Italians Just Fall Short Again Welsh Invaders

Wales Vs Italy: Review and match report – Six Nations  

Coming into this match, it would be fair to say that Wales was a nation under the slightest of pressures. The stress that any glamour team and any side accustomed to some degree of success suffers.

Of course, any red blooded Welsh supporter would stand deep in the valleys and disagree. This is due to the title of defending champion, and the hard earned right that has effectively anointed Wales as the premier Northern Hemisphere nation. 

After all, Wales are the only team to have tasted success against one of the Tri Nations teams since October 2007. One loss against a brilliant Les Bleus performance does not make Wales a poor side.

But the reality is that any loss puts a team under the microscope.  And when Wales made nine full and one positional change in all but disdain of their oppositions status, one must be wary of a word that any strong team and favourite must fear.

Upset. 

There was one simple fact that Warren Gatland perhaps underestimated coming into this game. That Italy has taken Wales scalp more than once.

It looked certain that it would happen again for much of the game. But the class of Wales, and the lack of it from Italy, ensured the defending champions took the points.

For three quarters of the match, Italy was the superior team. Such a comment is a dagger blow on the Red Dragons. For while the Azzuri had the running for much of the game, they never looked like crossing the Welsh line.

Close to seventy minutes of Italian scoreboard dominance, possession and territory in their favour, rucks and scrums to their advantage. Beyond tries and the final points, there was not one area that Wales had ascendency over their less illustrious opponents.

Only one thing saved Wales, that when they had the ball—which was not often—they looked threatening. 

Test rugby, for all of its nuances, is a game that requires class. Wales, although it was hardly obvious today, have such players in droves. Italy, has but one. Sergio Parisse.

The number eight, arguably among the premier “caboose” forward in the world, was a colossus around the field. Not only can he play his position with aplomb, but also handles the pill with the dexterity that one might expect from a top level basketball player, not a loose forward.

If Italy can unearth just one more player, ideally a back, who can display the appropriate X factor to break open a defence or score points, then the Azzuri will start winning matches regularly.

For beyond any form of competitiveness, rugby is a match where you must score points. Italy, with but one try so far in this Six Nations, do not have the ability to make such inroads on the scoreboard.

The Italians will finish this competition with the wooden spoon, but one feels for the team. There is enough there to show that they will be able to compete with the top nations one day.

But that day is far off. This was their best performance this year, and as heartbreaking as the loss would be, there would be enough to quicken their long suffering supporters.  But the difference between a narrow loss and a win is much.

Coach Nick Mallett had called for possession and control before the match, and such directives were delivered by his men. But he forgot to call for finishing. For all of the time that Italy was in Wales half, they rarely threatened the twenty two, let alone the try line.

For Wales, the balloon has truly burst.

This was, beyond defeat itself, the worst result that they could have hoped for.

It was not until the 64th minute that Wales took a lead against a nation regarded as the weakest top level nation in Europe. They quickly lost it, but regained it in the last 10 minutes via Tom Shanklin, who came on late in the piece.

There was no standout for the Red Dragons, an overall lacklustre performance. Only their defence was strong, but not so when considering the lack of dimension from the Italian attack.

On a match where not only did Wales need to win, but needed to put on plenty of points to give themselves a better point’s differential as compared to Ireland, they failed.

One would hope, as a Wales supporter, that the performance was only indicative of the multiple changes to the team. But to call devil’s advocate, when a team is a champion side, such changes do not warrant any excuse.

Regardless of the result of Irelands match against Scotland, it will take a mammoth lift of form for Wales to win back to back Six Nations titles.

Wales V Italy

Stadio De Flaminio

Full time: Wales 20 – 15 Italy (halftime: Wales 7 – 9 Italy)

For Wales

Tries:Shanklin, Williams

Con: Hook 2

Pen: Hook 2

Key Statistics: Only two missed tackles, less rucks, lineouts, scrums and time in 22 than Italy

For Italy

Pen: Marcato 5

Drop: 2 missed

Key Statistics: Only conceded one ruck turnover, made eight offloads in the tackle