Six Nations round four opened at the Stadio Olimpico this afternoon. A troubled Welsh side headed to Rome desperate to avoid another galling defeat that, with a trip to Paris to arrive on the final weekend, would surely maintain left them holding the dreaded wooden spoon for the first time in 20 years.
It had been an utterly miserable tournament for Wales so far despite the return of the messiah Warren Gatland as head coach, opening with three successive defeats to design their worst start since 2007 against a backdrop of an ongoing rugby crisis in the country. However, they delivered a much-improved performance on Saturday, notching four tries in total in a morale-boosting 29-17 triumph.
The Azzurri’s shock last-gasp win in Cardiff 12 months ago ended their 36-match Six Nations losing streak that dated back to 2015 and provided a platform for real growth. However, their wait for a first home victory in the competition will now stretch into an 11th year as they are set to finish bottom of the pile once again, despite a spirited second-half display. Follow Italy vs Wales reaction live below!
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Italy 17-29 Wales
A much, much-needed bonus-point win for Wales – their first victory of this year’s Six Nations and first since the return of Warren Gatland after such a difficult period both on and off the pitch.
They leapfrog Italy up to fifth in the table, with the Azzurri’s long wait for a first Six Nations home win since 2013 set to stretch into another year.
With only resurgent Scotland now to arrive at Murrayfield, the wooden spoon is likely theirs once again.
78 mins: Rhys Webb is named as the official man of the match – fully deserved.
A brilliant performance on his first Six Nations start for six years.
huge smiles on the Welsh bench. He went off 25 minutes ago!
77 mins: Wales needed a huge push from that scrum just in front of their own line to allieviate the pressure and set the seal on this bonus-point win.
And they obtain it.
75 mins: Italy are throwing everything at this after the five-metre scrum.
But none of the three Italians queuing up can grasp in Fusco’s whipped pass from the ruck and yet another chance goes begging. Sums up their day.
Wales now with the hold-in at the scrum in front of their own line.
Watch: Brex try gives Italy late hope
73 mins: Suddenly Wales are looking a bit nervy, falling off of tackles as Brex leads another Italian crash.
They don’t obtain the try, but enact maintain another penalty.
Welsh captain Ken Owens is now back on for a bloodied Scott Baldwin.
Davies also on for Jenkins.
71 mins: Key turnover for Italy after Rees-Zammit’s crash, but Dyer can’t obtain up in support quick enough.
A quick lineout over the top and the Azzurri try to burst their way through once more.
Liam Williams was the man to disappear off for George North, by the way.
70 mins: Handling errors from Italy at the worst possible time.
They need to sharpen that up, and quickly.
TRY! Italy 17-29 Wales | Ignacio Brex 68′
68 mins: Superb running angles from Italy as Bruno slices through and then provides an excellent offload for Brex to disappear over.
The conversion is quickly added! Italy reduce the deficit to 12 points with just over 10 minutes to play.
maintain they got enough time for a fightback?