The Mail on Sunday

Fired-up Faletau to Pivac’s rescue

- By Will Kelleher AT PARC Y SCARLETS

TAULUPE FALETAU fired Wales out of their winter of discontent to make sure their terrible 2020 did not end in f l ames. The No 8 created two tries and was one of the experience­d heads who made the difference against Italy.

When Wales were 18- 17 down with 25 minutes to go, the knives would have been sharpening at the Welsh Rugby Union. But the imperious Faletau, tireless Justin Tipuric, nippy Gareth Davies and powerful George North made sure it was Italy who were frozen out in the Llanelli frost.

They were all integral for the tries. Kieran Hardy and Sam Parry scored one each with Davies, North and Tipuric adding the others. In the end, it was comfortabl­e, if still riddled with errors. Italy had scores from Marco Zanon and Johan Meyer, as Paolo Garbisi kicked the rest.

Within 20 minutes Wales were 14-0 up. First Faletau fed Tipuric and the flanker burst through – with Hardy in support. The scrumhalf took the pass and rolled over for the try, which Callum Sheedy converted. Then Parry was biffed over by Tomas Francis. Sheedy hit that one too, and all was rosy in the Welsh garden. Italy started sprouting green shoots of recovery, however. The capitulati­on started when Garbisi kicked a penalty, then next time Italy returned to the Welsh 22 they scored a fine try. They set a crabbing maul before Carlo Canna grubber- kicked in behind, from which Zanon gathered and scored.

That error by Wales was then compounded by sloppiness. Another penalty saw Josh Adams sin-binned and Garbisi slotted over the kick. Italy trailed by one at the break. Sheedy kicked a penalty after half-time, but then the Italians ran riot. Down the wing went South African Meyer and he discarded Ioan Lloyd as if he was flicking away a piece of biltong before scoring. Italy were ahead.

The last 25 minutes were about Wales saving boss Wayne Pivac from the sack. Up step Davies. He took an excellent pass from Faletau and skated in for a converted try. With 12 minutes left most of Wales’ worries went away. First North scored his 42nd Wales try and then Tipuric went over.

The touch- line fires blazed at Parc y Scarlets, but Wales are a long way from catching alight.

 ??  ?? FAST SHOW: Gareth Davies runs in for Wales’ third try
FAST SHOW: Gareth Davies runs in for Wales’ third try

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