OK, time to head for the ice bath. Thanks for joining me, and goodnight. I’ll leave you with our match report:
Here’s Warren G: “There’s definitely things we need to work on. Our lineouts were poor again, and if we play like that against England, it could be embarrasing. We won’t play like that, though”, he adds with a wry smile.
“We didn’t have as much momentum and tempo as we would have liked, but we’re looking at the Six Nations and trying to build for the World Cup.”
Wales are top of the Six Nations table, but they didn’t pick up a bonus point here. Might that cost them later in the tournament? Perhaps, but with all those changes, Gatland appeared happy to take that risk in order to give players some extra game time.
Jonathan Davies, captaining Wales for the first time tonight, says his team are “frustrated” by their performance, but praises the efforts of the debutants and fringe players who came in. “We’ll have to be much better against England”, he adds, and he is not wrong.
Full time: Italy 15-26 Wales
That’s it! Wales have an 11th consecutive win, and their second away success in this year’s Six Nations. It was far from pretty, and they struggled until Warren Gatland called key men off the bench to dash growing Italian hopes of a shock victory.
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NO TRY! Prop Dillon Lewis bustles through from Anscombe’s offload, and Thomas Young crosses into the corner. It’s ruled out - Anscombe’s pass was forward - but that’s harsh on Young, denied his first Wales try.
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78 mins: Josh Navidi is named man of the match for a battling performance at No 8.
The try count is 2-2, Dan Biggar’s four penalties in the first half-hour proving crucial. Without them, Italy would be a point ahead.
TRY! Italy 15-26 Wales (Padovani 75')
Wales leave a gap in their defence and Italy exploit it, Allan sidestepping into space and teeing up Padovani, who cruises into the corner. Allan shanks a tricky conversion wide.
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73 mins: More sterling work from Steyn and Parisse carries Italy upfield. If only Italy’s entire team was as strong as their back row. The hosts have a scrum, and a chance to make the scoreline look more respectable...
“Italy may have Bigi but what we have is Biggar,” says Phil Grey, picking up the pun that’s been staring at me all game.
TRY! Italy 10-26 Wales (Watkin 70')
As I type those fateful words, Anscombe cuts Italy open with a delicate chip beyond the line - and Owen Watkin is onto it ahead of Morisi. Anscombe converts, and Wales have wrapped up the win!
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69 mins: Wales pick up another penalty, and then an advantage close to the Italian line. It’s all a little uninspired though ...
67 mins: More changes for Wales, with Elias, Amos and Ross Moriarty coming on. That means that Wales have Holmes and Moriarty on the field together. Elementary.
NO TRY! Due to technical issues, we haven’t been able to hear the referee throughout the game, and he can’t communicate directly with the TMO, either. After a bit of back and forth, we learn that in the booth, a knock on was picked up.
64 mins: Wales pounce on an Italian mistake as the ball squirms away from Jayden Hayward, as he tries to pick up a grubber kick. Adams and Jonathan Davies are both onto it in a flash, the latter grounding the ball. It’ll be reviewed for a potential knock on...
62 mins: Allan has returned after his head injury assessment. A crafty banana kick from Anscombe sets up an Italy lineout, as Wyn Jones and Gareth Davies come on.
60 mins: Italy make two more front-row changes, with Bigi and Pasquali replacing Ferrari and Ghiraldini. Scrum-half Edoardo Gori is also on, replacing Pazzani.
59 mins: Italy snatch the lineout ball - that area continues to pose problems for Wales. The visitors go again, but Williams’ attempted grubber kick is straight into an Italian shin.
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57 mins: More Italy changes, with Marco Barbini on for Negri, and a couple more lined up. Traore is penalised for not rolling away, and Wales will have a dangerous lineout...
Italy 10-19 Wales (Biggar conversion)
Dan Biggar adds the conversion, taking his total to 14 on a mixed night for him, before heading off as Gareth Anscombe comes on.
TRY! Italy 10-17 Wales (Adams 55')
Wales get the breathing space they needed! Davies leads the drive and Italy are short of numbers on their right. Liam Williams gets through a half-hearted Hayward tackle, and offloads to Josh Adams, who races in and dots down under the posts.
