Wales Botch Their Italian Job

I guess everyone in Wales knows that Wales lost yet another rugby match – that is fourteen in a row now. This time it was in a rainy Rome where the Italians proved too strong and streetwise for a Wales team that seemed bereft of any attacking ideas until it was too late.

The heavy rain meant this was hardly going to be a festival of running rugby and the tactical kicking of the teams was going to be the critical factor. In this facet, the Italians proved to be vastly superior where they applied tremendous pressure on Wales with their box kicking backed up by a ferocious kick-chase. Indeed, for most of the match the Italians proved superior in every aspect with Wales coming a poor second.

The rain meant that scoring tries was not going to be easy with neither side creating many chances in a low quality game. In the first half, Italy created one chance and took it while Wales had two chances for Adams to score in the corner after shrewd kicks by Tomos Williams but the left wing was unable to take either. Italy, however, built up a healthy 16-3 lead through converting penalty kicks at goal gifted by Welsh indiscipline. Wales basically kicked virtually all their possession away without creating any pressure while the Italians kicked virtually all their possession away but did create pressure that they converted into points.

It never really looked like Wales were going to close the 16-3 half time gap as they stumbled on lamely in the second half. The forwards couldn’t make any headway against heavy Italian tackling and the backs looked like they had never played together before. It was dire stuff.  Wales used up their substitutes and the introduction of Dee, Smith and Wainwright in particular did provide some go-forward for the pack as the match limped into the final stages. Italy kicked another penalty and late on Wainwright forced his way over in a driving maul. There was just a glimmer of hope at 19-8 but Wales almost immediately conceded yet another kickable penalty and it was 22-8 with little time remaining. Again, the Welsh forwards exerted pressure from a lineout and were awarded a penalty try and it was 22-15. This meant an unlikely draw was possible with a minute or so remaining and Italy by this time down to thirteen men due to yellow cards. Wales did manage to gather the kick off but the last play really summed up the Welsh attacking impotence when even with a two man advantage they could not find away out of their own twenty-two. They eventually conceded a penalty at a breakdown and the Italians chose to end the match when they could surely have taken away Wales’ losing bonus point with a kick at goal.

So, plenty of minuses for Wales who, in truth, put up an abysmal showing albeit with late changes causing disruption and awful weather conditions. If there was any positive to be gained, it came in the performance of Faletau who really put himself about and backed up Morgan. Surely Dee and Wainwright must start for the next match and we do need a genuine outside half to start which probably means the inexperienced Dan Edwards. There will be calls for changes in the management team of course as this level of performance is totally unacceptable. Is this genuinely a runner at such short notice in the middle of tournament? There certainly do need to be changes before the end of the season.

Next up for Wales is a home game against Ireland who now must take on the mantle of favourites for the title with France having lost narrowly to England at Twickers.  To paraphrase the soothsayer, Wales will then need to “beware the sides of March” as they have Scotland away and England at home. The wooden spoon looms large and looks odds on unless something miraculous happens.

The only good news of the weekend came with the Wales Under 20s gaining a very narrow victory over their Italian counterparts. This could have gone either way in a tight finish but any sort of win is more than welcome these days.

Next weekend, we are back to club rugby with Pooler taking on Ebbw Vale at home in the SRC Cup. This should be a local derby that is well worth watching with the teams getting a win apiece in the league matches. I am gradually recovering from my hip replacement operation three weeks ago and will face a late fitness test to see if I can attend.

Come on Pooler!

Please give us something to cheer about Wales!