Italy dreamt, fought and hoped for the entire duration of the match. But in the end, the second Cattolica Test Match on Saturday 17 November at the Stadio Euganeo in Padua finished with a 7-26 win for Australia. The disparity between the two teams was at its most obvious in the last stage of a match that nevertheless saw the Azzurri show enough drive and preparation for a gripping game. But a little misfortune, such as a disallowed try for a not-so-evident offside, and a truly strong opponent clinched the game – the Kangaroos have just secured sixth place in the world rankings.

At the end of a match that saw the stands of the Paduan stadium bustling, the Chief Executive Officer of Cattolica Assicurazioni, Alberto Minali, came onto the field to award Man of the Match to the Green-and-Gold Samu Kerevi. Born in 1983, the Fijian-born also plays centre for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby.

For Italrugby, it is already time to look to the next try: Rome’s Olympic Stadium, where on Saturday 24 November, the legendary All Blacks await.