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Italy claimed their first-ever win over the Wallabies courtesy of a nail-biting 28-27 triumph in Florence on Saturday.

Tries from Ange Capuozzo (2) and Pierre Bruno helped the Azzurri to victory while Tommaso Allan finished with a 10-point haul, after succeeding with a couple of penalties and as many conversions, and Edoardo Padovani also slotted a three-pointer off the kicking tee.

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For Australia, Tom Wright, Fraser McReight, Tom Robertson and Cadeyrn Neville scored tries while Noah Lolesio added two conversions and a penalty.

The Wallabies had the chance to clinch a last-gasp victory, when Ben Donaldson lined up a shot at goal to convert Neville’s try with the final act of the match, but his kick was off target.

The hosts were the first team on the board with an Allan penalty in the second minute before Lolesio levelled the scores with a penalty of his own only three minutes later.

The Italians built solid momentum through their structured phase play and could have gone into a three-point lead, but Allan missed a penalty attempt.

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A yellow card for Wallabies scrum-half Jake Gordon in the 16th minute, for cynically obstructing an Italian player on a kick chase, opened the door for a well-worked try from the hosts as Bruno crashed over in the corner three minutes later for a converted try.

The Azzurri made the most of their ascendency when Capuozzo went over in the 26th minute for another converted try as the hosts built a solid lead.

The Wallabies had the final say in the first half as Wright scored in the corner with an acrobatic finish. Lolesio missed the conversion from the touchline.

Australia drew first blood in the second period when McReight scored a converted try in the 44th minute as the visitors launched a comeback.

Allan then added a 53rd-minute penalty before Italy upped the tempo as Capuozzo scored his second try 12 minutes later, which was unconverted.

The Wallabies responded immediately through Robinson, who scored in the 68th minute, with Lolesio adding the extras.

A crucial Padovani penalty in the 76th minute put Italy up 28-22 before the Wallabies ensured a tense finish when Neville scored with the clock in the red.

The pressure fell onto debutant Donaldson to convert the try to win the game, but a miss meant Italy would create history with their first win against Australia.

23-year-old Italian left-back and Torino man is scheduled to undergo a medical with AS Monaco tomorrow, according to RMC.

Contrary to reports in Italy, there will be in swap deal involving Soualiho Meïté, despite the fact that talks are ongoing over a transfer for the player to Torino.

AS Monaco’s primary left-back target was Inter Milan’s Dalbert, but they were asking for an obligatory purchase clause in an eventual loan deal of an amount that was viewed unreasonable by ASM.

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Brazilian full-back Jorge in the meantime has been placed on the transfer market, but is yet to attract any offers.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is already looking ahead to next year’s Six Nations opener against England, having finished their Autumn Nations Series campaign.

Townsend’s men ended the end-of-year Tests with two wins from four against Fiji and Argentina whilst losing out against Australia and New Zealand.

Strong Twickenham record

The Scots boast an impressive record at Twickenham in recent years and are unbeaten in their last two visits and the head coach is looking to go into the game against the Red Rose with confidence after a decisive eight-try win against Argentina last weekend.

“England are always going to be tough at Twickenham,” Townsend said.

“Although we won there the last time (in 2021), we are aware there were no supporters there that day (due to the Covid lockdown).

“It’s a real challenging place to play. We’ve gone there the last two occasions and come away with a draw and a win so we’ll go there with confidence.

“We’ll cross our fingers that we have everybody to select from but it’s a great game to start the Six Nations with, as we have done the last couple of years. It’s a good one for us to get our focus back on to improve our performance.”

Townsend is delighted that his team have three home games in next year’s Six Nations, against Ireland, Wales and Italy. The head coach believes it will be good for the home support and logistics.

“It’s good for the country,” he said.

“To play three home games is obviously better than playing three away games because you’ve got the supporters here and, from a coaching perspective, there’s less travel so it’s an easier week to manage.

“That home support gives you more energy and it’s about harnessing that energy into scoring more points than the opposition.”

Test rugby is competitive

Townsend admits international rugby is becoming more and more competitive, making the Six Nations a hard tournament to call.

“The Six Nations is its own standalone tournament so you’ve got the crowds, the form of teams comes up for those big games, and nothing is consistent,” he added.

