Well, well, well. That sets up the rest of the afternoon rather nicely wouldn’t you say? For the next instalment, join Alan Smith for Scotland v Ireland. I suggest you do it now. Immediately. Because that’s it from me! Cheerio!
Full-time: Italy 20-61
That’s the final act of this incredible second half. So England will need to beat France by at least 16 points, Ireland will need to beat Scotland by at least 20.
Italy 20-61 Wales (Orquera, con)
80 min: Orquera has two from two but this is from the touchline … beautifully struck. Two more points off the tally required for England and Ireland.
TRY! Italy 18-61 Wales (Sarto, try)
80 min: Italy look to run the ball from their own 22. And out of nowhere they spring away on the break. Sarto runs Biggar round the outside rather than pass inside. Has he got there without putting a foot in touch? The TMO takes a look and he has. Great finishing.
Updated
78 min: Italy have, by-and-large, been an embarrassment in the second half. They get away with another sloppy pass in their own 22 thanks to a Wales knock-on.
77 min: Alun-Wyn Jones takes a much-deserved man-of-the-match award.
76 min: Ken Owens bashes his way through a few tackles but there’s a Wales knock-on. As it stands, England will need to beat France by 23 points at Twickenham to overhaul Wales. Ireland will need to beat Scotland by 27 points.
Italy 13-61 Wales (Biggar, con)
74 min: Biggar knocks the conversion over. Wales have scored 47 points since half-time.
TRY! Italy 13-59 Wales (S Williams, try)
74 min: Yep, you read that right. Italy WIN the lineout on the Wales line. But then spill the ball and Wales attack with furious pace. Jonathan Davies surges clear and he has a choice of around eight team-mates to pick from. Williams is the closest and quickest and he wins the race to the line. No one can quite believe what we are seeing.
Updated
73 min: Wales look to have got the turnover, but Italy have a penalty. Orquera kicks to touch right in the corner.
72 min: Wales concede a penalty and Barbieri takes it quickly. Italy are on the charge for the first time in an age. Five metres out …
Italy 13-54 Wales (Biggar, con)
70 min: Biggar kicks the conversion. Yikes.
TRY! Italy 13-52 Wales (Warburton, try)
69 min: What a try this is! Warburton has just romped home from halfway! This is quite unbelievable. Quick passing, strong running, weak tackling, and the captain is in the clear. Scott Williams started it, Tipuric took up the charge and Warburton is running off his shoulder like a Welsh Lomu. No one can catch him and he’s over.
Updated
68 min: Biggar blots his copybook for the first time, the conversion kick from the touchline just sliding wide.
Updated
TRY! Italy 13-47 Wales (Webb, try)
67 min: This is actually pretty pathetic from Italy. A driving maul takes Wales to within a couple of metres, Webb spins off, but the tackling from Sarto is miserable and Webb is able to force his way over.
Updated
66 min: No try, but no matter Wales have yet another penalty regardless. You know the drill by now: Biggar kicks to touch and off we go once more.
66 min: “Try or no try?” Chris Pollacks asks the TMO as Wales look to get the ball down on the Italy line. It’s pretty much impossible to tell whether Alun-Wyn Jones has managed to find the turf, with arms smothering him and bodies hanging off him.
Yellow card!
65 min: Geldenhuys has been sent to the sinbin for coming in from the side.
64 min: Moriso pinches the ball but an Italian forward has tackled the lifter back at the lineout. Replays show it’s very harsh.
64 min: Another Wales penalty on halfway as Italt’s discipline packs its bags and heads off to find its fortune. Biggar again plants his kick into the 22. And off we go again …
62 min: There’ll be a few sweaty palms at Twickenham and Murrayfield now. England and Ireland could need hefty wins if Italy don’t find their collective mojo.
Italy 13-42 Wales (Biggar, con)
61 min: Biggar converts. The scores have gone from 13-14 to 13-42 in the space of 21 minutes.
