Made to work: Wales see off Italy
Wales kept their Grand Slam mission on course after seeing off a determined Italy outfit 24-3 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
Now only France stand in the way of the Welsh, who are only 80 minutes away from securing the 2012 Six Nations title.
However, it wasn't always one-way traffic for the hosts. Wales have averaged almost 40 points a time over their previous Six Nations meetings with the Azzurri in Cardiff and a repeat performance was expected by many this weekend.
But the Italians weren't prepared to roll over so easily and put in a feisty performance in defence that kept their hosts tryless for 50 minutes, until centre Jamie Roberts finally found a chink in the visitors' armour.
Until then, the favourites had to settle for three penalties to one with full-back Leigh Halfpenny and wing Mirco Bergamasco providing all the points in the first half for their respective teams that saw Wales head into the half-time sheds 9-3 on top.
Italy enjoyed some lengthy spells of possession after the break, but they were then hit with a sucker punch as Wales grabbed the opening try.
The visitors had made seven times more tackles than the men in red, but had no answer for a Welsh counter-attack inside their own 22. With Italy's defence stretched, the ball was spun wide to Roberts who stepped inside Bergamasco for a clear run-in to the line.
Halfpenny added the extras but 10 minutes later found himself in the sin-bin after taking Italy skipper Sergio Parisse out in the air whilst following up his Garryowen.
However, the Azzurri failed to take advantage of playing against 14 Welshmen and failed to add any points in Halfpenny's absence. Instead, Wales managed to extend their lead through a Rhys Priestland penalty.
With three minutes left on the clock, the hosts sealed the deal with their second try of the match thanks to some brilliant finishing from wing Alex Cuthbert.
Priestland's conversion attempt was wide, but it didn't matter as Wales sent Italy home - still without a win in the competition. The Azzurri face Scotland next in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
Man of the match: Scrum-half Mike Phillips and centre Jonathan Davies were Wales' stand-out performers, but we'll go for flanker Dan Lydiate who put in his usual strong display.
Moment of the match: There weren't many! But Jamie Roberts' try proved to be the breakthrough Wales were looking for.
Villain of the match: We have a feeling referee George Clancy is going to cop a lot of flak following his performance in the middle...
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Roberts, Cuthbert
Cons: Halfpenny
Pens: Halfpenny 3, Priestland
For Italy:
Pens: Bergamasco
Yellow card: Halfpenny, 61 mins (Wales, taking player out in the air)
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins (c).
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Luke McLean, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius Van Zyl, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Fabio Staibano, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Robert Barbieri, 20 Tobias Botes, 21 Tommaso Benvenuti, 22 Giulio Toniolatti.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Comments
Dafydd29 says...
As a second Villain of the match I nominate Parisse for his operatic attempt at pretending to be hurt after Halfpenny made a legitimate challenge for the ball in the air. To his credit, he realised that the blind Irish referee was bound to give at least a penalty.
Posted 07:29 11th March 2012
Sprogrugby says...
Gents, I haven't watched the game yet and look forward to seeing the apparent ineptitude of Mr Clancy (I'm a ref and look to learn as much by watching the man in the middle as what player are trying to achieve).
I read one comment though and need to put the ref / law perspective across. There is no such thing as joining a ruck 'from the side' or 'not thru the gate'. A ruck is different to a tackle and instead has 'offside lines'. To join a ruck legally (if already formed I.e. 1 player from each side in contact on their feet and with the ball on the ground beneath them), all the player has to ensure is that his feet are behind the hindmost feet when he joins I.e. binds and or comes into contact with the ruck. Therefore depending on the share of the ruck, the height of the player joining etc, he can theoretically come in at 45 deg so long as his feet are onside.
I fear the uninitiated (refs, players, coaches, supporters alike) may not appreciate this fundamental difference, and feel that it should all be ruled like a tackle I.e. thru the gate.
Just to make people shout louder, it is also perfectly legal, having joined legally to drive on, thru and or round the ruck, providing you remain bound. How many times do we hear 'offside' when in fact a player is simply continuing to ruck having joined from an onside position ?
This is a topic we are currently discussing at premier grade in Perth, Wa, as it would appear many refs and other members of the rugby fraternity feel a penalty must be due !!!
Lets look for a reason to NOT blow the whistle
Posted 06:35 11th March 2012
Tycoch says...
Clancy was pedantic and whistle happy and completely ruined the flow of the game. Obviously needs eyes testing after missing the knockon just before Halfpenny yellow card
Posted 02:41 11th March 2012
NHsaints says...
