By Lucky Vince Pienaar
➤ Italy’s victory over Wales in the final weekend of Six Nations rugby for the year, should not have been a surprise. In round three they drew with France in a match they lost because of a technicality, they beat Scotland last week and now they’ve beaten Wales – in Cardiff, mind you.
This is the first tournament for Quesada, former Argentinian flyhalf as coach of Italy. He took over from Kieran Crowley, who until a month ago, seemed to have done the best he could with the Azzuri.
It appears that Quesada has burst onto the scene, but he has a proud coaching record. He took Stade Français to the French Top 14 playoffs and he took Argentina to the final of Super Rugby.
To say that Quesada has turned the Italian team around is an understatement.
It is easy to forget that in the World Cup, Italy conceded a massive 96 points to New Zealand a mere six months ago.
It shows in their results and in their attitude. Man, these guys are having fun!
Wales’ three point loss is flattering to Warren Gatland and his team. With 20 minutes to go they had no points on the board. They scored three tries in the last 20 minutes after it no longer mattered. The truth is they got thumped.
Gatland said after the match that he had offered to resign, WRU chief executive Abi Tierney apparently said: “Like hell, that’s the last thing I want, that’s what I’m really afraid of”.
Italy come away with two wins and a draw – Wales walk away with the wooden spoon.
Wales (3 tries) 21-24 (two tries) Italy
Wales tries: Elliot Dee, Will Rowlands, Mason Grady
Italy tries: Monty Ioane, Lorenzo Pani
➤ Ireland were more or less assured of winning the Six Nations tournament but they none the less played close to their best against Scotland in Dublin.
When they scored their second try with 15 minutes to go the Irish held an 11 point lead, but Scotland’s never stopped trying. Their only try came with three minutes left to play, giving Ireland the victory by four points and back-to-back victories in the Six Nations.
Ireland (2 tries) 17-13 (1 try) Scotland
Wales tries: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter
Scotland try: Huw Jones
➤ While losing to France, England comes away with perhaps their best performance of the tournament and scoring four tries.
France threw everything at them and the England side fought back for the full 80 minutes.
It was only a 45 metre Thomas Ramos penalty in the 80th minute that nudged France ahead by two points.
France, for a change, put up an 80 minute performance, scoring, as they so often do, three spectacular tries.
France (3 tries) 33 – 31 (4 tries) England
France tries: Nolann Le Garrec, Leo Barre, Gael Fickou
England tries: Ollie Lawrence (2), Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman
Image: Italy’s rugby coach, Gonzalo Quesada
Source: Americas Rugby News