TRY! Italy 13-40 Wales (North, try)
60 min: The forwards take it in turns to smash into the Italy line and … cripes! All of sudden North is shrugging off tackles in front of the posts and then crashing in for his hat-trick! This is incredible.
Updated
59 min: Another penalty! The Wales scrum is even cranking up the pressure. Biggar again kicks into the 22.
58 min: Italy send in a lineout, but it’s not straight. Wales scrum and a chance to build again.
57 min: Warbuton makes a 30-yard surge from deep in his own half to take Wales onto the attack once more. Italy need to sort themselves out.
Italy 13-35 Wales
56 min: Biggar strikes a beautiful kick between the posts from the left touchline.
TRY! Italy 13-33 Wales (North, try)
55 min: Wales are tearing Italy apart here! Jones pinches a lineout on the five-metre line, they switch they play right to left and North is there again on the overlap. He dives into the corner – a great finish – and Wales have a third try in the opening 10 minutes of this half.
Yellow card! Masi (Italy)
54 min: Masi goes into the sinbin after a tackle off the ball. And Wales take another tap kick from in front of the posts.
53 min: Wales are now 10 points behind England and closing. Another penalty for the visitors on halfway. Biggar pings the kick into touch deep into the Italy 22.
Italy 13-28 Wales (Biggar, con)
51 min: Biggar again knocks over the conversion. This is getting rather interesting.
Updated
TRY! Italy 13-26 Wales (North, try)
50 min: “There’s no sense that it’s all about to unravel in the style that Wales really need.” In the three minutes since I wrote that Wales have scored twice. This time Liam Williams jumps to snaffle an up-and-under from Orquera and he lands to find acres of space to run into. North is outside him and he sprints in for the score.
Italy 13-21 Wales (Biggar, con)
49 min: Biggar taps over the conversion from in front of the posts.
Updated
TRY! Italy 13-19 Wales (L Williams, try)
48 min: Brilliant quick-thinking from Webb. Italy have hands in the ruck and Webb takes the penalty instantly. Williams is the only other play on his wavelength and he’s able to skitter through to the line unchallenged.
Updated
47 min: Scott Williams again makes good ground to take Wales inside the 22. Italy are keeping their discipline, though. There’s no sense that it’s all about to unravel in the style that Wales really need.
45 min: From the lineout Wales set up a driving maul, but when the bodies clear it’s Italy who come away with the ball. The kicked clearance isn’t great though and Wales can build again from the middle of the Italy half.
44 min: Another powerful scrum from Italy – they’ve been in complete control on their own put-in. At the breakdown things get a bit fractious and Wales win a penalty that they put into touch.
42 min: Quick release from the scrum and Wales fling the ball out wide to get Scott Williams in the clear. He’s denied by Moriso, who makes a fine tackle and the Wales replacement can only fumble the ball forward as he looks to release it.
41 min: Another up-and-under from Wales – it’s not been a hugely successful tactic thus far, but this time there’s an Italian knock-on and Wales have the scrum.
Peep! Off we go again. The impressive Venditti takes the catch and looks to wriggle through a few tackles from deep.
The players are back out after the break, with Wales leading the way. It’s been confirmed that Leigh Halfpenny suffered a concussion in that collision with Vunisa.
Half-time: Italy 13-14 Wales
Not the first half Wales wanted, it has to be said. But they’ve got their noses in front at least.
Italy 13-14 Wales (Biggar pen)
40 min: Biggar thunks the ball through the posts. That’s half-time. Wales lead by a point.
40 min: Biggar puts up another up-and-under but Davies can’t grab it. No matter, because Wales have a penalty regardless.
39 min: Biggar goes for the corner again from little more than 10 metres out. Can they force the ball over before half-time?
38 min: Short lineout from Wales, who again begin testing this Italian defensive line. Davies is tackled off the ball so Wales have a penalty advantage …
37 min: Venditti is caught offside to concede a penalty midway inside the Italy half. Biggar, taking over kicking duties from the stricken Halfpenny, looks to put the ball in the corner.