“There will be teams that play really well one week and not as well the next week. World rugby is very competitive just now.

“Argentina have knocked off New Zealand and England and they didn’t win over the last two weekends, and there are other teams in similar situations.

“Italy have been very good. They finished the Six Nations beating Wales and since then they’ve gone up against Australia and looked really dangerous.”

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Gianluca di Marzio reported this lunchtime that a deal was done for Ivorian midfielder Jean-Michaël Seri to join Fulham.

Nice-Matin however claim that there is absolutely no deal in place, with the player’s agent having informed RMC and Sport Witness that whilst talks are ongoing with Fulham, the Premier League side does not represent the player’s favoured destination.

OGC Nice were understood to be seeking a deal worth €40m, which is why rumours of a deal around €20m are particularly surprising.

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Manu Tuilagi looks set to make his 50th appearance for England after being named in their wider training squad for the Autumn Nations Series clash against South Africa.

The centre has featured in all three internationals so far in November, but was taken off early in both the matches against Argentina and New Zealand.

Tuilagi made his debut for the Red Rose in 2011 but has struggled with injury throughout his career.

World Cup highlight

His best individual performance came as they beat New Zealand 38-21 at Twickenham in 2012, but his career highlight was arguably the Red Rose’s 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign.

The midfield powerhouse scored a try in the 19-7 semi-final victory over the All Blacks.

Tuilagi is not a guaranteed starter, however, with Eddie Jones potentially looking to make changes for the encounter against the Springboks this weekend.

The 31-year-old was off the field when England produced a stunning fightback to come from 25-6 behind with 10 minutes remaining to draw 25-25.

Mako Vunipola, Will Stuart, David Ribbans and Ben Youngs were among those to have impressed off the bench and could have earned starting roles this weekend.

One player who will almost certainly be in the XV is lock Maro Itoje, who is excited about Saturday’s encounter.

Improvement after disappointing display

“Playing South Africa at Twickenham – I’m really looking forward to it. I only wish the game is a little bit sooner because we left a lot out there against New Zealand,” Itoje said.

“While the second half was a bit more how we want to play, this week is an opportunity to hopefully play how we want to for the full 80 minutes.

“We have an incredible amount of potential in this team, we just need to unlock it. We are spending more and more time together and are becoming more cohesive, so hopefully it will come.

“I’m proud that we stuck at it (against New Zealand) and we didn’t go away and proud that we played some great rugby towards the end of that game, but we need to play like that for the whole game.

“You never want to be too happy with a draw, but it’s better than losing. Hopefully, it will put us in better stead for South Africa, who will be a great challenge.

“South Africa haven’t changed the way they play since their first game in international rugby! Strong set-piece, strong kicking game, strong defence.”

England’s 36-man training squad

Forwards: Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans, Sean Robinson, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Will Stuart, Hugh Tizard, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Jack Willis

Backs: Joe Cokanasiga, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Will Joseph, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Jack Nowell, Guy Porter, Adam Radwan, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs

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Montpellier have concluded an agreement with Toulouse to sign French striker Andy Delort in an initial loan deal with an option to buy worth €4m, according to L’Équipe.

Delort will sign today should he pass a medical.

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The United Rugby Championship continues on Friday as two matches take place, with the Sharks and Edinburgh hosting the Ospreys and Munster in their respective fixtures.

Sharks v Ospreys

The Sharks have called on several Springboks stars, excluding Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi, as the Durban outfit look to get their season back on track following the departure of coach Sean Everitt this week.

Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche come into the front-row alongside the powerful Carlu Sadie.

There is a positional change for Vincent Tshituka, who moves from flank to lock alongside Gerbrandt Grobler with Sikhumbuzo Notshe on the side of the scrum alongside Jeandre Labuschange and skipper Phepsi Buthelezi in the back-row.

Jaden Hendrikse starts with Curwin Bosch as the half-back pairing, whilst Boeta Chamberlain wears 15 this weekend.

Makazole Mapimpi is on the left wing with Marnus Potgieter on the right while Ben Tapuai and Francois Venter are the midfield for Neil Powell’s first game in charge of the Sharks.

