The Wallabies concluded the Joe Schmidt era on a high note, defeating Italy 57-10 in Perth to snap their six-match losing streak and showcase the talent that new coach Les Kiss will inherit ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Despite Italy's coach Gonzalo Quesada being suspended by World Rugby for criticizing a referee, expectations were high for the world No. 10 side, especially after their surprising victories over Australia in 2022 and 2025. However, the Wallabies delivered a stunning performance from the outset.

Australia took an early lead with:

• Josh Canham scoring the first try after a powerful maul.
• Tom Wright adding a second try, making it 12-0.
• Brandon Paenga-Amosa pushing the score to 19-0 within the first 12 minutes.

Italy responded with a try from captain Michele Lamaro, reducing the deficit to 24-5. But the Wallabies retaliated as Canham scored his second try, followed by Angus Bell and Len Ikitau, bringing the halftime score to an impressive 38-5.

Despite a brief resurgence from Italy with a try from Monty Ioane, the Wallabies maintained their momentum. Rob Valetini set up Canham for his hat-trick, and Ryan Lonergan added the extras for a 45-10 lead.

In a match filled with excitement, Miles Amatosero made his debut, while Italy faced further struggles as Marco Riccioni received a red card. Schmidt and his assistant Laurie Fisher reflected on their journey, ready to celebrate after a remarkable win that marked a new beginning for Australian rugby.