16 points: Leigh Halfpenny
Second-half tries from Jonathan Davies and Alex Cuthbert helped Wales to a 26-9 victory over Italy in the Six Nations in Rome.
A severe downpour before kick-off hindered the handling ability of both sides through the first half, with Leigh Halfpenny adding three penalties for the visitors and Kristopher Burton responding with two for the hosts.
Wales though stepped up the intensity in the second half and were worthy winners as Italy struggled to find a breakthrough past the advancing Welsh defence, Burton twice settling for drop goal attempts that both sailed wide.
The result will further lift Welsh spirits with their second victory on the road in this year's championship, leaving them in contention for the title should other results go their way over the coming weeks.
Wales opened the scoring through a penalty from Leigh Halfpenny following a series of drives in the Italian 22, as both sides gradually adjusted to the difficult conditions.
The Italians won the first battle at the scrum, Martin Castrogiovanni getting on top of Gethin Jenkins to create a kicking opportunity for new fly-half Burton to level the scores at 3-3 after ten minutes.
Wales hit back however on the next engage to hand Halfpenny another opportunity for points, with the full-back regaining the lead with a penalty.
Further dominance at the scrum handed Wales another penalty chance after 18 minutes, with Halfpenny duly converting for a 9-3 lead.
A penalty to Italy on the half-way line saw Burton opt for the corner rather than attempting the long-range shot at goal, but his execution was poor and fortunately for the Italians a handling error from Alex Cuthbert handed Italy an attacking scrum five metres from the Welsh line.
Fast defence from Wales limited the Italian's progression metres out from the try line, with Burton opting for a drop-goal attempt which missed narrowly to the left.
Another surge of pummelling rain created more handling errors from both sides - before Italy chipped back at the Welsh lead through a penalty from the scrum.
A charged down box kick on Edoardo Gori by Jenkins put the Italians under pressure in their own 22, with Wales winning a consequent penalty at the breakdown to go 12-6 in front as half-time approached.
The hosts had the better opening period in the second half, keeping possession in the Welsh half, with Burton sending another drop goal attempt wide of the posts.
Italy then floundered trying to regather a chip over the top into their 22 and Jonathan Davies pounced for Wales to snatch the game's opening try.
A probing kick from Andrea Masi put Wales under pressure with a lineout metres from the try line as Italy searched for a foothold in the second half with the score at 16-6.
Burton then clocked three more points after a penalty to bring the Azzurri within seven.
Halfpenny responded after another dominant scrum inside the Italian half, extending the gap once more to ten points with half an hour remaining.
More disruption from the Italian scrum led to referee Romain Poite sending captain Castrogiovanni to the sin-bin, and Wales wasted no time to extend the gap on the scoreboard.
A well-taken line by Alex Cuthbert cut through a gap in the Italian's defence, with the Cardiff Blues winger going over in the left corner for the second Welsh try of the afternoon to make the score 26-9.
Another penalty opportunity for Wales presented itself with Italy down to 14 men - with Ryan Jones opting to go for the corner rather than the extra points, but Wales were unable to capitalise.
Neither side were able though to add to the scoreboard as Wales kept their hopes of a possible title alive dependent on England's result against France, whilst Italy's stunning victory over France now feels more and more like a one-off success.
Man of the Match: 16 tackles summed up the hard-work and commitment of Wales captain Ryan Jones, whose rich vein of form continues.
Moment of the Match: A comical mix-up between the Italian half-backs allowed Jonathan Davies to simply pounce on the loose ball for the game's opening try.
Villain of the Match: The woes of the Italian scrum were summed up by Castrogiovanni's sin-binning on a poor afternoon for Italy's stand-in captain.
The scorers:
Italy:
Pens: Burton 2
Wales:
Tries: Davies, Cuthbert
Cons: Halfpenny 2
Pens: Halfpenny 4
The teams:
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Ratu Manoa Vosawai, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Francesco Minto, 4 Antonio Pavanello, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Paul Derbyshire, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Gonzalo Garcia.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones (c), 5 Ian Evans, 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Sam Warburton, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Scott Williams.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Comments
jontheref says...
tackle was not off the ball, this was clarified many years ago, in South Africa when the English FB was attempting to get the ball and was tackled.
