A perfect spring afternoon in Cardiff with the sky matching the azure of Italian team’s shirts. The Principality Stadium in raptures celebrating a hundred caps for Dan Biggar and the one hundred and fifty caps for the extraordinary Alun Wyn Jones. The stage was surely set for a vibrant Welsh performance to round off their Six nations campaign and perhaps secure third spot.
Well, that was the theory anyway. From the kick-off
onwards, Wales never managed to gain any measure of control of the match. Italy
were everything Wales were not, they were committed and pragmatic, while Wales
were lack-lustre and seemed to think that they only had to turn up to win. At least that was the view from
the stand. The Welsh forwards got little change out of the highly motivated
Italian pack at set piece and breakdown. The Welsh backs lacked cohesion and
seemed unable to penetrate the well organised Italian defence.
Wales gave
away far too many penalties and whenever they were in the Welsh half either
Garbisi or Padovani slotted them to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Wales
spurned kicks at goal and tried to use the driving lineout which proved to be ineffective.
At the end of the first half, it was 7-12 with four Italian penalties trumping
a try from Owen Watkin. The Italians must surely crack in the second half or so we
thought.
The second
half was marginally better from Wales with the forwards managing to set up a
try for Lake. Their 14-12 lead didn’t last long, however, as they were
overtaken by yet another penalty (14-15). Wales were getting increasingly
desperate but a fine individual try from Adams finally put them in the driving
seat with a six point lead at 21-15.
Surely the
Italians would crack in the last quarter as they have done so many times before.
The game looked to be over when Wyn Jones ploughed over from short range but
the TMO had other ideas and what looked to be a good try was ruled out.
More
penalties from Wales and the Italians got field position with time running out.
They threw caution to the winds and a brilliant break by Capuozzo put Padovani
in for a try. Garbisi converted and the Italians had snatched a momentous
victory. It was nothing less than they deserved and brought an end to their
long barren spell. Well done Italy!
Wales were
quite simply poor and a shadow of the team that ran France close the previous
weekend. This should take nothing away
from the Italians who played with admirable commitment and not a little skill from
start to finish. Nevertheless, Wales should not be losing at home to Italy.
Team
selection for Wales seemed wrong with the new faces introduced failing to make
the impact that Pivac hoped for. Wales desperately needed a constructive open
side wing forward but didn’t even have one on the bench. The backs failed to
fire and questions must surely be asked about the attack coach now.
In the
cold light of day, this has been a very poor campaign for Wales with only one
win out of five matches after being champions the previous year. Add this to
the poor form of the Regions and a poor showing from the Under 20’s and you can
feel pretty pessimistic about the state of Welsh rugby. We are off the pace I
am afraid. All this and a tour to South Africa in the summer. Having, watched
the Bulls smash the Scarlets on Friday it does look like mission impossible
Still the international
season is over and we can get back to club rugby for a few weeks. Pontypool are off
to Ystrad Rhondda next Saturday and Bargoed the week after. Two tough fixtures
with so little rugby played this year. As always, Pooler will give it their all
and let’s hope they can triumph.
Come on
Pooler!
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