White apologises for denying Wales chance of victory

Italy 23 Wales 20

Wales were trailing by three points when, in the dying seconds of the match, they earned a kickable penalty deep in Italian territory.

A successful shot at goal from James Hook would have levelled the scores and, while not earning the win they craved, it would at least have ended Wales’s dismal run of four straight defeats.

But Gareth Thomas, acting captain with Stephen Jones off the field, wanted to push for the victory and asked White whether there was time to kick for touch and take the lineout.

Crucially White indicated there was, providing Wales were quick about it, and so Hook booted the ball out.

But as Wales were still forming the lineout, television match official, Geoff Warren, radioed to White that time was up and he blew the final whistle.

It sparked wild celebrations among the Italians, who had never before won two matches in a Six Nations campaign, but confusion and fury in the red dragon camp.

Thomas explained: “We asked the ref: ‘If we kick it to touch have we got time to play?’

“He said: ‘There’s 10 seconds, if you kick it touch quickly now – yes.’

“So Hooky took the ball, kicked it into touch and the referee blew up. He said he was told by the TMO in his ear that it was game over.

“The ref told me one thing and obviously I don’t have an earpiece in so I go on what the ref says.

“If he had said to me: ‘If you kick it to touch the game’s over’, we would obviously not have kicked it to touch.

“You don’t have to be Einstein to figure that one out.”

Thomas struggled to keep a lid on his anger as White initially refused to explain his decision, either on the pitch or down the tunnel.

But after spending the morning reviewing the incident in full White conceded a mistake was made.

He said: “I would like to apologise for the misunderstanding that occurred.

“I have apologised to the Wales coaching and playing staff for the misunderstanding.

“I would like to thank them for the good grace with which my apology was accepted.”

It is not quite an unprecedented move among sports officials, but in apologising White has taken an unusual step.

He stopped short of explaining in detail how the misunderstanding came about though the very act of issuing the statement would appear to verify Thomas’ account.

And it will go some way to appeasing the Toulouse full-back, who was returning from a four-week ban for clashing with fans only to find himself thrust straight into another touchline drama.

Italy captain Marco Bortolami questioned the wisdom of Thomas’s decision to go for the lineout given a draw was there for the taking and there was no guarantee Wales would score a try.

But Thomas’s decision was defended after the match by head coach Gareth Jenkins and he still believes it was the right call – had there been time for the lineout.

Thomas explained: “I don’t play rugby on hindsight, I don’t live on hindsight. We could have gone for the draw and we would have done so if the ref had said ‘if you kick it to touch, it’s over’.

“But with him saying ‘you’ve got time to play’ I knew we could keep the ball and I was confident we could score.”

Thomas admitted he struggled with his emotions after the game – “it was tough not to be angry” – but he insisted all energies must now be channelled into next Saturday’s clash with England.

“It is a chance for redemption and we have to make sure this incident acts as an inspiration for us,” he said. The most disappointing thing from Jenkins’ point of view is that the win was there for the taking against Italy.

Wales hit back from 13-7 down at the interval to lead 20-13 with Matthew Rees adding to Shane Williams’ first-half try.

But they wasted a number of promising opportunities and their profligacy proved costly as Italy roared back and Mauro Bergamasco pounced for what proved to be the match-winning score.

Italy scorers: Tries: Robertson, M. Bergamasco. Cons: Pez 2. Pens: Pez 3.

ITALY: De Marigny, Robertson, Canale, M. Bergamasco, Pratichetti, Pez, Troncon, Lo Cicero, Festuccia, Nieto, Dellape, Bortolami, Zanni, M. Bergamasco, Parisse.

Replacements: Zaffiri for Canale (22), Staibano for Lo Cicero (59), Perugini for Nieto (59).

Wales scorers: Tries: S. Williams, Rees. Cons: S. Jones, Hook. Pens: Hook 2.

WALES: K. Morgan, M. Jones, Shanklin, Hook, S. Williams, S. Jones, Peel, Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, Gough, A. Jones, Popham, M. Williams, R. Jones.

Replacements: G. Thomas for S. Jones (29), D. Jones for Jenkins (62), R. Thomas for Rees (79), A. Jones for Horsman (57), J. Thomas for R. Jones (72).

Referee: Chris White (RFU).