Italy flyhalf Paolo Garbisi took the chance to go for the sticks in the fourth minute but he butchered the shot in windy conditions.
The Aussies showed their ability with the ball in hand early on, with an Isaac Lucas break putting the Junior Wallabies in a dangerous attacking spot.
It was no. 8 Will Harris who found the line in the seventh minute, running over after scooping up a slick delivery from halfback Michael McDonald.
What a line. What a kick. What a try.
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 4, 2019
Australia U20s are the real deal scoring this classic at the #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/z3b7kWszlH
Italy continued to put pressure on at scrum time and just a try-saving tackle short of the Aussie line stopped the Europeans from scoring their first.
Will Harrison stretched the Junior Wallabies’ lead to 10 points with a penalty in the 18th minute as his side began to settle into the game.
Italy had another close scoring call but Australia captain McReight managed to keep Italian winger Edoardo Mastandrea held up in a tackle.
The Italians peppered the Australian line, testing the Junior Wallabies’ defence and it was a challenge the Aussies answered every time in the opening half.
Australia scored a spectacular try to end half-time, with Noah Lolesio slipping through a defensive hole in their own half to open up a final scoring chance.
The centre toed the ball ahead and into the path of winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, who was taken down just short of the line, before hooker Lachlan Lonergan ensured the five-pointer was dotted down.
That spectacular try put the momentum of the afternoon squarely in Australia's hands and McReight said post-match that it was a pivotal score for his side.
Australia captain Fraser McReight spoke on his sides performance which secured a 36 - 12 victory over Italy at the #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/zxKTc2iPcZ
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 4, 2019
"I think we found our feet in the back end of that first half and luckily we were able to put seven points before we went into the sheds," he said.
"The last three games we’ve played we’ve actually kept the teams scoreless so it would’ve been nice to keep Italy on zero but it wasn’t that way.
"Credit to Italy they played some good footy to get those 12 points in the end."
Winger Triston Reilly had Australia’s third in the 56th minute with a chain of slick lateral passes opening up a gap on the edge for the speedster to score.
Lonergan had his second in the 63rd minute, running over to complete an attack generated by Harrison and securing Australia a valuable bonus point.
"Harrison slides right through". The Australian out-half ghosts through the gap and sets up Lachlan Lonergan for his double #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/8qzj5wtEWY
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 4, 2019
The match began to open up for the Aussies then and Lucas found some space in the Italian line to put Lolesio through and stretch the margin to 34 points.
A yellow card for Aussie replacement prop Joe Cotton gave Italy a chance to open their account with hooker Niccolo Taddia scoring off the back of a strong driving maul.
Italy had the final say of the day through a Jacopo Trulla try to narrow the margin back to 24 points and that was where it stayed.
Australia takes on Ireland on Saturday June 8, kicking off at 11:30pm AEST in a match that will be critical in keeping their semi-final chances alive.
RESULT
Australia 36
Tries: Lonergan 2, Harris, Reilly, Lolesio
Cons: Harrison 4
Pens: Harrison
Yellow Card: Cotton (75')
Italy 12
Tries: Taddia, Trulla
Cons: Da re
