Welsh conquer Rome
Wales gave Italy a lesson in running rugby in Rome on Saturday, running in six tries as they notched up a 38-8 Six Nations victory at the Stadio Flaminio.
Wales had too much speed and finesse for Italy, the local forwards did well enough but their back were outplayed.
It would have been a drab match indeed had it not been for the electricity of Wales wing Shane Williams.
There was a happy atmosphere in Stadio Flaminio on an overcast day that threatened to melt into rain. There was a group of spectators dressed as Roman legionnaires -- singing Land of My Fathers! Mind you the team that sings its anthem best may just be Italy, cosmopolitan though they be as a team.
The first score of the match started with a moment of brilliance by Shane Williams.
Andrea Masi, the Italian centre grubbered ahead. Williams picked it up, shuffled, darted and accelerated from just out side his 22. Tom Shanklin took it on. Wales won from a tackle on their right and net left. Michael Owen bowled a long pass to Jonathan Thomas who scored far out. Stephen Jones converted. 7-0 after five minutes.
Gareth Thomas nearly set up a try soon afterwards when he latched onto an Italian knock on, raced away from defenders and chipped. But nippy Ludovico Nitoglia saved.
The knock-on may have had a bad effect on Italy as their backs were not nearly as creative as against Ireland. Instead they resorted to kicking and kicking and kicking -- till late in the match.
Then Gavin Henson gave intimations of his humanity. He beat two Italians with great strength and then chipped -- and Italy scored. The little Italian fly-half Luciano Orquera charged the kick down just inside his half, picked up the ball and ran half the length of the field to shake off Shane Williams's pursuit and score far out. 7-5 after 11 minutes.
Ten minutes later, Shanklin broke. Hauled down, Wales won the ball on their right. They went left and Henson chipped high to his left where Tom Shanklin was taller than Nitoglia and scored in the corner. 12-3 after 21 minutes.
As against Ireland last weekend, Italy's goal-kicking in the first half just did not manage. Roland de Marigny missed with two kicks which would have made a difference in the more competitive of the halves.
On the stroke of half-time Wales scored a good try which the crowd judged unfair and muttered loudly about. From a shabby line-out Wales tidied up, Haldane Luscombe broke strongly through Masi and gave to Martyn Williams we ho drove at the goal-posts as De Marigny grabbed him. Falling and turning Williams managed to press the ball against the base of the posts. The television match official confirmed that it was a try. Stephan Jones converted. 19-5 at half-time.
De Marigny got one over to make it 19-8 early in the second period. Then Mirco Bergamasco chipped and put pressure on. Wales cleared badly and Nitoglia cut through in the best Shane Williams fashion. Italy attacked right. They came back left and were going right again when prop Martin Castrogiovanni knocked on.
Wales then put the ball through phase after phase and suddenly Shane Williams did his dart dance. The ball went right and big Brent Cockbain cut back through De Marigny for the try which gave the welsh most joy. Stephen Jones converted. 26-8.
When Gareth Thomas counter-attacked Wales scored a brilliant try. He cut through and gave to Martyn Williams who gave to Kevin Morgan, on for hamstrung Luscombe. Morgan gave to Shane Williams, who darted over to score. Stephan Jones converted 33-8.
At this stage there was much coming and going of replacements and substitutions and the match gained an air of unreality.
Wales got one more try when Shane Williams danced, Ceri Sweeney supported and gave to Robert Sidoli who scored in the left corner.
Land of our Fathers sounded over the Seven Hills of Rome -- an irony, for the land of Sidoli's fathers was Italy!
Just after this De Marigny fell awkwardly and had to be helped off -- in old-fashioned style between two medical men -- and Robin Sowden-Taylor came on for his first cap.
Man of the Match: The two candidates were welsh -- industrious Martyn Williams and, our choice, Shane Williams for lifting the match out of mediocrity.
Moment of the Match: Shane Williams picked up Andrea Masi's grubber and magic happened.
Villain of the Match: Nobody, all good clean fun!
The scorers:
For Italy:
Try: Orquera
Pen: De Marigny
For Wales:
Tries: J Thomas, Shanklin, M Williams, Cockbain, S Williams., Sidoli.
Cons: Jones 4
The teams:
Italy: 15 Roland de Marigny (Matteo Barbini, 79), 14 Mirco Bergamasco, 13 Walter Pozzebon (Paul Kaine Robertson, 54), 12 Andrea Masi (Matteo Barbini, 21-24), 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alessandro Troncon (Paul Griffen, 57), 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco (David Dal Maso, 23), 6 Aaron Persico, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Santiago Dellapè (Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 58), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Salvatore Perugini, 58),
Wales: 15 Gareth Thomas (captain), 14 Hal Luscombe (Kevin Morgan, 54), 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones (Ceri Sweeney, 61), 9 Dwayne Peel (Gareth Cooper, 57), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams (Robin Sowden-Taylor, 75), 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Brent Cockbain (Ian Gough, 62), 3 Adam Jones (John Yapp, 62), 2 Mefin Davies (Robin McBryde, 62), 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), David Changleng (Scotland)
Assessor: Colin High (England)
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