Wallabies 30 defeat Italy 20
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The winning score by the Wallabies looks far more convincing than the actual win for Australia who won 30-20 against an Italian side that were unlucky to lose.
The Nick Mallett inspired Italy side were at times the clearly better side but lack of polish and brilliance of Wallabies rookie Quade Cooper got Australia over the line.
With scores locked at 20-20 with 10 minutes remaining Quade Cooper made an evasive 30metre run to beat four Italians to score. Cooper’s try clinched victory for an unconvincing Wallabies.
Deans will not take away any positives from the encounter and has lost his star Berrick Barnes for the rest of the tour and Timana Tahu who played well to a hamstring injury.
On a positive note Ben Alexander in the front row had a promising first run on test appearance and Matt Giteau was perfect with his kicking.
The Wallabies have lots to do to defeat England this weekend.
Meanwhile Mallett will be disappointed the Italian side could not qin the match but will be proud of their efforts.
Checkout the video highlights below from Fox Sports.
Wallabies to play in Canberra in 2009
The Wallabies will play a test in Canberra for the first in nine years as the Wallabies will play Italy in a two test series and France in a one off test before the Tri-Nations.
The Wallabies will play Italy in the opening international of the season at Canberra Stadium. The Wallabies will play the second test against Italy on 20 June in Melbourne at Telstra Dome.
Saturdsy 27th June will see the Wallabies playing for the third week running against a full strength French side that will be keen to make amends for their poor showing this year.
George Smith wins 2008 John Eales Medal
George Smith has won the John Eales Medal for the second time after a sensational international season where he was a standout in every match he played for the Wallabies.
George Smith is the only player to have won the award twice after winning the inaugural award in 2002.
George Smith finished first on 205 votes, beating Wycliff Palu on 184 and Matt Giteau on 183 votes. Rocky Elsom and Stirling Mortlock came fourth and fifth respectively.
Peter Hynes was announced as the Rookie of the Year.
Could Sonny Bill Williams play for the Barbarians?
It has been reported that Sonny Bill Williams has been called up to play for the Barbarians against the Wallabies on 3rd December by Eddie Jones.
Sonny Bill Williams will require a clearance from his side Toulon and is likely to play subject to fitness. Should Sonny play this could be a springboard to potential higher honours in rugby and will certainly put him on the international stage.
Wallabies struck with injuries
The Wallabies continue to struggle under the weight of injuries as two more front line players have fallen and will be unavailable for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand in Hong Kong.
Peter Kimlin strained his quad in training while luckless Hugh McMeniman rolled his ankle in a vigourous training session under the coaching of Robbie Deans.
Deans has been putting the Wallabies through a series of rigourous training sessions that has pushed the players to the limit in the aim of getting the players prepared for a tough european tour that will test the improvements of the Australian game in the last six months.
The Wallabies will depart for Hong Kong in less than two weeks time.
Peter Kimlin secures Wallabies selection
Peter Kimlin has won selection into the Wallabies touring squad after earlier in the week training with the Wallabies squad. Kimlin had thought he was just making up the numbers gaining some valuable experience until Robbie Deans announced he was to join the squad for the European tour that departs in two weeks time.
Kimlin was over the moon with the decision but also in shock that his dream of playing the the Wallabies is now certainly guaranteed and that it has come perhaps years before he seriously expcted his chance to come.
Kimlin, 23, who mostly played off the bench for the Brumbies in the Super 14 this year looks set to not only become a regular in the starting lineup for the Brumbies next year but also set to win his first test cap in Europe.
Kimlin who stands 198cm is a tall and aggressive player who has a high work-rate and has impressed at the Brumbies in 2008. This and his strong form for Australia A caught the eye of the Deans and this secured him the call into the Wallabies squad.
A local Canberra product Kimlin is in a good position to push for a long term role with the Wallabies and could form a dynamic lock pairing with James Horwill in the years to come.
George Gregan joins Barbarians
George Gregan has accepted an offer to play under the Jake White and Eddie Jones inspired Barbarians side to take on the Wallabies on 3 December 2008.
Gregan currently playing in Japan is still the world’s most capped international rugby player and joins one of the most impressive Barbarians side ever to be formed. Gregan joins other greats of the game such as All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw and a host of Springbok players including John Smit, Percy Montgomery, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger.
The All Blacks have also contributed a host of players such as Jerry Collins, Carl Hayman and Joe Rokocoko.
The match will be the first Rugby match at the new Wembley Stadium.
2009 Rugby Tri-Nations Fixtures
The 2009 Rugby Tri-Nations fixtures have been announced.
The tournament kicks off in Auckland when Australia take on New Zealand on 18th July. The New Zealand then travel to South Africa where they play the Boks two weeks in a row.
Australia then take on the Springboks in only one test in South Africa before playing three tests at home. The Tri-Nations end in September with New Zealand taking on the Springboks then the Wallabies.
The 2009 Rugby Tri-Nations schedule is;
July 18, 5.35pm New Zealand v Australia, Auckland
July 25, 11pm South Africa v New Zealand, Bloemfontein
Aug 1, 11pm South Africa v New Zealand, Durban
Aug 8, 11pm South Africa v Australia, Cape Town
Aug 22, 8.05pm Australia v New Zealand, Sydney
Aug 29, 8.05pm Australia v South Africa, Perth
Sept 5, 8.05pm Australia v South Africa, Brisbane
Sept 12, 5.35pm New Zealand v South Africa, Hamilton
Sept 19, 5.35pm New Zealand v Australia, Wellington
Note: All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time
Wallabies injury woes - Horwill ruled out
James Horwill, 23, has been ruled out of the Wallabies spring tour of Europe after succumbing to a foot ligament tear that could see him sidelined for up to six months.
Horwill incurred the injury against South Africa and has struggled through with the injury subsequently and only now after resting it for a while has a more serious problem been confirmed. Horwill will need to undergo rehab and will hopefully be in a position to return at some stage during the 2009 Super 14 tournament.
Horwill’s absense is a major blow to the Wallabies as Horwill has established himself as the premier lock for the Wallabies. His loss through injury is magnified by the loss of Vickerman overseas but also opens the door for other players like Mark Chisholm to prove their worth for the Wallabies.
A replacement has yet to be named.
Wallabies get jump on All Blacks
The Wallabies entered training camp today as the first of four camps where Robbie Deans will assemble his team in the lead-up to the All Blacks clash and subsequent Spring tour in November and December.
Deans ran his 34 man squad through their paces as they prepare for an end of season defining tour that will shape the likely future of Australian Rugby under Dean’s leadership.
The All Blacks on tbe other hand while still playing out the final weeks of the Air New Zealand Cup will not go into camp until one week before the Bledisloe Cup clash in Hong Kong.
The Air New Zealand Cup final will not be played until 25 October and the All Blacks team will be named the next day before they depart for Hong Kong on Monday. The All Blacks will only have that week to prepare before they commence their tour with the Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies.
The Wallabies however will go into the tour perhaps better prepared than anytime in recent memory with all key players except Lote Tuqiri on deck and keen to show what they all offer the Wallabies for the future.
The tour will showcase the full squad and will likely allow future stars like Ben Alexander, David Pocock, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor to establish their claims for long term considerations for the Wallabies.