The Azzurri snatched a short and unexpected victory at the end of the match at Cardiff (21-22). This is the first time in seven years that they win a match in the tournament.
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A real thunderclap has fallen, Saturday, March 19th at the end of the afternoon, on Cardiff. While Ireland and France engage in the closing at the Stade de France, a remote struggle for the final victory in the VI Nations tournament, the Italians put an end to a 36 games without a victory.
Seven years after their success 22-19 against Scotland in 2015 in Murrayfield, Squadra Azzurra found the taste of success in the tournament by winning Wales. To the general surprise, Italy spilled on the wire the Welsh, 22 to 21.
In the lead for most of the match thanks in particular to a defense of iron, the Italians had seen the Welsh pass them in front of the 69th minute when Josh Adams marked the third test of his team. Two minutes of the term, the XV of the leek still led 21-15 to the bulletin board.
Revival of sixty meters
The moment chosen by the rear transalpin angel capuozzo to try everything for all with a revival of its own camp. A breakthrough of sixty meters later, he shifted the Edoardo Padovani winger who leaving the promised land by taking care of flattening behind the poles to facilitate the task at his half opening, Paolo Garbisi. He then went to pass the victorious transformation in front of the poles.
At the end of the match, the third line and Captain Italian Michele Lamaro soon believed at the microphone of the BBC:
“It’s amazing. I just want to stay with my family and with my teammates and party with them, because we have deserved so well, we worked so hard to get there. And for us It’s a last step in these six nations, but it’s the first step of a long process that only starts. “
The coach of Wales – which finally finished fifth of the tournament – Wayne Pivac recognizes the merit of his opponents, but does not digest the defeat. “The Italians have arrived here with more enthusiasm that we would still have had to win this rugby match. We will see all that and make sure that we get the lessons. (…) We improved Over the competition, but today, we betrayed ourselves. “
Thus, the Italians avoid adding a new spoon of wood to their collection – the virtual “reward” being promised to the team losing all its games in an edition of the competition. Above all, they offer a prestigious victory at the moment when their presence at the table of the best European nations is disputed. Because the Azzurri came to chain 36 consecutive defeats in the tournament.
Italy questioning in the tournament
The question of Italy’s place in the competition is regularly returning to the debate, but it is particularly visible in this year when all other nations posted – more or less strong – their ambition to win the event. “Apart from Italy, all the teams can consider winning the tournament,” said France’s XV coach, Fabien Galthié, before confronting Italy in opening the tournament.
“Obviously, we hear the critics on our team, and our place in the tournament, then recognized Michele Lamaro. But we are a new team and we will try to bring our passion in this competition.” A month and a half Later, this prestige success on the Cardiff lawn looks like the best answers to their detractors.