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Josh Adams' amazing gesture to Italian rookie Ange Capuozzo
By AAP
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 Men's 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.