Anyway, none of the officials thought so, so you are wrong!
Posted 16:05 01st March 2013
7ton says...
Rugbyrockstar
The game certainly was not a classic and not much for any neutral to watch.
Like the Ireland/England game the bad weather probably played it's part.
While your comments are usually pretty fair minded there seems to be a marked contrast between those here and those in regards to the Ireland/England, dull for a neutral game.
Posted 20:11 27th February 2013
carpelone says...
rugby_rockstar
46 players, to be sure that we do not miss anybody.
I would also put the ref, for good measure
Posted 15:05 25th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
This match was an insult to the sport. All 44 players should be given 6 month bans for bringing the game into disrepute.
Posted 11:31 25th February 2013
carpelone says...
@ carpelone
Moment of the Match 1: Biggar's tackling Benvenuti, preventim him to score an easy try.
The tackle was off the ball.
Posted 10:46 25th February 2013
jontheref says...
J_HDK and carpelone,
Err, don't you realise you can go to ground to gather a ball?
Nothing formed, so all the top refs allow it.
Sour grapes.
Posted 10:17 25th February 2013
carpelone says...
Jontheref
A whinger in victory. What else did you expect from Poite (apart messing up the srcumtime, ignoring an off the ball tackle and sending off Castro for a scrum in the Welsh territory)? Next time, ask him to run the ball and score a try for the Dragons.
Posted 09:13 25th February 2013
carpelone says...
Moment of the Match 1: Biggar's tackling Benvenuti, preventim him to score an easy try.
Moment of the Match 2: Biggar playing the ball sideways a formed ruck, originating the kick leading to the first Welsh try.
Villain of the Match: Biggar, for getting away with murder.
Apart from that, Wales came out as deserving winners, far more competent than Italy in difficult conditions. The pressure they put on the Italian forward soon after they were reduced to 7 show excellent rugby nous, for which Welsh are second to nobody. Halfpenny was really outstanding, never caught off his position.
Posted 09:08 25th February 2013
Kent says...
Not a great game but tell me how it differed form Ireland v England - where apparently England were 'amazing
"
Posted 21:23 24th February 2013
Kent says...
@senatore_virg - Excellent - you stick to watching "soccer" mate
Posted 21:22 24th February 2013
simonferrigno says...
I agree Burton has to go. Can the Italian federation revoke his licence to play? Given how things stand, an Italian 10 has to be promoted...but remember brunel has to undo years of mallett telling his backs they weren't good enough. Buso was in the squad, perhaps he should get a go? And what happened to players like Marcato. Not the best, but decent hands and could kick. So many players were treated in a stalinist way under mallet.
Posted 19:05 24th February 2013
jontheref says...
for all you naysayers, who said Wales would lose, might lose etc., to win so well in such conditions speaks volumes.
To do so well in the pack, speaks volumes.
Not a great game, but the Scotland Ireland game on a dry pitch was worse!
Scotland and Ireland have gone backwards since their last wins.
I'm happy, Howley still not picking a balanced team, but we have two out of three.
Oh, by the way.
The worst Rugby we have palyed is 1st half v Ireland, to say it was the first half in italy shows your lack of knowledge.
Posted 16:30 24th February 2013
macte says...
@ lorenz78
Italy will not have a international fly-half until they start looking for one at school boy level.
The gospel of FIR is Height-weight for all the positions. In this way they'll keep overlooking many very talented kids just because at the age of 14 or 15, they are too small for FIR standards.
Has anyone seen the Under 20 game? Centres that couldn't handle a ball without dropping it? This is the result of Italian politics.
Posted 14:27 24th February 2013
Frooschman says...
@ cliffguy Calmed down. Thought about it. Stand by it. Wales were poor.
Posted 13:51 24th February 2013
Lucasrg says...
This is gonna be probably one of the games that I will never look at it again.
So bitter and so dreadful to watch. my day was only saved by "Le Crunch".