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53 mins: Federico Ruzza is on for Dean Budd in the Italian pack. I’m surprised he didn’t start today; he was terrific when coming on at Murrayfield.
52 mins: Biggar has amassed all of Wales’s points but some of his kicking has been erratic, and he looks annoyed with himself as he plants an effort straight into touch. He hasn’t helped his claims for a World Cup starting spot today.
51 mins: Changes for both sides. Wales call on their captain, Alun Wyn Jones, who replaces Jake Ball. In the front row, Dillon Lewis replaces Samson Lee. For Italy, Cherif Traore is on, replacing Nicola Quaglio.
50 mins: The game opening up a little bit, Biggar leading a charge before Italy turn it over, McKinley kicking downfield and forcing Williams to gather smartly under pressure.
48 mins: Ian McKinley comes on, with Tommaso Allan requiring a head injury assessment. If you’re wondering why he’s wearing goggles, he has lost sight in one eye after a horrific injury:
46 mins: Yikes, Aled Davies can’t clear the ball out of the maul, and Braam Steyn turns the ball over! The clearing kick is poor, and Wales have a lineout - but Steyn is on hand again.
45 mins: The penalties keep piling up, Dean Budd penalised for a high tackle. Biggar backs himself to kick into the corner, and does so clinically. Welsh lineout, five metres out...
Italy 10-12 Wales (Allan penalty)
Thomas Young tried to sneak in and steal the ball, but the ruck had formed and the risk didn’t pay off. Allan atones for his miss before half time. Is it time for Wales to make changes?
42 mins: Biggar misjudges his kick to touch, and Italy have a lineout. Wales penalised for an offside, and Italy can pick up where they left off...
We go again
The second half is under way.
For your consideration
Take your pick for some half-time reading.
Half time: Italy 7-12 Wales
He’s hit the post! It wasn’t a gimme, but ... oh, Italy. A scrappy half ends with Wales relieved to still have a five-point cushion.
40 mins: Italy have a lineout from Allan’s penalty kick, and get another penalty as Beard gets underneath Negri and tips him. Wales have lost their discipline here, and Allan can cut the gap before half time...
38 mins: Parisse swats the ball away at a Welsh lineout, and Beard and Dee exchange words afterwards. It’s not quite clicking for Wales at set-pieces - and from the scrum, Wales collapse, Nicky Smith at fault.
36 mins: This game had an all too familiar feeling to it for Italy - down 12 points, all from penalties, in an otherwise even contest. Now they’ve got something to show for their endeavour, and Wales have to be a bit more aggressive.
TRY! Italy 7-12 Wales (Steyn 34')
Braam Steyn, backed up by Dave Sisi, powers over the line as Wales run out of bodies behind the ball. Allan converts, sneaking his effort inside the far post. Italy back in this!
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33 mins: Dean Budd claims the lineout ball and offloads to Parisse. Wales stall the maul, but Italy keep pushing, Negri crashing through the Welsh defence twice. They look to have the momentum here...
32 mins: A poor kick from Josh Adams allows Italy another opportunity to attack, but there’s no way through. Wales eventually concede a penalty though, and Allan turns down the chance to get three points on the board, kicking for the corner instead.
Italy 0-12 Wales (Biggar penalty 29')
Another straightforward three points for Biggar, who slices his kick but still sends it through the posts.
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28 mins: Italy repel the attack from their own five-metre line, helped by Welsh indecision. Campagnaro strips the ball - but Italy had strayed offside previously.
26 mins: They can, and in some style, Biggar bravely grabbing a high ball from Aled Davies cleanly under pressure. He takes Wales within 10 metres, with Italy scrambling to get men back...
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25 mins: Another Italian attack ends as Thomas Young rips the ball loose. Can Wales forge an attack of their own?
23 mins: Wales stand up to an Italian maul, and get the turnover. No joy for the hosts, who stay scoreless.
21 mins: Wales concede a penalty, Nicky Smith going in off his feet at the breakdown. The visitors turn the ball over but Italy snatch it back, Padovani taking a big catch from Biggar’s kick and hurting himself in the process. Italy edging into the Welsh 22...
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Italy 0-9 Wales (Biggar penalty 18’)
Nicely done, drilled between the posts from distance. Wales a long way from top gear, but with a healthy lead.
