Wales v Italy 2000 Scrum V Classics

On the 19th of February 2000,

the Azzurri travelled the 1,000 miles from Rome to Cardiff.

But Wales had been on an even longer journey.

A 10 match winning run which started the previous season

when they claimed their first win in Paris for 24 years.

They then travelled to Wembley for the last ever game

in the old Five Nations Championship and we all know what happened next.

Scott Gibbs! Scott Gibbs is through! Scott Gibbs has scored!

What an amazing try!

With the Great Redeemer, Graham Henry, at the helm,

Wales became the first northern hemisphere side

to win a test series in Argentina.

And to prove that was no fluke,

they went on to beat the world champions for the first time ever.

But the foundations were beginning to creak

and the bubble burst dramatically at the World Cup.

It's a bit of a glum Cardiff tonight after Wales' 10 match winning run

came to an abrupt halt against Samoa.

A week later, and the dream was over.

Good evening. Wales are out of the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

They lost in the quarter finals to the eventual winners. Australia.

And it was back to the drawing board for Henry and his fallen heroes.

'Henry's Heroes from BBC Wales...'

As the new millennium dawned, the Five Nations became six

and Wales were about to enter a new era.

With France up first game, there was a hope

that maybe we could put away the disappointments of the World Cup.

But it didn't start that way

and we were very lucky to come second against France that day.

We were beaten 36-3.

All along the line. There's an overlap here.

And in fact, maybe he went too far, but Magne has scored.

Magne supporting brilliantly.

The first try of the match and what a star of a try it was.

We had played the Italians a year before, out in Treviso in '99.

It was like a pre-run of them entering the Six Nations.

It was a wonderfully sunny day in Treviso.

The boys that day were playing with confidence.

I think we rattled up 60 points.

But Italy had improved massively in a year.

They'd beaten Scotland

and their pack was starting to build a reputation.

They were coming to Cardiff, our confidence was pretty low and they were pretty much favourites.

This time round, it was a must-win game.

We were a squad where some of us were becoming past our sell by date

or ready for the departure lounge of international rugby.

But there was an excitement around the squad

because of the emergence of young talented players

like Stephen Jones, Shane Williams.

So the door was shutting for some but as history has proved,

the door was opening for many, many great, great Welsh internationals.

Here we go.

The second round of the Six Nations Championship

and Wales in their traditional red.

That's out to Troncon. Troncon the scrum half, the captain.

And a first touch for Shane Williams.

And he sets Shane Howarth away deep into Italian territory.

And the first penalty comes Wales' way after just 22 seconds of play.

There's the pass. He took a heavy tackle as well.

A perfectly timed pass and that's a great start for the Neath young man.

Howarth coming off his left foot. He loves to run.

That's what Wales want to see today.

Peter Rogers galloping.

Bateman. That was an awkward pass to take. Man and ball.

Chris Wyatt is on hand to lend assistance

and all decisions are coming Wales' way early on.

Dominguez was nowhere near the 10 yards

but Ian Ramage is playing advantage here for Wales.

Jenkins back inside.

Geraint Lewis bursting through the first tackle.

And Howley very eager behind.

Now, here's half a chance.

A good chip by Taylor. Here goes Gareth Thomas!

Thomas has recovered it for Wales.

He's done well but he hung on afterwards

and that's a penalty against the Welsh right wing,

who has scored a bucket-full of tries

in his matches previously against Italy,

including a record equalling four out in Treviso last year.

First promising position then for the visitors

and Diego Dominguez already lining up a drop goal.

He's hit it superbly.

What an opening for this diminutive outside half.

The scores are level. Seven and a half minutes played.

Three drop goals against Scotland

and he's at it again at Cardiff Arms Park.

Howley. Men galore in those red shirts.

Gareth Thomas.

Shrugs away the tackle. He's a big man. He's hard to stop.

A determined runner, Gareth Thomas.

Ian Ramage there is playing advantage Wales again.

It's all a little slow now though.

Can Quinnell inject the pace and the purpose in midfield once more?

He's done well. That rebounded from Howley's boot.

Howarth trying to get it out to Chris Wyatt.

It's gone forward. It won't count. He won't get there anyway.

That's the way to receive a kick out. Beautiful run.

He wanted support right on his shoulder. It wasn't quite there.

He had to take the ball in and that's where Wales lost he momentum.

The ball must come quicker from their ruck ball.

Not in straight to the set scrum.

The captain is penalised and the captain's not happy.

Howley is.

Bullocking away again is Scott Quinnell there.

Scott Quinnell driving into the heart of the Italian defence there.

The Italians falling offside.

They're interfering with this ball coming back.

It's Wales 15, Italy six.

26 minutes have been played.