Meanwhile, Rhys Webb will captain the Ospreys with back-row Will Hickey set to make his second start in succession for the Welsh region.

Hickey made 15 tackles last week against the Bulls without missing one and is alongside Ethan Roots and Morgan Morris in the back-row.

Keelan Giles lines up on the left wing and is one of just four players in the URC to have made eight or more line breaks so far this season.

Webb is joined by Jack Walsh in the half-backs while Giles links up with Luke Morgan and Max Nagy in the back three for this fixture.

The teams:

Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Vincent Tshituka, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 James Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Jack Walsh, 9 Rhys Webb (c), 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Will Hickey, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Huw Sutton, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Rhys Henry
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Jack Regan, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Luke Scully, 23 Cai Evans

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Kick-off: 19:10 local (17:10 GMT)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Edinburgh v Munster

Edinburgh welcome the return of several experienced internationalists for their crucial United Rugby Championship match against Munster at DAM Health Stadium.

The club’s biggest crowd of season awaits the return of Pierre Schoeman (loosehead), Grant Gilchrist (lock), Jamie Ritchie (back-row), Viliame Mata (number eight), Blair Kinghorn (fly-half), Mark Bennett (outside centre), Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham (both wing) all return to reinforce Edinburgh’s starting XV.

The capital side make four further changes to the side that faced Benetton in Round Eight as academy hooker Paddy Harrison Luan de Bruin (tighthead), Ben Vellacott (scrum-half) and Chris Dean (centre) all get the nod for the Friday night clash.

Wes Goosen moves to full-back – with Henry Immelman missing out through injury – while there is a place on the bench for recently signed hooker, Tom Cruse, who is in line to make his Edinburgh debut.

The capital club has called on its fans to help pay tribute to the great Doddie Weir OBE, who last weekend tragically lost his battle with MND, with supporters encouraged to wear tartan garments to bring colour to the match, where a moment’s applause will be held in his memory before kick-off.

An electric back-three unit sees full-back Goosen and Scotland wing duo Graham and Van der Merwe combine for the first time.

Bennett and club centurion Dean link up in midfield while Vellacott and Kinghorn return at half-back.

Hooker Harrison packs down alongside props Schoeman and De Bruin as Jamie Hodgson and club co-captain Gilchrist complete the tight-five.

Luke Crosbie retains his place at openside flanker with Scotland skipper Ritchie and Fijian star Mata both returning to the capital back-row.

Meanwhile, John Ryan starts on his 200th Munster appearance as he becomes the 13th player to reach the landmark, joining team-mates Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne in the 200 club.

There are five personnel changes and one positional switch to the side that secured a bonus-point win against Connacht last time out.

In the backline, Shane Daly moves to full-back and Simon Zebo comes into the side on the wing.

There are four changes in the pack as Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Ryan come in to the front row with Gavin Coombes starting at number eight.

Full-back Daly, Calvin Nash and Zebo make up the back three.

Rory Scannell and Antoine Frisch continue their centre partnership with half-backs Craig Casey and Joey Carbery also unchanged.

Loughman, Scannell and Ryan start in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne keeping their places in the engine room.

Captain Peter O’Mahony and John Hodnett are joined by Coombes in the back-row.

Greencore Munster Rugby Academy back three player Patrick Campbell is included among the replacements and set to make his sixth appearance of the season.

The teams:

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Villame Mata, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie (cc), 5 Grant Gilchrist (cc), 4 Jamie Hodgson, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Boan Venter, 18 WP Nel, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Nick Haining, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 James Lang

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 Jack O’Donoghue, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Patrick Campbell

Venue: DAM Health Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Ross Mabon (Scotland)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

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Lyon and Manchester United currently stand as the two most likely destinations for out-going FC Barcelona central defender and Colombian international Yerry Mina at the time of writing, according to sources contacted by Get French Football News.

The situation should decant within the next 72 hours. As early as June, Lyon representatives had their first contacts with Mina’s entourage, receiving positive indications about the Colombian’s strong desire that, if he had to leave Barcelona this summer, that it would be to a side offering Champions’ League football.

This was later confirmed with the player’s decision not to seriously entertain persistent contact from Everton around 3 weeks ago.

Mina has stalled on making a move to Les Gones, who have provisionally offered Barcelona €30m in order to land the player, after being informed in early July of an interest from Manchester United.

