Wales v Italy: 19 stats and facts from the Six Nations clash including Warren Gatland’s charges 21-year first
Italy's Louis Lynagh and Wales' Will Rowlands during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Following Italy’s 24-21 victory over Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, here are 19 stats and facts we have picked out from the Six Nations clash.
Wales take the Wooden Spoon
21 – It is the first time in 21 years that Wales have gone the entire Six Nations without winning a single game, having lost all five fixtures back in 2003.
2 – It is just the second time that Wales have finished in last place of the Six Nations, picking up the Wooden Spoon.
8 – Italy had finished last in the Six Nations for the last eight successive Championships and avoided a ninth straight Wooden Spoon.
2 – This was Italy’s second victory in Cardiff and just their fourth-ever win over Wales in the 33-Test match history between the two sides.
11 – They had lost 11 in succession in the Welsh capital before their 2022 success.
Warren Gatland’s first loss to Italy
1 – Warren Gatland has lost his first Test match against Italy after winning the previous 12 against the Azzurri during his time in charge of Wales.
6 – Gatland has won just six of his 18 games in his second stint at the helm of Welsh rugby after winning 71 out of 126 in his first spell.
98 – Gatland is still two wins away from 100 Test victories over his stints with Ireland, Wales, and the British and Irish Lions.
2 – Prior to Italy’s 2022 success in Cardiff, Wales had won 16 in a row against Italy in all competitions (14 in the Six Nations). They have now won two of the last three encounters.
0 – For the first time ever, Italy kept their opponents scoreless in the first half of a Six Nations match.
3- It is just the third time that Wales have failed to score in the first half of a home game (also v Scotland in 2024 and France in 2010).
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More unwanted Wales records
6 – Wales have now lost six successive matches in the Six Nations, five this year, off the back of losing their last game of the 2023 Championship to France.
7 – If they do lose their opening game of the 2025 Six Nations, against France, they will equal their worst losing run in the competition – seven games (2002-03).
2007 – Before this Six Nations, Wales hadn’t lost their first four games in the Championship since 2007.
11 – Tommy Reffell entered Wales’ final game having won eight turnovers in the opening four games and added three to his tally in the first half – equalling the record for a single edition of the tournament. He ended the game stuck on 11 as he was unable to make the record his own.
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George North bows out
1 – For the first time in Italy’s Six Nations history, they have gone three games without suffering a defeat after drawing with France, defeating Scotland and now Wales.
21 – Italy captain Michele Lamaro topped the tackle count for a second game in a row, ending the match with 21 in total and made three turnovers.
121 – George North played his 121st and final Test for Wales today after announcing his retirement from international rugby earlier in the week.
49 – The veteran back was unable to add to his try-scoring tally and ended with 47 tries for Wales and two for the British and Irish Lions for an international tally of 49.