36 min: Halfpenny is undergoing a head injury assessment after that knock. Meanwhile on the pitch, there’s another Italy penalty on the back of their rock-solid scrum.
35 min: Roberts rumbles forwards and just for a moment Italy are scrambling in defence. The ball squirts from his grasp, though, and it’s an Italy scrum inside their 22.
34 min: Halfpenny looks completely dazed and in some serious discomfort as he is helped from the field. Scott Williams comes on in his stead.
34 min: Italy win the lineout and the ball is worked to Vunisa, who stampedes forward, dodging tackles as he goes. Halfpenny eventually brings him down on halfway, but he gets his head on the wrong side of the tackle and takes a thunking knee on the temple. That’s his game over.
Updated
32 min: Charteris claims the Wales lineout on halfway and Wales set up a driving maul. North makes decent ground on the right wing, but he’s just dragged into touch.
31 min: Italy have been much the better side in this first half. Again Venditti causes trouble on the 22, but fine Welsh defence draws the penalty.
29 min: Italy scrum on halfway. And again the home forwards get the better of the Wales pack. They have Wales backpeddling … and then pick up another penalty.
Italy 13-11 Wales (Orquera, con)
27 min: Orquera confidently strokes the kick through the posts. Italy lead once more.
TRY! Italy 11-11 Wales (Venditti, try)
26 min: That was a bit too easy. Italy look to set up another maul on the five-metre line, but Venditti spins off to the left and goes over the line more-or-less unchallenged.
Updated
25 min: Italy set up a maul from the lineout and they spin through a couple of rotations to take play inside the Wales 22. Orquera cuts through a tackle, and Gori sidesteps a couple more. Vunisa rumbles them up to the five-metre line …
Updated
24 min: Wales look to put the pressure on the Italy scrum but the home forwards do enough to hold their ground and win the penalty.
23 min: Williams knocks on as he looks to clam a Webb box-kick just inside the Italian half. Italy scrum.
21 min: Halfpenny misses the kick from the left touchline, pulling the effort to the left of the posts.
TRY! Italy 6-11 Wales (Roberts, try)
19 min: Warburton again crashes into the Italian line, with defenders clinging to him desperately. And as the ball is worked back across Italy are pulled all over the place by some neat Welsh passing. Davies is the first to break, he feeds Charteris who crashes on. The ball comes back to Halfpenny, who sends the perfect grubber kick through for a charging Jamie Roberts to touch down.
Updated
17 min: Tight Wales defence and Italy are eventually penalised for holding on.
16 min: I don’t think there’s been an attack with more than five phases thus far. This is a bit better from Italy, though.
15 min: Wales get the free-kick and set off on the counter. This time they keep the ball in hand, but the ball spills out on the Italian side of the line.
14 min: Biggar thumps another high kick away but Sarto claims superbly and Italy are off on the attack. Eventually the ball is worked to the right, where Venditti is just about to hit the after-burners but makes a dreadful hash of the catch and fumbles forward. Wales scrum.
Italy 6-6 Wales (Halfpenny pen)
13 min: Halfpenny’s kick is thumped straight down the middle. We’re all square once more after 13 of the scrappiest minutes of this year’s Six Nations.
12 min: Another penalty, this one to Wales for a blatant obstruction from Bergamasco. So Halfpenny has the chance to level things up immediately.
Italy 6-3 Wales (Orquera pen)
11 min: Luciano Orquera just about squeezes the kick the right side of the upright. Italy lead once more.
10 min: Biagi claims the lineout and Wales, over-eager, are caught offside. Italy will kick at goal once more.
9 min: Webb skews a steepling box kick into touch on the full. Sloppy stuff – Italy lineout just outside the Wales 22.
Italy 3-3 Wales (Halfpenny pen)
8 min: Halfpenny confidently strokes the kick through the posts to restore parity.
