A real thunderclap fell, Saturday March 19 at the end of the afternoon, on Cardiff. While Ireland and France engage in a close fight at the Stade de France for the final victory in the Six Nations tournament, the Italians have ended a drought of 36 games without a win.
Seven years after their 22-19 win over Scotland in 2015 at Murrayfield, Squadra Azzurra have found their taste of tournament success again by winning in Wales. To everyone’s surprise, Italy overthrew the Welsh, 22 to 21.
In the lead for most of the match thanks in particular to an iron defense, the Italians had seen the Welsh pass them in the 69th minute when Josh Adams scored his team’s third try. Two minutes from time, the Leek XV was still leading 21-15 on the scoreboard.
Sixty meter throw
The moment chosen by the transalpine rear Ange Capuozzo to try everything for everything with a recovery from his own camp. A breakthrough of sixty meters later, he shifted the winger Edoardo Padovani who left for the promised land, taking care to flatten behind the posts to facilitate the task of his opening half, Paolo Garbisi. This one would then pass the victorious transformation in front of the poles.
At the end of the match, the third line and Italian captain Michele Lamaro could hardly believe it at the microphone of the BBC :
” It’s incredible. I just want to stay with my family and with my teammates and celebrate with them, because we deserved it so much, we worked so hard to get here. And for us, it’s a last step in these Six Nations, but it’s the first step in a long process that has only just begun. »
The coach of Wales – who finally finished fifth in the Tournament – Wayne Pivac for his part recognizes the merit of his opponents, but does not digest the defeat. “The Italians arrived here with more enthusiasm than us but we should have won this rugby match anyway. We are going to review all of this and make sure that we learn from it. (…) We improved over the course of the competition, but today we betrayed ourselves. »
Thus, the Italians avoid adding a new wooden spoon to their collection – the virtual “reward” being promised to the team losing all its matches in an edition of the competition. Above all, they offer themselves a prestigious victory at a time when their presence at the table of the best European nations is disputed. Because the Azzurri had just chained 36 consecutive defeats in the tournament.
Italy questioned in the Tournament
The question of Italy’s place in the competition comes up regularly in the debate, but it is particularly visible in this year when all the other nations have displayed – more or less strongly – their ambition to win the event. “Apart from Italy, all teams can consider winning the Tournament”declared the coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié, before facing Italy at the opening of the tournament.
“Obviously, we hear criticism of our team, and our place in the Tournamentthen recognized Michele Lamaro. But we are a new team and we will try to bring our passion to this competition. » A month and a half later, this prestigious success on the lawn of Cardiff looks like the best response to their detractors.