@melkdave you said it all. I mean...what happened to the Italian scrum!!!! What was for years considered one of the finest and proud assets of Italy seems it's gone in hibernation in the last few weeks. Lo Cicero has to go...maybe one more cap for the record and that's it. Rizzo is a good replacement. but even him, not that young anymore. Castro cannot lead form up front. He is a great centurion, but not a general. Masi is my call for the next game.
Expecting a total carnage at Twikenham, I would just move Masi at 12, McLean 15 and 2 youngsters at 10 and 11. (Iannone-Morisi) No use for Burton who seemed inept for the Italian game-plan. The last hope we have is to see back in action Barbieri, who is recovering from a calf injury, if he can't make it then Deryshire has to start at 8.
Well done the Welsh who were cynical and patience in all aspects, I would only change the hooker who toss few potatoes sacks at the line out and seemed pretty ordinary.
Posted 13:29 24th February 2013
bluechief says...
Dreadful conditions but did well to grind out a win. Considering most people thought this would be a tough game for wales beforehand, i can't understand why people are criticizing wales after they win comfortably. It wasn't pretty but they got the job done. isn't that what they say about good teams, that they can win even when they're not playing well? it was a comfortable win, in terrible conditions, away from home. move on...
moving on, all this talk about a decider in Cardiff is a little unnerving. although i can see us beating scotland (call it bias if you will) I don't see us challenging England at present. The English are by no means the finished article, and if all teams were playing to their potential i'd say they have the 4th best squad. But, unlike the other teams, they are bang in form and have a self belief that has carried them away from their opponents. Robshaw has made a believer of me with his performance yesterday and Tuilagi is the most destructive player in UK. Although the French forwards bossed the game for 50 mins yesterday, the English were resilient and had game changing bench (and a ref in the pocket and the madness of PSA). The point is, England look solid where Wales look fragile. My hope is for a dry pitch in edinburgh when we play scotland and there's a chance of some creativity out past the lumbering Roberts.
still the scottish could yet turn us over. there'd be no showdown in cardiff. england could stroll to a grandslam. very possible. but nobody in their right mind would want that, surely?
Posted 12:06 24th February 2013
lorenz78 says...
Considering how Wales have dominated the scrum I think the man of the match should be awarded to somebdy in the Welsh first row. Probably Jenkins, as Castrogiovanni suffered throughout the game and well befofe being sin-binned.
@melkdave: I agree about Burton, and there is not really a ready alternative (Orquera looked good in November tests and against France, but the game with Scotland shows why he has not been consistently in the team). The federation has some plan for developing the FH of the future, by now involving mostly young players riding the pine in Treviso and/or used in different position (Morisi, Iannone, Ambrosini). I have never been a believer in this top-down approach, we'll see...
Posted 10:03 24th February 2013
pentwynfarm says...
@taffrugby LOL. A great win?
Apart from being a taff, why do you think Wales have the beating of England? What exactly have they shown you to date? Apart from a fortunate bounce against the run of play, they never looked liked scoring until Italy went down to 14 men. I just can't see where you get your confidence, they haven't played well for almost a whole year.
It's like the SW for Lions captain stuff, past glory counts for nothing in rugby. And don't assume you'll walk over Scotland either.
Arrogant English? Arrogant Welsh more like!!
Posted 09:50 24th February 2013
Headhunter99 says...
As I said in a posting about the England match, if the offending side do not get pinged then they ride their luck all the way. Wales took advantage of every situation the officials missed. I'm getting a little fed up with the ref bashing on these posts, years ago without the benefit of technology and the TMO we accepted the decisions, thank god the players still do.
Good result for Wales as Rome is always a potential banana skin. I believe that the big match will be in Cardiff when the slightly out of breath Dragon takes on the still stuttering chariot.
Posted 08:49 24th February 2013
collarbone says...
Taff i think you are dreaming if u think that was a good welsh effort. 1st half was the worst quality rugby seen for 10 years.after that 2 scores against a side that an u16 team would have beaten. Suspect wales will be felled by scots and eng.
Posted 08:34 24th February 2013