“Subconsciously it gives you the mindset you’re expected to win ... that’s poor coaching,” Mitchell said on Stan Sport’s coverage. “[The Wallabies are] seventh in the world. You’re not in a position to make 12 changes.”

By comparison,the Wallabies made four changes to their starting XV from the first Test of the tour against Scotland heading into last week’s France match.

“We’re well aware of the strength of the Italian side,so we needed to start well and we didn’t,” Rennie said.

Pressed on whether he regretted making so many personnel changes,Rennie said:“I mean it’s not much more changes than we made the week before. There were a couple of extra bodies that we would have played today had they not been injured from the French game. We picked squads a long way out ... we looked at how we’re going to give ourselves the best chance to win all five games on tour. We had a good enough side out on the paddock to win.

“It’s hugely disappointing. It’s not good enough. All I can say is it’s hurting. You go into the change room and the boys are hurt. They know we’re better than that. I understand the frustration[of fans].

“It hurts everyone involved. We had a good enough side on the field but we just gave up too many soft points and possession and territory.”

Australia scored four tries to Italy’s three but ran into a side who played with real passion and high on confidence after their one-point win over Wales in the Six Nations.

There were wild scenes at full-time in Florence as Italy hung on,thanks to two tries from fullback Ange Capuozzo.

“We’re planning to have a party tonight,” said Italy coach Kieran Crowley,who received a round of applause from local media as he walked into his press conference. “It was outstanding. We asked them to die for Italy and I think they did today.”

Crowley,who has a long association with Rennie,said he didn’t feel the Wallabies took his side lightly.

“We do not think they disrespected us at all,” Crowley said. “They’re all Super Rugby players or[playing] in France or wherever it may be. You manage your players and put the team out you think is going to do the job for you.

“If Australia kicked that last goal,you probably wouldn’t be asking that last question.”

The Wallabies trailed for nearly the entire match and were down 17-8 at half-time.

When Capuozzo sliced through to score his second try in the 65th minute,Italy were ahead 25-15 and on the cusp of history.

After winning a breakdown penalty,courtesy of Lachlan Lonergan,the call was overturned because of a Tom Robertson tackle off the ball.

But Robertson redeemed himself moments later with a try in the 68th minute,that came off a crucial spoil from Darcy Swain at an Italian lineout.

A penalty in the 76th minute put Italy ahead by six points before Neville’s last-gasp try gave the Wallabies hope of getting out of jail.

Donaldson,who replaced Lolesio in the 76th minute,was given the ball for a kick he would have dreamt of his entire life.

He struck it well but it went to the right. As far as cruel blows come,they don’t get any tougher.

“He’s hurting,” Rennie said. “We’ve definitely got an arm around him. “It’s not the reason we lost today.”

Australia knocked on from the first kick-off and things hardly improved.

Mark Nawaqanitawase’s first involvement at Test level was a terrific tackle that helped turn possession over.

Australia were reduced to 14 men when Jake Gordon hit No.10 Tommaso Allanoff the ball as he raced through to regather a kick.

Italy pounced in a big way,scoring two tries with Gordon off the field,to stun the visitors with a 17-3 advantage.

“I’m not sure about the yellow card,” Rennie said.

Noah Lolesio floated a lovely pass to set up Tom Wright for Australia’s first five-pointer but two failed conversions – there was a re-kick – saw the Wallabies go into the sheds trailing by nine points.

Will Skelton’s first start for Australia since 2016 was productive. He made good post-contact metres and powered his way through a maul to win back possession.

But this performance was just so typical of the Wallabies.

Great one week,average the next.

What they’ll dish up against Ireland in Dublin next week is anyone’s guess.

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