7 min: Williams slips through a couple of tackles as Wales pile on the pressure. Warburton crashes through a couple too and Wales are within 10 metres of the line when the whistle goes for offside.
6 min: Haimona trudges off with his arm in a splint. Orquera replaces him at fly half.
5 min: This looks a bad one for the Italy No10, who is clutching his arm awkwardly. His game looks over to me.
5 min: Roberts ploughs into Haimona, who looks to have picked up an injury.
Updated
4 min: Williams claims the high ball and Italy are penalised for a challenge in the air as he took the catch. They kick for touch and look to build from the edge of the 22.
3 min: Haimona boots long and Wales reply with a garyowen of their own. Italy claim comfortably, though, and recycle through a couple of rucks before clearing with a kick.
Italy 3-0 Wales (Haimona pen)
2 min: Straight between the posts from Haimona. Not quite the start Wales wanted, to put it mildly.
Updated
1 min: A penalty already! Within 15 seconds there’s a Welsh obstruction so Haimona gets the opportunity to kick at the posts.
Peep! Off we go then. Italy kick off and Charteris takes the catch on the 22.
Anthem time! The Welsh fans in Rome are in good voice, as you’d expect, and it sounds like plenty have made the trip. Italy’s Il Canto degli Italiani is, of course, brilliant.
Updated
Click-clack, click-clack … out come the players, through the tunnel and up the stairs.
Here’s Warren Gatland in the tunnel: “To give ourselves a realistic chance we probably need to win by 40 … anything more than that would be a bonus.”
“We had a fantastic week. The players are aware of how important today is. There’s a real air of expectancy.”
The expert view
Robert Kitson’s superb round-table piece analyses everything we’re looking forward to today. Here’s what the experts feel about the game in Rome:
Wales v Italy will kick things off in Rome. How do you see it unfolding?
Martyn Williams (Ex-Wales and Lions flanker): Italy’s Sunday result was not a good thing for Wales. The Italians are an emotional team and having been nilled at home in a dire performance you’ll only see them come out one way. Italy are always strong up front so it’ll be a big test.
Dean Ryan (Worcester director of rugby, former England forward, Guardian columnist): It’ll be interesting. Wales in the first game were awful, but they have performed well since and lifted their game. To beat Ireland last week was outstanding. Wales have left themselves a lot to do, but it’s possible, particularly with Sergio Parisse not playing for Italy.
Can you see Wales scoring enough points?
MW: My biggest concern for Wales is emotionally. Can they get themselves back up after the Ireland game? If they’re going to win the championship they’re probably going to have to win by a margin of 30 points. It would be one of the greatest wins ever if they pull it off.
DR: Wales are without Samson Lee and Gethin Jenkins, but I don’t think they will be particularly interested in scrummaging anyway with a big score to go after. They’ve got nothing to lose and will give it a shot, but my gut feeling is no.
What Wales need
Sneaking in at the last to win the championship is a huge ask for Warren Gatland’s side. Realistically they need to win by at least 30 points to give themselves any chance of pipping Ireland and England. Here’s how it all breaks down:
The teams
Wales
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Métro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Métro), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements Ken Owens (Scarlets), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
Italy
McLean (Sale Sharks); Sarto (Zebre Rugby), Morisi (Benetton Treviso), Masi (London Wasps), Venditti (Zebre Rugby); Haimona (Zebre Rugby), Gori (Benetton Treviso); Rizzo (Leicester Tigers), Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers), Castrogiovanni (RC Toulon), Biagi (Zebre Rugby), Furno (Newcastle Falcons), Minto (Benetton Treviso), Bergamasco (Zebre Rugby), Vunisa (Zebre Rugby).
Replacements Manici (Zebre Rugby), De Marchi (Sale Sharks), Chistolini (Zebre Rugby), Geldenhuys (Zebre Rugby), Barbieri (Leicester Tigers), Palazzani (Zebre Rugby), Orquera (Zebre Rugby), Bacchin (Benetton Treviso).
Updated
