Joe Schmidt is urging fans to keep the faith as his coaching tenure faces inevitable scrutiny following Australia's humiliating 26-19 loss to Italy in Udine.

Displaying all-too-familiar ill-discipline, the Wallabies slumped to a sixth defeat in their past eight Tests under Schmidt in another hammer blow ahead of next month's 2027 Rugby World Cup draw.

Ranked seventh in the world, the Wallabies will likely need to beat powerhouses Ireland and France in their remaining two spring tour fixtures to snatch an all-important top-six seeding for the global showpiece in Australia in two years' time.

Such a scenario looks improbable after Schmidt's men produced another insipid performance, a week after falling 25-7 to England at Twickenham.

The last time Australia lost to Italy, for a first time

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