It is understood that Mina prefers a move to the Red Devils, but two stumbling blocks are currently preventing the move from being completed.

It appears that United are hesitating in making a formal offer for the player as they are focusing on targets that appear higher up on their central defensive shortlist. An individual in particular that they appear to prefer to sign is Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham).

Only once United have exhausted talks with all individuals placed higher up on their shortlist will they formalise negotiations for Mina. Secondly, it is suggested that the Colombian wants a clear understanding of where he would be placed in any side he joins’ squad hierarchy, wanting to avoid another season of being on the periphery of first team action.

At Lyon, he would receive a considerably smaller salary, but would be quasi-guaranteed a starting berth.

As of Tuesday evening, Lyon were suitably confident that they stood a realistic chance of signing Yerry Mina that they tempered negotiations with Benfica for secondary target Ruben Dias.

Which turn this saga will take, for now, is anyone’s guess.

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Springboks and Leicester Tigers flyhalf Handre Pollard has backed South African teams to rise to the challenge of the Champions Cup.

The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks will make their European debut this weekend, and Springboks’ pivot Pollard believes that his fellow countrymen will take the competition to a “completely different level.”

Benefit of adding the South Africans

The former Bulls fly-half is convinced that the South Africans will improve the tournament, particularly after a year or two. 

 “I understand completely some people are like ‘, What are they doing here?” Pollard said.

 “But after a year or two, it’ll benefit the competition. It took the URC to a completely different level, and I honestly believe they’ll be the same with the Champions Cup.”

Adding a new flavour

Pollard waxed lyrical about the style of the South African sides ahead of the tournament praising their attacking intent and physicality.

 “The South African teams will bring a great new flavour to the competition. They have been playing a really nice, attacking brand of rugby in the URC, while the physicality is the difference between the top four or five teams in the Champions Cup. 

“It’s bred into us, so that part of the game is pretty set,” he said.

However, the 28-year-old warned his fellow countrymen that they would need to improve tactically to compete with the best the competition offers.

 “The clubs in South Africa will have to become smarter tactically to compete with the top teams in Europe.

“It might take them a couple of years to find their feet because it’s so different, but I think it’ll be great. People will enjoy it,” he explained.

 “The weather is going to play a role. Going to South Africa in January, it’s going to be hot, humid, and tough, and then the next week, you come up here in the snow! It’s going to be very interesting to see how the teams can adjust.”

The thrill of Europe’s big stage

Pollard is excited for the South African players who will be experiencing some of the biggest stages Europe offers for the first time.

“Seven, eight years ago, we were saying to ourselves that the Champions Cup is so awesome, and we wished we were playing in it,” he said.

 “I was saying how I’d like to come to England to play in it, and now the boys are playing in it anyway!

 “For them to come over and play in the Stade Michelin against Clermont or go to the Aviva and play Leinster, it will be great to see our young guys in South Africa take that pressure, thrive under and learn from it.

“It’ll be a great learning experience. I’m very excited to see what they can do.”

No easy games

The 65-test cap Springbok added that he hopes the South African teams will do well this season to give the fans a better understanding of just how big the competition is.

“Hopefully, some of the South African teams can do well this season, just to get our fans more of a taste for what it is like going into the play-offs. 

“People might be pretty sceptical in the beginning, not understanding quite, but I think they will quickly realise it is massive, and they’ll enjoy it.

“Every game is tough in the Champions Cup; there is no easy game.”

The Sharks host Harlequins on Saturday in the first Champions Cup fixture involving a South African side. The Stormers follow shortly afterwards as they head into the iconic Stade Marcel-Michelin to face Clermont. The Bulls are the last to debut as they host last season’s Challenge Cup winners, Lyon. 

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Speaking to BeIN Sports, Dutch international attacker Memphis Depay discussed his future at Lyon.

“I am very happy at the moment, but obviously I would like to move to a bigger club. We will see when that happens. For the moment I simply want to give 100% from when the season starts. Ask any player, we all want to play in the best clubs and the best leagues. So if a big club comes in and makes an offer, we will discuss it, but I am very happy at Lyon. I am very happy with the quality of our squad and the players.”

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