Six Nations 2018, Wales 38 - Italy 14: George North shines for Warren Gatland's side
WARREN GATLAND has an awful lot to the thank Wayne Pivac for.
The Scarlets coach not only provided a host of players to fill injury holes through this Six Nations, he also brought a true gem to Welsh rugby who has become central to the way they play after just five Tests.
Hadleigh Parkes burst onto the scene with two tries on his debut against South Africa last November, just days after the New Zealand-born centre qualified on residency grounds. And in the absence of the magesterial Lion Jonathan Davies, he is the focal point of Wales both with and without the ball.
He scored the first of five Welsh tries here but it was his vision and precision throughout a match that was topsy-turvy – a chaotic first half only brought under control by yellow cards to the wayward Liam Williams before half-time and Gareth Davies after, which oddly sparked the patient approach they should have had from the start - that kept his side on the rails and eventually led to a comfortable victory.
Pivac is a fine judge of a man. He made Parkes his captain at Auckland in 2012, and brought him over when he came to the Scarlets two years later. The 30-year-old’s progression has been as smooth as his running lines.
“He is so accurate, defends well, breaks the gainline, he’s got a good boot and a cool head. He is the glue for us,” said Gatland.
“It was a job done, what we wanted and gave players an opportunity. There are things we can improve on but we got the bonus point and we can finish second in the championship.”
Gatland’s 10 changes to the starting line-up that lost in Dublin led to accusations of disrespect to Italy, quickly denied.
For Wales, this was a useful test of depth ahead of next year’s World Cup, just as much as it was of George North’s hip, the cause of a bitter ruck with his club.
Northampton coach Alan Gaffney suggested North had not wanted to play last weekend. Whatever the truth, he showed little sign of a problem here, scoring the second and fourth tries to take his tally against Italy to eight in eight. Cory Hill and Justin Tipuric got the others.
Of the newcomers, Owen Watkin’s fluid power and simplicity as Parkes’ midfield partner was impressive, while Gareth Anscombe offered something different to Dan Biggar at fly-half – flatter, faster, but his kicking game is no match.
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The pack, where there were seven changes, mostly handled a speedy but underpowered Italy unit that created some chances that were too often butchered.
Head coach Conor O’Shea responded to another heavy defeat with a passionate defence of Italy’s place at the Six Nations table, about the long term, the development of young players.
It had some substance, but you feel for this honourable man that he was saying it after an 11th straight Championship defeat.
WALES – Tries: Parkes, North (2), Hill, Tipuric. Cons: Anscombe (3), Halfpenny (2). Pen: Anscombe. ITALY – Tries: Minozzi, Bellini. Cons: Allan, Canna.