Wales sealed their place in the history books and consigned Italy to yet more Six Nations misery, but Warren Gatland’s side were given a real scare as the Azzurri pushed them hard. The visitors were disjointed and it was their deficiencies – as much as any strengths of the Italian performance – that led to the closeness of the scoreline.
Gatland made 10 changes for this match and was unequivocal in his belief at a training camp in Nice this week that it was entirely the right thing to do with the greater picture of this year’s World Cup in Japan in mind. Still, the end result as a scrappy contest and a patchy Wales display.
First, the positives. The Italian capital was a fine place for Wales to record a remarkable milestone. This was their 11th straight win, one which equals the country’s record which dates back to between 1907 and 1910. Gatland’s men will now face England in Cardiff in round three nearly a year unbeaten, still on for a Grand Slam, and with the chance to become statistically the best team in Welsh history. It promises to be some occasion at Principality Stadium on 23 February.
Wales’ big guns will return for the meeting with England, but here the negative was that the red shirts played in fits and starts to score tries only through Josh Adams and Owen Watkin. Wales must do better if they are to win this tournament. Gatland will be fully aware of that as his team never looked like getting a bonus point.
Italy grabbed tries through Abraham Steyn and Edoardo Padovani, while Tommaso Allan kicked the rest of their points, but they have now lost their last 19 consecutive Six Nations clashes and have not won in the competition since 2015.
Wales’s fringe squad members were given the chance to lay down a marker with Gatland’s leading lights rested – Thomas Young, Aaron Wainwright, Jonah Holmes, Watkin and Aled Davies all started the game. Italy went 12-0 down, but stayed in the fight for the full 80 minutes. With a sea of red in Rome, Wales’ fans at least matched the numbers of home supporters and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was sung at some volume before kick-off.
Wales were immediately ahead. Straight from the kick-off Italy were penalised for holding on in front of their own posts after Young tackled Leonardo Ghiraldini. Dan Biggar could not miss with not even 30 seconds on the clock. Angelo Esposito responded for Italy with a clean break after Holmes needlessly rushed out of the line, but they were brief moments of hope as Wales held the upper hand at the scrum in the first 10 minutes. It was from a set piece where Wales won their next penalty and Biggar doubled the advantage before a third kick from the recalled fly-half made it 9-0. The only thing missing was a try.
One looked certain when Biggar brilliantly collected an Aled Davies box-kick, but new captain Jonathan Davies passed long to Holmes instead of hitting Liam Williams.
The Welsh had to make do with a fourth Biggar penalty, but Italy scored out of nowhere before the break. Adams’s awful clearance attempt gave them the platform and Allan turned down three points to kick to the corner. From there a series of surges close to the line ended in flanker Steyn being driven over. Allan converted and struck a post with the last kick of the first half. Allan made amends with a penalty early in the second half and there was confusion with a technical fault meaning that the referee, Mathieu Raynal, was unable to communicate with the television match official.
Gatland had seen enough and regular captain Alun Wyn Jones was introduced from the bench. Italy, meanwhile, lost Allan to a head injury assessment but Wales were struggling as Biggar missed touch and kicked the ball out on the full.
Finally, Wales woke up. From a scrum, Aled Davies broke down the left and the ball was recycled left. Watkin, Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams were all involved as the latter sent Adams over. Biggar converted and was then immediately replaced by Gareth Anscombe, but while it gave Wales some momentum, they still could not pull clear. Davies kicked ahead and had a try ruled out after Jayden Hayward couldn’t collect. Raynal, consulted TMO David Grashoff, but had to be given a pair of headphones in order to speak to him. It was amateurish stuff for a Six Nation stage.
Anscombe – who made a big impact – chipped ahead and Watkin collected for his first Test try. It was one Anscombe improved, but Padovani wrapped up the scoring from an Allan pass. Wales – who emptied their bench – must do better against England and more TMO confusion ended with the excellent Young having a score ruled out at the very end.