Neil Jenkins is now up to 913 points for Wales

so he's now scored more points for Wales than any player has scored

for any country in the history of international rugby.

He's crept above Michael Lynagh's 911 for Australia.

Quinnell is heavily involved

and he's found a great gap for himself.

Nobody quite at the shoulder.

But Howley now arrives.

Plenty of men out left. Gareth Thomas bursting through.

It's out to Shane Williams.

The kick and chase. Was he taken late?

The chase is still on for that corner. Lovely play by Wales.

Flowing attack, and they've gained a line-out within two metres.

And it all stemmed from Scott Quinnell once more.

Shane Williams will be happier with that.

The chip ahead was the right option.

He was taken out after he kicked ahead. It was not a late tackle.

Beautiful play by Wales. Mark Taylor is the man chasing it.

Now, Wales have a line-out right in the corner.

But as you say, Scott Quinnell, it's the second time he's done that now.

You'd think Dominguez would learn from that kick out.

In it comes. Wyatt holds. Planned move.

Quinnell! He's there!

That's the first try! Scott Quinnell has got it!

And he joins three other Welsh forwards on six tries,

the most ever by any forward from Wales.

And that's right from the practice ground onto the field of play.

It certainly was and he was the man who got Wales into that position.

A lovely line-out, a good throw this time

and before Wyatt gets his feet on the ground

he's thrown it back in and there's the big man.

The body angle perfect, through that gap,

and reaches over for a beautiful try!

Lanzi jumps short.

Gritti in the middle.

It's his ball and in they drive behind.

Wales hold the initial surge but back it comes to Troncon.

Bergamasco goes blind. Dominguez.

Again, they're trying to use Stoica in midfield.

Now it's wide. Now there's half a chance.

Shane Williams is up on Marco Rivaro. But Wales again offside.

No advantage says Iain Ramage.

Troncon hurrying to the breakdown.

This time, he's changed the tactic and they'll go for the three points.

100% so far for Dominguez.

That reflects his penalty.

He also has a lovely drop goal to his name.

That's in the middle again so Italy are up to nine points,

but Wales hold an 11 point lead.

REFEREE: Use it! Use it!

Again, it's infield. Shane Williams.

Howley. Good play by the Welsh scrum half, the former captain.

Now they need somebody else to do the duties.

That's untidy by Wales. It was slow and laboured by Peter Rodgers.

Not a natural scrum half.

But Wales have the consolation of a chance of another three points

as Italy once again were offside.

He's looking carefully. And it's there!

23 points to nine.

That represents a convincing margin for Wales

as we approach within about three or four minutes of half-time.

Again, it's the deep restart and there's no pressure on the Welsh.

They've countered well from deep so far on those restarts.

Marco Rivaro is out there. Good hands by the centre come wing.

A good tackle by Bateman as well.

Scott Quinnell lurking menacingly.

Charging powerfully.

REFEREE: All right.

Howarth gives chase. Gareth Thomas.

Half impeded. Matt Pini is back.

Howarth on Pini. The two fullbacks.

WHISTLE

Italian ball.

And that's the way of world rugby.

Two fullbacks in the colours of Wales and Italy,

the one used to play for New Zealand and the other for Australia.

CROWD: # Hymns and arias

# Land of my fathers... #

WHISTLE

That's another powerful scrummage

and again it wasn't in straight by Alessandro Troncon.

We're into the final minute and the crowd at the Millennium Stadium

is in fine voice.

-No more. That is three times. No more!

-Show me, show me.

This could be a last chance for Wales before the interval. Neil Jenkins.

Almost stepped inside Diego Dominguez.

Craig Quinnell is standing away.

A little flip-pass was for Geraint Lewis, the Pontypridd number six.

Back inside. Gareth Thomas almost through.

Now it's Howley again.

Howley realised there were more defenders than attackers out right.

This could be better with Scott Quinnell again charging.

Good link work by Brett Sinkinson.

Neil Jenkins there but Wales are on the back foot

even though they're attacking. This could be better.

Howarth. Geraint Lewis. A little pass to Taylor.

Shane Williams! What a dream!

It's Wales's second try.

And he's raised the roof in the Amman Valley.

Shane Williams, just a few minutes against France.

He's scored on his full debut.

And Wales have a new hero.

They certainly have.

The roar in the stadium when they called his name out.

A patient build. Geraint Lewis does well here.

Mark Taylor took it on superbly.

Straightened up and then there was someone on his shoulder.

Shane Williams with the pace.

The arm in the air. He can't believe it.

He loves it! Near the posts.

Tremendous try by Wales just before the final whistle of the first half.

It's the try they wanted.

Tino Paoletti formed the front row.

