KEY POINTS:
While the exultant Italians took another step forward to consolidate their new-found position in the top 10 of the world game with a 23-20 victory over Wales, the sport's administrators took two steps back as the result of a ridiculous sequence of events at the final whistle in
Rome.
What occurred prompted the referee, England's Chris White - hitherto regarded as one of the most reliable Test officials - to say sorry in private to the Wales coaches and players on Sunday (NZT) and make it public yesterday.
"I apologise for the misunderstanding that occurred as the Italy v Wales game drew to a close," said White in a statement released by his employers, the Rugby Football Union, and though he did not go into the detail of the misunderstanding, the Welsh version of events is quite clear.
What is more, it was an accident waiting to happen ever since timekeeping was taken out of the hands of the referee in order, ironically, to avoid confusion in just such a tense situation.
Time was ticking away in an exciting and sometimes violent nip and tuck between Italy, who were chasing their first-ever win double in a single Six Nations Championship, and Wales, who had lost their three previous matches in the 2007 Championship.
The Welsh were trailing by three points when they were awarded a penalty near the Italy 22, and White told them they had 10 seconds to choose between a kick at goal - to earn a draw - or kick for touch.
Because the referee has otherwise been in "no comment" mode it is not clear where the number 10 came from. But the common sense inference was that if Wales got on with it, they would be able to go for a possible match-winning try.
So James Hook kicked the ball out, whereupon the referee got a message from the new overlord of the stopwatch, the television match official Geoff Warren, also from England, that time was up. White blew the final whistle without the line-out being taken and Wales blew their tops.
"The boys are upset and rightly bloody so," said Chris Horsman, the Wales prop.
"Hooky said there was time, then he [White] got the word from the touchline and he blew his whistle. We all saw him sticking his finger in his ear."
At least what neither Horsman nor anyone else, including the Wales coach, Gareth Jenkins, did was stick their heads in the sand by attempting to claim this incident cost them victory.
"We should have been out of sight before that," admitted Horsman.
Nevertheless, Wales were also incensed at an apparent forearm smash by Mauro Bergamasco on their captain, Stephen Jones, in the first half. Jones played on with four stitches but it is thought he had blurred vision in the second half. The independent citing commissioner, Jean-Claude Legendre, of France, has until 5.30pm today (local time) to act.
So the glory was Italy's - although they still did not make it past page 27 of yesterday's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper - following their famous away win in Scotland two weeks previously.
A mini-league of nations is helping propel them up the Six Nations table. The first of their two tries came from Kaine Robertson, a wing from New Zealand; their coach, Pierre Berbizier, is French and their No 8 and man of the match was Sergio Parisse, from Argentina.
However, the authentically Italian brothers Bergamasco, Mauro and the younger Mirco, were devastating in a rush defence. Mauro had to switch from flanker to centre to cover for the injured Gonzalo Canale, and ended up scoring the 78th-minute try, converted by Ramiro Pez, which gave Italy their decisive lead.
Wales worked a tidy try in each half through the wing Shane Williams and hooker Matthew Rees. The first was converted by Jones, the second by Hook who also kicked a penalty either side of the Rees score.
Italy went 6-0 ahead with two Pez penalties, but Wales led twice before Pez chipped to the posts for Mauro Bergamasco to score.
The Welsh appear incapable of generating momentum for significant periods. Unless they avoid defeat against England in Cardiff on Sunday it will be a fourth Five/Six Nations whitewash since 1990.
A few supporters who waylaid Jenkins at Rome airport on the team's way home gave the coach pithy but reassuring advice.
"Just make sure you don't read the newspapers this week," they told him, "and you'll be a bloody hero when we beat those English bastards.
" Well, if hope can spring eternal, why not in the Eternal City?
- INDEPENDENT
