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Josh Adams' amazing gesture to Italian rookie Ange Capuozzo
Amid the maelstrom at the final whistle in Cardiff following Italy’s boilover win over Wales, an act of kindness from Josh Adams stood out.
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Wing Edoardo Padovani has scored a late try as Italy stunned their hosts Wales 22-21 to secure a first-ever win in Cardiff and end their 36-game losing streak in the Six Nations Championship.
A dazzling break from rookie fullback Ange Capuozzo set up Padovani, and when flyhalf Paolo Garbisi kicked the conversion from in front of the posts on the final whistle, Italy’s magic moment on Saturday left some players in tears.
It was fully deserved, too. The Azzurri bullied Wales at the breakdown and put in a stout defensive display, something that had been a weakness in recent years.
It led them to secure one of the more famous wins in their rugby history and show their continued improvement under coach Kieran Crowley.
Adams was awarded the official man of the match award but instead of walking off to the changing room after a painful defeat, he made his way to Capuozzo, and gave him the award.
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Sportsmanship at it's finest ?
Josh Adams gives his POTM medal to Ange Capuozzo after his sensational display helped Italy to their first ever win in Wales ?#GuinnessSixNations #WALvITA pic.twitter.com/CTj9q8JJvg
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 19, 2022
It was brilliant moment of magnanimity from the Welsh man to acknowledge the remarkable performance from the young Italian who is taking his first steps in Test rugby.
Centre Owen Watkin and Adams scored tries for Wales, who put in a mostly flat performance and missed the chance to celebrate 100 caps for flyhalf Dan Biggar and 150 for lock Alun Wyn Jones in the style they would have wished for.
“It’s just unreal,” said Italy captain Michele Lamaro. “I couldn’t believe it, I want to stay with my family and teammates and celebrate with them because we deserve it and we worked so hard to get here.
“It’s the first step of our long process that we just started.
“I think just being in the moment until the end took us to the win.
“Capuozzo is the superstar of our squad right now and that last try was amazing.”
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The pressure will now be squarely on Wales coach Wayne Pivac, who has guided his side to just a single win in five games this season and will have to answer plenty of questions about the direction of his team 18 months out from the next World Cup.
Key to Italy’s win was cutting down their error count, but Wales also failed to put them under pressure for extended periods with a limp attacking display and an over-reliance on the boot of Biggar.
It took the Welsh 27 minutes to get their first score as they took the ball through multiple phases, stretching the Italy defence and wa iting for the inevitable gaps to appear, one of which Watkin burst through.
That should have been a blueprint for the rest of the game, but Wales were rarely able to apply that same pressure with ball in hand.
Wales were penalised twice in quick succession at the breakdown, and Garbisi and the bigger boot of Padovani landed both to give the visitors a 12-7 lead at half time.
Lake dived over from close range after a driving maul moved him within striking distance to boost Wales before Adams, who took a pass on the edge of the Italian 22, stepped inside and beat four defenders to scor under the posts on 68 minutes.
But the home side could not see out the game, with Capuozzo and Padovani combining to win it with the last move of the match.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to comments