Padovani’s late try gives Italy historic Six Nations win against turgid Wales

So much for sentiment. This was supposed to be a day to celebrate two of Wales’ greats. Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar respectively earned their 150th and 100th Test caps for their country. Cardiff’s grand arena was bathed in glorious sunshine. They were playing a team on a 36-game losing streak in the Six Nations. What could go wrong?

When Josh Adams scored a solo try with 10 minutes remaining he looked to have given his team an undeserving win. The men in red were turgid, uncreative and ill-disciplined. But Biggar’s conversion meant they had a 21-15 lead. They were back in control.

Then Ange Capuozzo collected the ball 25 metres from his own try line with a minute remaining. The diminutive fullback put on the afterburners and galloped up field as if those around him were slogging through porridge. He stepped one defender and then another. He cut back off his right foot and found Edoardo Padovani on his inside who skipped home. Paolo Garbisi’s extras tore up one fairytale script and underlined another that few could have predicted.

This is Italy’s first win over Wales after 16 defeats and their first ever in Cardiff. They hadn’t won a Six Nations game in seven years. The calls for them to be cancelled and replaced by the vaunted South African Springboks had grown to a clamour. Those voices have been silenced by a young team still a long way from its true potential.

They started brightly and were 6-0 up after a penalty each from Garbisi and Padovani. Their aggression on the ground seemed to take Wales by surprise. It took the better part of half an hour for Wales to find their groove. A turnover in their own 22m was swiftly moved up field with Louis Rees-Zammit and Uilisi Halaholo leading the charge. Seconds later Taulupe