Rob Howley. He's had a fine afternoon as well.

The spring is back in the step. Jenkins.

WHISTLE

That's the whistle that brings to and end

a very encouraging opening 40 minutes for Graham Henry and Wales.

Two tries for Scott Quinnell and Shane Williams.

20 points for Neil Jenkins.

And so, at the interval, it's convincing for red shirts.

It's Wales 30, Italy 9.

45 minutes hard graft for each other!

We've been here before and blown it. It's not going to happen today.

So, 40 minutes to go.

It's not only Italy against Wales, it's Dominguez against Neil Jenkins.

It's also the clash of the two Kiwi coaches, of course,

Graham Henry of Wales and Brad Johnson of Italy.

Straight away Neil Jenkins.

Matt Pini in position.

Shane Howarth.

Big gap behind Mauro Bergamasco.

Bergamasco on his own.

CROWD CHEERS

He's never going to make a fullback, is he?

Interestingly, he played for Italy under-19 at outside half.

You would never have said so.

He also played at centre and scrum half

but that's not a back's kick is it.

We know now why he changed to become a back row man.

Tackling outside halves instead of playing outside half!

It's shirt sleeves for Welsh coach, Graham Henry,

peering into the afternoon sunshine.

It's Quinnell again and always making yards.

This is Chris Wyatt. Lovely support from Howley.

The kick and the chase.

It's Luca Martin for Italy and he's the saviour as he puts it dead.

Wyatt's been involved a lot with ball in hand today.

Howley's looking much livelier this afternoon.

He's had a better platform and shown all his skills.

WHISTLE

REFEREE: In from the side.

Wales in from the side. Away goes Troncon. He's created good space.

It was an unkind bounce and Luca Martin just knocked it forward.

Away comes Colin Charvis for Wales. Powerful run by the replacement.

Now the kick and the chase. Pini is hurrying back.

Dallan is there as well for Italy. Charvis is up for Wales, he did well.

He waited for the man to get back on his feet.

He had to do that or he would have been penalised.

Charvis's good work this time has got possession for Wales.

So the ball on the ground there for Robert Howley.

All the forwards are together.

It's a set move, away they go to the blindside.

Quinnell just a little isolated

but Gareth Thomas arrives to give support.

Now, they've got the whole width of the field. Taylor.

Back inside to Wyatt. Wales just six metres short.

And they've still got possession.

Shane Williams again.

Wriggles out of the first tackle.

Puts Wales on the front foot. Howley comes in behind.

They're flowing left. Craig Quinnell did well.

It must be a try and it is for Allan Bateman!

That's Wales's third.

And Wales are up to an impressive 38-9.

Again, the patient build up.

Waited and waited for the overlap

until eventually for Allan Bateman who showed his pace to go left.

Excellent play by Wales.

Like the first half, the build up was patient enough,

kept possession until all the defenders are sucked in.

Craig Quinnell, lovely to get that pass out.

Peter Rogers did well to get the pass out.

And then Gareth Thomas, the simple pass out for Bateman

and he made it look so easy.

He just glides over the ground, goes in low.

A lovely try by Wales.

Quinnell timed his run. He came from deep.

He's been a powerful presence for Wales all afternoon.

But they won't like that, the coaches.

This is Visser again.

Determined Welsh tackling.

That's Pini up from fullback.

Howarth just about gets to him.

Troncon has the ball. This is a great chance for Italy.

Within five metres.

Paoletti, the prop.

Can't find a way through. Determined Welsh tackling.

That was...

..Quinnell again getting involved.

The chip is behind Shane Williams. Williams has the pace.

And he could go from here.

This could be thrilling!

So unlucky.

Well, you could sense the anticipation

everywhere around the ground.

What composure from a young man

playing his first full international for Wales.

Not lacking confidence at all, is he?

A kick ahead but they always had the pace.

But then the cockiness to sprint 100 metres up the field.

If the ball had stayed in field, who knows what might have happened.

There's no-one back there.

The man has confidence but when you've got pace,

you can play at any level.

Bob Dwyer had some unkind words to say about Craig Quinnell especially

and brother, Scott.

Said both were carrying too much weight. Well...

..The brothers have disproved that this afternoon.

They've had a fine day.

But away from Italy! Dramatic and it is a try!

A try from nothing.

And it comes to Wilhelmus Visser.

That's a lack of concentration by Wales in that line-out.

It's so easy for Visser to catch that ball

and drive through that line-out.

I think Graham Henry will be very disappointed that Wales

have given such a soft try away.

Oh! Dominguez is right through the middle. Looking for support.

Just a little slow arriving. Paoletti, the prop.

They're almost up to the Welsh 22 and they have men spare.

Pini.

