“Captaincy is 90 per luck and 10 percent skill. But don’t try it without that 10 percent.”
So reckoned peerless Australian cricket great Richie Benaud.
On Wednesday evening in Treviso, Joe Hawkins didn’t forget that 10 percent.
The Ospreys centre guided his Wales U20 side to a 23-20 Summer Series victory over Italy which secured them a place in the tournament final against South Africa next Tuesday.
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It was leadership by example from the Ospreys youngster, laced with intelligence and maturity.
When the side needed someone to step forward and nail a penalty from 45 metres with the scores level in the 75th minute, up stepped the captain to propel the ball between the posts.
Ahead by three points, the young Wales team then saw out the game, not trying anything reckless, at one point sensibly driving a lineout and playing off the scrum-half, denying the hosts any chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Hawkins also earned high marks for his dealings with the referee throughout, making a point of not getting on the wrong side of the official, and at the end of the gam the inside centre gave an impressive on-pitch speech to his players as they huddled.
“Boys, how good does that feel?” he said.
“All the work we’ve put in, the weeks building — coming out here and the weeks out here.
“We dug in against Georgia, we had to dig in again today, but it’s worth it and we did it for each other.
“And we can enjoy tonight when we go back to the hotel.
“We’ll come firing into that final next week, yeah?”
There was a chorus of approval from his fellow players.
Hawkins just looks a proper player, who can not only play but also carries himself well and has a presence about him. You can read more about him here.
Later, head coach Byron Hayward took time out to praise his captain for stepping forward to attempt the late kick.
“It’s a bit like I said last week with Daf Jenkins. World-class players at this level do world-class things, and it’s exactly the same with Joe," said Hayward.
“What’s a world-class player in the under-20s? It’s a player who would get in any under-20s team in the world in his position. And Joe Hawkins is one of those.
“Joe’s not someone who kicks regularly. But with Dan Edwards being off the field, Joe stepped up and nailed it. It was a superb kick and we really managed the last eight minutes well.”
Wales know South Africa will be a monumental test next Tuesday, but after their difficult Six Nations they have stepped up a level in this tournament and deserve plaudits for winning their pool with an unbeaten record.
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