The 27-18 triumph made it two wins from three for the young Welsh team in the inaugural U18 Six Nations Festival staged in Wales. Not only did Griffiths get to captain his country for the first time, but he also scored a try and picked up the man of the match award.
“We were all on a high after the win over Ireland and we were confident coming into the game against Italy. It was very pleasing to come away with another win,” said Griffiths, who played for Wales U20 in the Six Nations earlier in the year.
“It is always the same every year against the French and Italian sides – they have some monsters up front and we just had to front up against them. We found a way to work out the Italians in the end and I thought we were a bit unlucky against the French.
“It has been a tough 10 days and I’ve learned to be a better person on and off the field during the Festival. Captaining my country for the first time was a great experience and, hopefully, I can follow it on in the years to come.
“It was great to get a taste of what it’s like to be a professional rugby player for a week. The serious side is good, and the attention to detail is a bit of an eye opener, but you also need a bit of down time and to have a laugh.
“I played U18 last year and had a taste of the U20s this season. I’ve come down to get some game time and I hope to get involved in the U20 World Cup this summer.”
The Italians had proved their worth in the opening two matches with a slender 20-17 defeat to Ireland and then a win over England. Their big pack and solid defence caused Wales plenty of problems and they took the lead after only five minutes.
Wales did well to hold them up on the line, but scrum half Ratko Jelic needed no second invitation to snipe his way over from the fringe of another ruck on the home line to open the scoring. Full back Michele Peruzzo added the extras and Italy were off to a flyer.
Welsh skipper Griffiths appeared twice in a neat back line move to almost provide an immediate response, but the Italian defence just held firm. The young Dragons hooker wasn’t going to be denied, though, and 10 minutes after seeing his side go behind he rounded off a great handling move that started with an interception near half-way with a a try that Evan Lloyd converted.
Penalties either side of the break by Peruzzo allowed Italy to sneak into a 13-7 lead and their tough tackling and hard running was causing plenty of problems for the home side. Lloyd hauled back three points with a penalty and then replacement centre Osian Knott dived over after great diving line-out by Wales had stretched the Italian defensive line to breaking point.
Great play by Ospreys wing Frankie Jones down the right flank then paved the way for a second Welsh try. Jones kicked deep into the Italian 22, stepped on the gas and caused his opposite number Albert Batista no end of difficulties in trying to fall on the ball.
In the end, he missed it and scrum half Dafydd Buckland was up in support to pick up the pieces and the try. Sam Costelow missed with both conversion attempts to leave the game delicately poised at 20-13.
Italy pressed hard for the score they needed to draw level and it eventually came after great forward pressure with replacement hooker Tomas Rosario crossing wide out on the right. Up stepped Paulo Garbisi to kick for a draw, but his kick missed the mark to leave Wales two points ahead.
That lead grew in the final play of the game when Italy, trying to run out of their 22, gifted a second try to Knott that this time Costelow converted.