Fine tackle by Thomas. Visser is powering through.

Can he get there for a second?

Referee right there.

And can't allow the try, it's been held up.

But that should knock any complacency out of the Welsh side.

Visser almost got there for the second in as many minutes.

We're in the final quarter.

WHISTLE

Wales going down and it's on the captain's side, David Young.

Just crept inside the corner flag, David Young thought otherwise.

Good throw again. Finding the target.

That's Andrea Gritti.

Great surge.

They're on the line. Ian Ramage looking but can't allow it again.

Well, the Italians are all claiming that, especially behind the scrum.

But the man on the spot is Ian Ramage.

This is easily Italy's best period through the game.

A period of constant pressure from them

but it's been relieved now by Wales and a huge cheer from the crowd.

The scrum has done its work and Rob Howley has cleared it all away.

Scott Quinnell breaks through.

Wyatt has been out of the game for the past fortnight.

He has been carrying an injury and that might well be the reason.

Howley.

And Wales need a good final 10 minutes now

to get the crowd roaring again.

Gough, well played. Quinnell. Out to Bateman.

Brought down by Stoica. Good hands, Howley.

Taylor. Howarth is through. Howarth is there.

That's Wales's fourth.

It's also Shane Howarth's fourth for Wales.

And they're up to 45-16.

Well, Wales have been under pressure for the past 10 or 15 minutes.

But when they have the half a chance, the glimmer of a gap, they took it.

Yes, I like the way the forwards handle the ball.

And again, Mark Taylor's involved with it.

Jenkins passes it to Taylor.

Lovely pass then to Howarth whose angle was perfect.

Straightens the line up and strolls through that gap.

But it was the forwards involved with the build up,

the way they handled the ball.

Ian Gough just come onto the field. He was involved.

Outstanding try by Wales once again.

-Stephen Jones out to Peter Rogers.

-REFEREE: Release!

The play still around the Italian 22. Wales careless.

Just nudged it through and it's come Italy's way.

Checchinato, Carlo Checchinato, another Benetton Treviso man.

Howarth.

So well placed. And again the expectation in the crowd.

It's coming Shane Williams's way. There he goes!

A lovely little switch. It's with Allan Bateman.

Howley, just a little slowly out to Quinnell. Quinnell's done well.

And that's where he's improved, Scott Quinnell.

He does get the ball away now,

draws the men in and then gives it to someone in space.

A fine pass from Howarth. Dafydd James.

James looking inside at Shane Williams again.

The ball is dead. It's out of play.

Shane Williams adopting the same roving role for Wales

as he adopts for Neath.

Something in the mould of Austin Healey for England

and both are former scrum halves of course.

The final scrum one would imagine, here...

..for the afternoon.

WHISTLE

Italy haven't settled.

So, it's a disappointing end for them...

..to a disappointing day.

Stephen Jones has the ball.

One kick dead and that could be it.

Stephen Jones of Llanelli.

The ball is high into the grandstand.

Welsh arms are raised in celebration.

Wales are back to winning ways

and Italy are back to reality.

The final score here at the Millennium Stadium is:

Just glad to be on the field today and playing with the red jersey

and to have a try in the end, that's something else.

What were your feelings when you took that ball

and realised the try was on?

Erm, I can't tell you. I can't remember myself!

That's all I remember seeing is Taylor with the ball

and the line, and that's all I can remember.

Erm, you know, it was an easy try in the end

but I'm glad I was at the end of it to dab it down on the line.

I really enjoyed it.

I remember sitting down in the changing room after the game

and after a win there's a nice sit in the changing room.

A but of a huff and a puff and a smile from within, job done.

Always lots to improve on but we knew the sterner test

would come against Scotland, Ireland and England.

It was a start, it was a foot on the ladder

from where we'd been in the previous game.

A few rungs up the ladder was England at Twickenham

where reality bit in the form of a five try, 40 point thumping from the old enemy.

And if things were bad on the pitch they were worse off it.

The Union became embroiled in an eligibility scandal

which piled on the pressure.

Some of us thrived on that pressure and the want to put things right.

It built confidence going into the next two games

which were Scotland and Ireland which provided us with victories.

Those victories were spearheaded by a clutch of youngsters,

some of whom we've already seen who'd go on to become household names.

COMMENTATOR: Another try for Williams.

What a day this 23-year-old is having.

It is a second Welsh try! It comes to Stephen Jones behind the posts!

Wales ended the campaign with three victories

and finished the Championship in fourth.

Next time on Scrum V Classics - it's Wales v France 1994.

A Welsh rugby legend relives one of his finest moments

in the red jersey.

It was, it just felt good.

The crowd, you know, they were buzzing, you know.

It was, it was electric.

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