Wallabies dump Italy 32-14

Australia beat Italy 32-14 on Saturday to get its autumn tour back on track following last weekend's defeat to England.

Drew Mitchell scored the Wallabies' first try of the game on nine minutes and captain Rocky Elsom added another just before the final whistle Saturday. Center Berrick Barnes kicked 22 points, with six penalties and two conversions.

Italy improved on it losing performance against Argentina a week ago and defended strongly, though the team let a number of promising chances slip due to individual errors before substitute Robert Barbieri scored a late try.

Australia was ahead in the third minute after a number of phases took the team from deep in its own half to close to the Italian line before winning a penalty that Barnes slotted.

Italy hit back, with the new halfback pairing of debutante scrumhalf Edoardo Gori and flyhalf Luciano Orquera moving the ball wide, only for Mitchell to increase the visitors' advantage inside the first 10 minutes.

After Lachie Turner was held up, Barnes popped the ball to Mitchell who dived over from close range. Barnes then added the conversion to make it 10-0.

Mirco Bergamasco and Barnes then traded penalties as Australia continued to attack relentlessly, with Elsom held up just short of the line.

However, Australia's problems at the scrum continued against Italy's much-vaunted front row trio of Andrea Lo Cicero, Fabio Ongaro and Martin Castrogiovanni.

On Italy's first put in, James Slipper, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander immediately collapsed and referee Christophe Berdos awarded the host a penalty. That failure was repeated on all four of Italy's attacking scrums in the opening period.

In the 30th Barnes dropped the ball with the line begging, while Gonzalo Canale stopped Adam Ashley-Cooper breaking through for a try with a powerful tackle in the 33rd.

Italy ended the half with two more penalties. Orquera scored one from his own half, but was made to wait for confirmation as Berdos consulted with the television match official.

Bergamasco then notched his second after Australia's scrum collapsed for the fourth time of the half.

Italy started the second period in determined fashion and Sergio Parisse was guilty of choosing the wrong option with only one defender to beat. Paul Derbyshire won a high cross kick and knocked the ball back for Parisse to break through the Australia line but he threw a blind pass that went into touch with wing Tommaso Benvenuti free.

Barnes calmed Australia's nerves with his third penalty of the match in the 51st, added another in the 54th and took his total to five in the 60th.

Italy's best movement came in the 62nd when Orquera and Bergamasco linked up from a ruck, but Benvenuti spilled the final pass.

Barnes continued to add to the scoreboard and took his penalty count to six after Italy fullback Luke McLean held on to the ball after being tackled.

Barbieri scored Italy's try with eight minutes remaining. Parisse took the ball from the back of the scrum and after he was tackled flanker Barbieri picked up and plunged over the line.

Again Italy was forced to wait to discover the verdict of the television match official after radio equipment failed to work.

Elsom then pounced on a loose ball to score Australia's second try that Barnes nervelessly converted.

Australia completes its autumn test program against France in Paris on Nov. 27, while Italy will aim for its first win in five matches against Fiji in Modena.

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Australia 32 (Drew Mitchell, Rocky Elsom tries; Berrick Barnes 6 penalties; Barnes conversion), Italy 14 (Robert Barbieri try; Mirco Bergamasco 2 penalties, Luciano Orquera penalty). HT: 13-9.