It’s The Italians Who Will Be Singing

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!