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Wales hopes go south despite George North’s hat-trick against Italy Wales hopes go south despite George North’s hat-trick against Italy
(about 1 hour later)
They did all they could. A devastating second-half performance by Wales, featuring a hat-trick of tries in 11 minutes by George North, threw down the gauntlet to England and Ireland in the race to win the Six Nations. Wales, leading by one point after an uncomfortable first half, ran in seven tries in the second, each one making life harder for England and Ireland. The only disappointment was the try they conceded at the death, particularly as they felt they were about to score themselves at the other end. But, when the dust had settled, they had set the others a more daunting target than anyone had the right to expect. They did all they could. A devastating second-half performance by Wales, featuring a hat-trick in 11 minutes by George North, threw down the gauntlet to England and Ireland in the race to win the Six Nations. Wales, leading by one point after an uncomfortable first half, ran in seven tries in the second, each one making life harder for England and Ireland. The only disappointment was the try they conceded at the death, particularly as they felt they were about to score themselves at the other end. But, when the dust had settled, they had set the others a more daunting target than anyone had the right to expect.
Italy were torn apart, having looked tight and physical in a first half they were unfortunate to end in arrears. This will do nothing for their credibility in the Six Nations. The gulf in class between the two teams was exposed brutally after the break. Wales finish this championship as the form side. Forget the Six Nations, this performance serves warning to England that their World Cup group is more treacherous even than first thought. Italy were torn apart, having looked tight and physical in a first half they were unfortunate to end in arrears. This will do nothing for their credibility in the Six Nations. The gulf in class between the teams was exposed brutally after the break. Wales finish this championship as the form side. Forget the Six Nations, this performance serves warning to England that their World Cup group is more treacherous even than first thought.
And what a fillip the old championship has enjoyed over the past week. After Steve Hansen led the doomsayers following the opening three rounds, the Six Nations has responded with two wonderful weekends of rugby. The length-of-the-field try with which Wales rounded off their spree, for example, featuring dazzling contributions from two replacements, Gareth Davies and the scorer, Scott Williams, was as fabulous a team score as could be imagined. It took Wales past 60. And to hell with the idea of concurrent kickoffs. Wales’s efforts set the tone for an afternoon of unfolding drama that was made for the armchair or barstool. And what a fillip the old championship has enjoyed. After Steve Hansen led the doomsayers following the opening three rounds, the Six Nations has responded with two wonderful weekends of rugby. The length-of-the-field try with which Wales rounded off their spree, featuring dazzling contributions from two replacements, Gareth Davies and the scorer, Scott Williams, was as fabulous a team score as could be imagined. It took Wales past 60. And to hell with the idea of concurrent kickoffs. Wales’s efforts set the tone for an afternoon of unfolding drama that was made for the armchair or barstool.
Wales’s swagger reached its pitch with that eighth try of theirs in the 73rd minute, but how far away it had seemed only 40 minutes earlier. Italy had Wales in a vice for almost the entire second quarter of the match. The visitors looked to have enough on their plate at that point just to secure the win. Wales’s swagger reached its pitch with that eighth try of theirs in the 73rd minute, but how far away it had seemed 40 minutes earlier. Italy had Wales in a vice for almost the entire second quarter of the match. The visitors looked to have enough on their plate at that point just to secure the win.
The signs had been ominous from the moment Italy were awarded their first scrum midway through the first half. They ended up putting in at three of them in that opening 40. Outcome: three penalties. And they were the kind of penalties few could quibble with, however unknowable the workings of that fabled set piece. Italy’s front row, with Martin Castrogiovanni reinstalled, had the inexperienced Welsh in all kinds of bother. The signs had been ominous from the moment Italy were awarded their first scrum midway through the first half. They ended up putting in at three of them in that opening 40. Outcome: three penalties. They were the kind of penalties few could quibble with, however unknowable the workings of that fabled set piece. Italy’s front row, with Martin Castrogiovanni reinstalled, had the inexperienced Welsh in all kinds of bother.
Wales’s task was always dependent on not allowing the Italian forwards to sink their teeth into the game. But, having coughed up a soft penalty right at the start, from the kick-off itself, they conceded another at an Italian lineout, before Italy kicked the first of those scrum penalties to the corner and scored a try from it, David Venditti bursting through a maul from five metres out to earn Italy a two-point lead midway through the first half. Wales’s task was always dependent on not allowing the Italy forwards to sink their teeth into the game. But, having coughed up a soft penalty right from the kick-off , they conceded another at an Italy lineout, before Italy kicked the first of those scrum penalties to the corner and scored a try from it, David Venditti bursting through a maul from five metres out to earn Italy a two-point lead midway through the first half.
