The genius of Italy’s tyro sensation Capuozzo

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby's most enduring images, their story and why they are so impactful

What's happening here?

It's March 19, 2022 at the Principality Stadium and there are 90 seconds remaining. Italy are trailing Wales by six points after a heroic defensive shift kept them in the hunt. Cue Ange Capuozzo who started to run back a long clearance kick in his own 22. He blazed a path across field and having straightened he is now confronted by Kieran Hardy. In the background is stalwart Italy lock Federico Ruzza, one of their best players throughout the tournament.

What's the story behind the picture?

There are all sorts of narratives. For Italy this is a last ditch attempt to end a run of 36 straight defeats in the Six Nations, a record that was haunting them and predictably causing some to call for their expulsion from the competition. The vultures have been hovering and a move to get South Africa involved has been mooted by the money men, although totally rejected by most fans who want to keep the competition European.

For Capuozzo, 22, this is the moment he had dreamed off as a rugby mad kid in Grenoble, the son of Italian parents and part of the large expat Italian population in the industrial alpine town which is often known as the Queen of the Alps. Over the decades, during the hard times, many northern Italians, especially those from the Turin region, have made the journey over the border.

He might look about 12 but Capuozzo is already a hardened rugby player with close on 50 appearances for Grenoble in ProD2, that vibrant, exciting mish mash of clubs and nationalities that constitutes France's second tier professional league. Already he has done the hard yards and proved himself, Toulouse signed him for next season a couple of weeks back soon after a startling 90 yard break in the final minute clinched a famous win at Vannes. He was Italy's star man at the Junior World Cup three years ago and on his his Test debut, off the bench against Scotland the previous week, he scored two tries in no time.

What happened next?

He swept past Hardy gloriously and then set sail for the corner. There is no question he could have scored in the corner to claim one of the best Championship tries in history but like a 100 cap veteran he was aware of Eduardo Padovani supporting on the inside and Italy needed a nailed on conversion to win the game. Personal glory went out the window, he passed the ball inside and if it was possibly a little too flat for comfort, like an old pro he kept sprinting on to assuage the TMO's suspicion that it might be forward. Then it was over to Paolo Garbisi as the Italian fly-half patiently ran down the match clock as he prepared for the conversion. Eventually the clock ticked over 80 minutes, he popped the ball over and sank to his knees. Italy had won.

Why is the picture iconic?

This try achieved instant iconic status, one of the very best and most spectacular scores in the entire history of the championship, whether it be Five or Six Nations. It's right up there with Gareth Edwards' solo dash against Scotland in 1972, Andy Hancock and Richard Sharp breaking Scottish hearts, Philippe Saint-Andre going in under the posts at Twickenham. This try will be replayed in fifty years' time and Welsh fans, through gritted teeth, will acknowledge that “I was there” until their deathbed.

This image captures “the moment” of deathless genius in Capuozzo's mesmerising run when, having slashed past six or seven Welsh defenders with his initial counter attack, he has straightened and is now confronted by replacement scrum-half Hardy, fit and fresh and a really good athlete in his own right.

What followed is up there with Phil Bennett's double sidestep in the Barbarians game of 1973 as the single most electrifying “moment” I have witnessed on a rugby pitch. The young Capuozzo utilised what I can only describe as the David Duckham swerve sidestep, which I used to think was unique to the England wing of yesteryear. The body shape mimics, exactly, Duckham's when in full flow. But, frankly , this is even better because with all due respect to the great Duckham, Capuozzo was moving at a speed far in excess of even Duckham in full fight. He absolutely shredded Hardy and in fairness I dont think any defender on the planet would have laid a hand on him.If you look at the footage Hardy actually ends up tackling Ruzza!

Watching live he appeared on the point of losing his balance and toppling forward but that's an illusion, Capuozzo gets up on his toes to run and leans forward like a proper sprinter.

The image is also beating another drum for me. Capuozzo's slight build, thin athletic legs, jet black hair, gaunt features in extremis remind me of the all-time hero of Italian sport Fausto Coppi, the fivetime winner of both the Tour de France and Giro D'Italia. The resemblance is striking and aside from his exceptional rugby talent, that may well resonate with the wider Italian sporting public. A star is born.

Footnote: Wales wing Josh Adams had been announced as MOM just before Capuozzo's heroics but straight after the game sought the young Italian out to hand it over to him. The true spirit of rugby is not yet lost.