16 mins: Biggar chips and charges, almost collecting his own kick with Italy already penalised for offside. It doesn’t quite come off, but it’s a fourth penalty conceded by the hosts. Biggar will kick from 46 metres out...
Italy 0-6 Wales (Biggar penalty 14')
Italy have held firm in open play but are always vulnerable at set pieces, and after their scrum folds, Wales have the chance to add three easy points, which Dan Biggar accepts.
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11 mins: ITV co-comm David Flatman just described Samson Lee as “a cannonball with eyes”. It was meant as a compliment, I think.
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10 mins: The Welsh backs are strung out across the field as Aled Davies collects from the scrum. The hosts are defending stoutly, and Beard spills the ball under pressure from Quaglio.
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8 mins: After a couple of nervous moments, a chance for this makeshift Wales team to push forward. From an Italy line-out, Parisse collects - but Italy are penalised, and Wales have a scrum, some 10 metres out.
4 mins: Italy respond well to that early setback, with Liam Williams forced to claim an Esposito kick-through under pressure after a quick turnover. Italy come again, full-back Jayden Hayward making ground before a loose pass to Esposito. Tommaso Allan tries to rebuild the momentum, but Wales stand firm and get the put-in at the scrum.
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Italy 0-3 Wales (Biggar penalty 2')
Barely 60 seconds in, and Italy concede a penalty underneath their own posts after good work from debutant Thomas Young and hooker Elliot Dee. Yikes. Biggar does the necessary, and Wales lead.
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We're off!
After a bit of unexplained faffing, Dan Biggar kicks things off.
A decent crowd inside the cavernous Stadio Olimpico, as the players line up for the anthems. Two absolute belters, I’m sure you’ll agree.
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So, only two teams can win the grand slam now - Wales and England. They meet in two weeks’ time, in Cardiff, in what should be a half-decent game - providing both teams get the job done this weekend.
Here’s Paul Rees’ match report from Murrayfield:
Warren Gatland speaks! “We’ve been in Europe, enjoying a break, the weather’s been nice” he says, as ITV cuts to footage of Welsh players frolicking in the Med. He adds that this is a chance for Dan Biggar to impress at fly-half from the start, after doing well from the bench in recent games.
Ireland have beaten Scotland 22-13 at Murrayfield, after a first half that was excellent, and a second half that was less so.
Pre-game reading
Hello! I’m currently covering the closing stages of Scotland v Ireland. Feel free to join me, or just mooch around here. I’m easy.
The teams
Italy: Jayden Hayward; Edoardo Padovani, Michele Campagnaro, Luca Morisi, Angelo Esposito; Tommaso Allan, Guglielmo Palazzani; Nicola Quaglio, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Simone Ferrari; Dave Sisi, Dean Budd; Sebastian Negri, Braam Steyn, Sergio Parisse.
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Cherif Traore, Tiziano Pasquali, Federico Ruzza, Marco Barbini, Edoardo Gori, Ian McKinley, Tommaso Benvenuti.
Wales: Liam Williams; Jonah Holmes, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Aled Davies; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Samson Lee; Jake Ball, Adam Beard; Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Hallam Amos.
Preamble
This year’s Six Nations schedule is shaping up nicely for Wales. A Friday night opener in Paris is followed by what ought to be a Saturday stroll in Rome, as their rivals battle in storm-lashed Britain. Warren Gatland’s men even spent the week in Nice; we can only hope they got their trotters up at some point.
As long as a first defeat to Italy for 12 years is avoided, Wales should be suitably refreshed and rotated before England come to Cardiff. Even at this early stage, that game already has the look of a potential slam eliminator. With that contest, and the World Cup, in mind, Warren Gatland is testing out fringe players here, seeking assurances on the depth of his squad.
Gatland may have one eye on the future, but his players must keep Paris in mind too. Wales summoned a record comeback after a dreadful first half there, and will need to stay focused at a venue where they were behind at the break on their last visit.
Italy’s three late tries at Murrayfield showed the dangers of switching off against them, and there’s history at stake too, as Wales chase a record-equalling 11th straight victory. In short, the holiday’s over.