Can't wait for next weekend, especially if England beat France (so France come into the Wales game on a backlash with nothing to lose) and then England vs Ireland and France vs Wales should be thrillers (we all know the story with the Scots vs Italians...)
Posted 00:14 11th March 2012
cheeky says...
Disappointing game made worse by awful refereeing! Still of the opinion that the only way to solve scrumtime skulduggery is to have an extra official!
Posted 21:40 10th March 2012
ABlack says...
France by 6
Posted 21:05 10th March 2012
pembs says...
The age if the superstar ref appears to be here to stay. Clancy performed today like he was some sort god who was punishing the village idiots with his mighty whistle and constant unnecessary demeaning little chats to remind them who they should be worshipping. They're grown men George, not naughty 5 year olds. And I want some of what Mirco Bergamasco is on. What a virile young chap. I bet all the girls watching were impressed by his constant display of alpha manliness.
Posted 19:12 10th March 2012
ThinkingGame says...
Just the history. Wales have performed like that against Italy before, scored 30 odd and conceded 15 odd. I feel a more open game would have finished with both sides with higher scores, and a similar margin. I know it doesn't feel it, but the margin was 21 points. Margin in the last three games between them was 5 points, 23 points and 8 points.
Posted 18:24 10th March 2012
makemehappy says...
@Thinkinggame - how would the margin be the same and the score more? Surely the margin greater, with a larger score, as Wales were clearly dominant? I pretty much agree with your comments regarding Clancy. The side of the scrum you focused on was a mess. I really do think more has to be done regarding ensuring binding. The first penalty to Italy in the scrum was because Gethin couldn't find anything to hold on to. That isn't a penalty, that is usually a defect with the game (unless your opponent is turning in). Why be so hellbent on giving penalties, as opposed to resolving the problem?
I wonder if refs will work out that every front row player in the world can't be cheating all the time. Perhaps one might think the laws might be wrong, or the refs are!
Posted 17:28 10th March 2012
lewispanteg says...
Disappointing game - Wales made a lot of mistakes, Italy defended well but lacked any guile and the referee had a bad day and allowed both teams, but Italy in particular, to slow the rucks. Wales are still not quite sharp enough to overcome the mass defences they are facing - France will be the same. However Wales should be too good for France next week.
Posted 17:09 10th March 2012
dan73 says...
I would like to see Italy play with decent referees. That said, we're hopeless in attack.
Posted 16:56 10th March 2012
pembs says...
George Clancy is unreal.
Posted 16:49 10th March 2012
makemehappy says...
Well done Wales and well done Clancy for trying to completely kill the flow of the game. What was the idiot doing? Most scrums should have resulted in Welsh penalties, a huge knock on ignored, constant ruck infringements, and somehow no yellow cards for Italy, with one to Wales for competing for the ball!! Nutter!
The only thing worse than Clancy was the coverage. What was with the stupid camera angles and not following play. Truly pathetic!
Well done to Italy for holding on in there, and making countless tackles. Next time Mr Clancy, please stop them slowing down the game.
One final observation. Why do refs not understand what 'in at the side is'. If you come from behind the ruck, that should generally be sufficient not to have a penalty awarded against you! In at the side, does not mean joining the ruck at 90 degrees to it!
Posted 16:41 10th March 2012
ThinkingGame says...
Couple of notes on George Clancy:
1) The first man joining a ruck from the team with the ball cannot do so from an offside position since there is no ruck until he makes contact with an opposition player competing for the ball.
2) The first man at the ruck may compete for the ball, but may not release the ball, and then compete for it again, after the ruck has formed.
3) In situations, especially attacking ball inside the opponents' 22, where both teams are infringing, either calling "hands off" or "ball won" are better than giving penalties to the defending team, however consistently you do it.
4) There's a big clue to what's happening in the scrums if the problems are consistently developing on the side you're not watching. Andrea Lo Cicero and Gethin Jenkins haven't had to compete honestly all day, just wait until the referee can't see them, and win penalties.
Other than that, big defensive effort from the Italians, which they'll pay for in the second half next week, and a dipped performance from Wales in attack. If the referee had allowed more freedom in contact, the score would have been higher, but the margin about the same.
Posted 16:37 10th March 2012
melkdave says...
Very comfortable game for Wales imo. as expected As Italy offered nothing in attack at all why they persit in kicking possesion away is beyond me .and that was possably there worst over all perfprmance this year.That said im so glad Wales have now set up a slam match for next weekend mouthwatering
Posted 16:28 10th March 2012