Scrappy encounter ends in stalemate
Italy won their first ever away point in the Six Nations by claiming a dramatic 18-18 draw with Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday -- but neither side seemed entused with their portion of the shared spoils.
They say that misfortune is fortune that never misses. If that's the case, Italy and Wales are proving enticing targets to they that toss the lightning bolts.
With the Welsh in self-destruct mode and the Italians continuously failing to add the cherry to the top of their daring creations, the result really should have been expected -- the sporting gods were never going to allow either of these sides to enjoy a moment of unadulterated happiness.
Tries by Mark and Stephen Jones proved insufficient for Wales as a controversial effort by Italy fullback Ezio Galon was ruled legal and Pablo Canavosio raced away to score after intercepting a wayward pass.
The sides scored a penalty apiece in the second period but the locals could not find any further breakthrough.
Wales had been boosted before the match as injury doubts Stephen Jones and Mark Jones both passed fitness tests and Shane Williams returned to the left wing after recovering from a dead leg.
Italy were forced into a late change when hooker Fabio Ongaro was replaced by Carlo Festuccia after going down with tonsillitis.
Flank Mauro Bergamasco was also out injured, while Cristian Stoica dropped to the bench with Galon the starting fullback.
Italy, having been forced onto the back foot with clever tactical kicking from Stephen Jones and then Lee Byrne, were penalised in the first scrum of the match and Jones slotted Wales into a 3-0 lead after four minutes.
Wales lost scrum-half Dwayne Peel with a shoulder injury but it did not disrupt their early momentum and a silky backs move carved open the Italian defence for Mark Jones to score in the corner.
Hal Luscombe's inside pass to Williams, who had looped round off his wing, created the overlap for Jones to score his eighth try in 20 Tests. Stephen Jones missed the conversion and Italy's response was immediate as Galon scored in controversial circumstances.
The Azzurri had just had a score disallowed -- winger Canavosio was ruled to have been in touch before off-loading -- when Wales overthrew the lineout and Italy snatched possession back.
They spun the ball quickly wide for Galon to saunter untouched over the line.
But the fullback delayed his moment of glory and appeared to have slid over the dead-ball line. But after the incident was referred to the television official, the belated verdict was a try to Italy. Ramiro Pez missed the conversion.
Italy's defence remained under pressure and Stephen Jones found the breakthrough as he spun through tackles from Festuccia, scrum-half Paul Griffin and flanker Maurizio Zaffiri to score his sixth Test try and added the conversion.
Wales almost stung Italy with another score after 29 minutes when Luscombe hacked a loose ball out of his own half and bore down on the Italian try-line. However, Bergamasco trailed him all the way and prevented the try.
Pez, after missing with a 47-yard effort, then opened his account from in front of the posts after Wales had been penalised for offside.
Wales were hammering away at the Italian line, forcing them into last-gasp defence as Matthew Watkins worked space for Robert Sidoli to gallop clear.
But that pressure was punctured two minutes before the interval when Canavosio picked off a pass Watkins had intended for Luscombe and sprinted 70 metres for the try. Pez's conversion levelled the half-time score.
Pez missed the opportunity to kick Italy ahead just two minutes into the second half.
Bergamasco, one of Italy's star men this championship, launched a blistering counter-attack and chipped into space behind Byrne only for the Wales full-back to tackle him off the ball.
Byrne escaped the yellow card but this time Pez was successful with the penalty and Italy moved ahead.
The Azzurri had begun the second half with real purpose and Wales lost their composure. Italy had to make their pressure count but Pez missed with another penalty attempt and Stoica, on for Canavosio, sent a drop-goal effort wide.
Wales were ringing the changes, with flank Alix Popham and prop Gethin Jenkins both introduced before the hour.
Jones levelled the scores again at 18-18 with a long-range penalty, but Wales were having to work hard for both possession and territory and could not eke out any further points.
Man of the match: Wales fly-half Stephen Jones was his usual imperious self and took his try well, pirouetting his way to the line. Matthew Watkins also showed some nice touches and strong breaks, as did the evergreen Robert Sidoli. For Italy, Paul Griffen was as cool and collected as ever and Maurizio Zaffiri's defence was first-class. But our man of the match is Micro Bergamasco who underlined his growing stature with a match-winning performance that encompassed startling defence, quick-witted offence and more heart than you'd find in a card shop on Valentine's Day.
Moment of the match: Ezio Galon's try will live longest in the mind, if only for his controversial touch-down rather than its polished build-up. But Micro Bergamasco outstripping Lee Byrne to ground the ball in the blue in-goal area sums up Italy's current fate -- the talent, nous and ability is most definitely there, they just don't seem to be able translate their increasingly impressive efforts into their own points.
Villain of the match: No real fisticuffs or spear-throwing so we'll focus on Ezio Galon's bizarre try. First reprimand goes to the myriad cameramen who failed to capture the incriminating moment on film. The second to the TMO, Eric Darrière. "Je crois que c'est un essai" doesn't really shout authority. And finally, Galon -- what an earth was he thinking?
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: M Jones, S Jones
Con: S Jones
Pens: S Jones 2
For Italy:
Tries: Galon, Canavosio
Con: Pez
Pens: Pez 2
The teams:
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Hal Luscombe, 12 Matthew Watkins, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel (Michael Phillips, 9), 8 Michael Owen (captain), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Colin Charvis (Alix Popham, 52), 5 Robert Sidoli Jonathan Thomas, 78), 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Rhys Thomas (Mefin Davies, 76), 1 Duncan Jones (Gethin Jenkins, 58).
Unused replacements: 21 Nicky Robinson, 22 Gavin Henson.
Italy: 15 Ezio Galon, 14 Paolo Canavosio (Cristian Stoica, 47), 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Mirco Bergamasco, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Maurizio Zaffiri (Andrea Lo Cicero, 80), 6 Sergio Parisse (Alessandro Zanni, 78), 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Santiago Dellapè (Carlo Del Fava, 50), 3 Carlos Nieto (Marco Castrogiovanni, 29), 2 Carlo Festuccia (Fabio Ongaro, 71), 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Unused replacements: 21 Simon Picone.
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges: Donal Courtney (Ireland), Rob Dickson (Scotland)
Television match official: Eric Darrière (France)
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