By then, Wales had scored a try themselves. They spent much of their time testing out the Italian midfield. Luciano Orquera, on early for Kelly Haimona, was obliged to throw himself in front of Jamie Roberts time and again, but Wales managed to prise Italy open when Jonathan Davies burst through onto an inside ball. Leigh Halfpenny’s dink behind the last line was gathered by Roberts for the game’s first try. By then, Wales had scored a try themselves. They spent much of their time testing out the opposition midfield. Luciano Orquera, on early for Kelly Haimona, was obliged to throw himself in front of Jamie Roberts time and again, but Wales managed to prise Italy open when Jonathan Davies burst through on to an inside ball. Leigh Halfpenny’s dink behind the last line was gathered by Roberts for the game’s first try.
The situation looked healthy for Wales even then, but that was when Italy’s scrum flexed their muscles, and Wales had to watch the precious minutes tick by in defence. Halfpenny was taken off with a head injury, incurred trying to stop the rampaging Samuela Vunisa, but Dan Biggar was able to re-establish Wales’s lead with a penalty on the stroke of half-time.The situation looked healthy for Wales even then, but that was when Italy’s scrum flexed their muscles, and Wales had to watch the precious minutes tick by in defence. Halfpenny was taken off with a head injury, incurred trying to stop the rampaging Samuela Vunisa, but Dan Biggar was able to re-establish Wales’s lead with a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
The sun came out for the second half – and Wales duly blossomed. They’d done their time defending and suffering the indignities of scrum time. Those exchanges had taken more out of the Italians, as it turns out, and Wales reaped the harvest in the second half. Two solid scrums, one even on Italian ball, gave them a huge boost, but it was Liam Williams who turned the game, before handing the baton on to North. He picked a superb line off Rhys Webb’s tapped penalty for Wales’s second try, then two minutes later plucked Orquera’s chip out of the air and beat a couple of defenders to pave the way for North’s first. The sun came out for the second half – and Wales duly blossomed. They had done their time defending and suffering the indignities of scrum time. Those exchanges had taken more out of the Italians, as it turns out, and Wales reaped the harvest in the second half. Two solid scrums, one even on Italian ball, gave them a huge boost, but it was Liam Williams who turned the game, before handing the baton on to North. He picked a superb line off Rhys Webb’s tapped penalty for Wales’s second try, then two minutes later plucked Orquera’s chip out of the air and beat a couple of defenders to pave the way for North’s first.
You wait for a bus… North had not scored for Wales in five matches, but the next followed in five minutes, before the next in five minutes again. His cause was aided by a yellow card for Andrea Masi, who tackled a player without the ball. The magnificent Alun Wyn Jones stole an Italian lineout, and the ball was whipped wide for North to finish. He completed his hat-trick on the hour, bursting through the midfield to beat three defenders on his way to the line. And suddenly, Wales were in the box seat, ahead of England on points difference. North had not scored for Wales in five matches, but the next followed in five minutes, before the next in five minutes again. His cause was aided by a yellow card for Andrea Masi, who tackled a player without the ball. The magnificent Alun Wyn Jones won an Italy lineout, and the ball was whipped wide for North to finish. He completed his hat-trick on the hour, bursting through the midfield to beat three defenders on his way to the line. Suddenly, Wales were in the box seat, ahead of England on points difference.
Almost as soon as Masi had returned from the sinbin, another yellow card followed for Italy, this one for Quentin Geldenhuys – and Wales scored tries six, seven and eight while he was away. Webb darted blind for six; Sam Warburton showed the range of his game when he galloped home for seven; before the stage was set for the try to finish them all. Italy botched an attacking lineout, and Wales whipped the ball across their own tryline. Jonathan Davies was away, and Gareth Davies developed his break, before sending Scott Williams home. Almost as soon as Masi had returned from the sin-bin, another yellow card followed for Italy, this one for Quintin Geldenhuys – and Wales scored tries six, seven and eight while he was away. Webb darted blind for six; Sam Warburton showed the range of his game when he galloped home for seven; before the stage was set for the try to finish them all. Italy botched an attacking lineout, and Wales whipped the ball across their own tryline. Jonathan Davies was away, and Gareth Davies developed his break, before sending Scott Williams home.
Wales were delirious with joy, as well they might be. Under the Roman sun, they had posted a score to delight the gods – and a scoreline to trouble the English and Irish.Wales were delirious with joy, as well they might be. Under the Roman sun, they had posted a score to delight the gods – and a scoreline to trouble the English and Irish.
If only they could have kept it at that, but a Leonardo Sarto at the death, which went to the television match official, took some of the sheen off, reducing Wales’s margin of victory to 41. In the end, the conceded try mattered not. It was their second-half performance against England that did the real damage to their Championship hopes. They served notice here, though, that they will enter the next instalment of that old rivalry with a renewed sense of confidence. If only they could have kept it at that, but a Leonardo Sarto at the death, which went to the television match official, took some of the sheen off, reducing Wales’s margin of victory to 41.
In the end, the conceded try mattered not. It was their second-half performance against England that did the real damage to their championship hopes. They served notice here, though, that they will enter the next instalment of that old rivalry with a renewed sense of confidence.