WALES 21-24 ITALY
By David Nicholson
at the Millennium Stadium
IRELAND were crowned Six Nations champions for the second season in succession at the weekend, while Wales hit rock bottom as they lost to Italy.
Wales duly collected the Wooden Spoon after losing every game and finishing bottom for the first time since 2003.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland offered his resignation to Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney, who declined the offer.
Italy were too good for a stodgy Welsh side, who gifted the Azzurri attacking opportunities with sloppy handling.
After 12 minutes Italy had taken a six-point lead which they stretched out to 11 with a fine try by speedster winger Monty Ioane.
Welsh fly-half Sam Costelow’s kicking game was poor, as he booted too far for his side to successfully chase and challenge for the ball. Unforgivably, the fly-half also twice missed touch with penalty kicks.
Italy extended their lead early in the second half after putting the ball through the hands and for Ioane to race away before feeding Lorenzo Pani to go over in the corner.
Just as it looked like Italy would win while stopping the home side from scoring, the Welsh forwards managed to squeeze the ball over the line. It took an age for the television match officials to give the try, but the roar that greeted their decision was one of relief, not celebration.
Wales brought some respectability to the scoreboard with two more tries to finish just three points behind, but that was at the death as Italy relaxed knowing they had won.
Make no mistake, Italy are a good side, with two victories this season and a draw against France.
On the other hand, Wales are a side in transition, with Gatland seeking to rebuild his team. But this was a poor performance littered with basic handling errors and a lack of fight.
Ireland needed to beat Scotland at their Lansdowne Road stronghold to retain the championship, but the Scots were in the mood to spoil the party.
Ireland sought to impose themselves on the visitors but despite lots of possession could not break down an obdurate Scottish defence until hooker Dan Sheehan scored an opportunistic first-half try.
But with Finn Russell kicking two penalties, a half-time lead of 7-6 kept alive a potential Scottish victory and a slim chance of winning the championship.
But normal service resumed in the second half, as Andrew Porter’s try was a reward for sustained and ferocious pressure.
Scotland struck back with two minutes left on the clock but failed to keep possession after the kick-off and Ireland had their championship.
France took on England in Lyon in a battle for the second spot in the championship.
Both sides were looking to build on the previous week’s victories after an uncertain Six Nations, and what a final game they dished up.
This was a spellbinding, nail-biting affair as first France took the lead with a wave of ferocious attacks. But England struck back just before half-time with an Ollie Lawrence try to narrow the lead to 16-10.
Whatever coach Steve Borthwick said at half-time to his men should be bottled as his side raced into an improbable lead as they scored two unanswered tries to stun Les Bleus and silence the crowd.
But the French were given a long-range penalty in the final minute, and fly-half Thomas Ramos duly struck a monstrous kick to break English hearts with a two-point victory.
A seven-try thriller showcased both sides’ attacking powers and bodes well for the future.
