Today in Perth, a crucial match for both teams takes place. Australia, on a six-game losing streak, faces Italy in the third round of the Southern Hemisphere Series. For the Wallabies, it is Joe Schmidt's last game in charge, and the coach wants to leave with a win. The Australian lineup features Declan Meredith at fly half and local Perth hero Carlo Tizzano in the back row. Italy comes off a loss to New Zealand but showed resilience until Lorenzo Cannone's red card. Gonzalo Quesada, suspended from the sidelines, made nine changes, leaving out Tommaso Menoncello. Louis Lynagh, son of Wallaby legend Michael, starts on the wing.
A battle between two teams seeking redemption
Australia has not won in six matches, and Schmidt risks ending with the worst win percentage in Wallabies professional history. Italy aims to avoid a third consecutive tournament defeat. The match promises intensity, with both sides determined to make a mark. The Perth crowd will back the hosts, but the Azzurri have shown character against the All Blacks.
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Where to watch Australia vs Italy for free
Fans can watch the match free-to-air in several countries: in the US on Rugbypass TV, in the UK on ITVX, in Ireland on Virgin Media Play, and in Australia on 9Now. Those abroad can use a VPN to access their home services. NordVPN is a recommended solution to unlock free channels. Streaming security is vital, as highlighted by recent analyses on digital risks: Netflix's audience drop shows the importance of stable viewing. The underlying technology, explained in Infrastructure as Code with Terraform, ensures platform scalability.
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Tactical choices by Schmidt and Quesada
Joe Schmidt keeps Meredith at fly half, with Ben Donaldson on the bench. Max Jorgensen starts on the wing. For Italy, Paolo Garbisi directs play, with Nacho Brex at center. Monty Ioane and Lynagh form the back three. Menoncello's absence is a surprise, but Quesada seeks freshness after the demanding All Blacks match.
Head-to-head records
Australia has won 18 of 20 previous encounters, with Italy victorious only twice. On Australian soil, the record is 7-0 for the Wallabies. However, Italy has shown progress and could exploit the hosts' crisis. For more on the tournament, see the Wikipedia page for the 2026 Nations Championship.
Source: https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/rugby/australia-vs-italy-nations-championship-2026-free
