Six Nations 2019: Wales make history with win over Italy
Wales made history by equalling their best run of 11 straight Test wins with a 26-15 victory over Italy in the Six Nations in Rome on Saturday.
Josh Adams and Owen Watkin touched down following the break after Dan Biggar had kicked four first-half penalties for the visitors to lead 12-7 at the interval.
Italy crossed for two tries through Braam Steyn and Edoardo Padovani but the Azzurri fell to their 19th consecutive defeat in the tournament.
The Welsh made it two wins out of two after last weekend’s 24-19 win over France in Paris, and go top of the Six Nations table.
Warren Gatland’s side last achieved 11 consecutive victories in 1910, and will bid to break the record against England at the Principality Stadium in two weeks’ time.
Italy, meanwhile, followed their 33-20 loss to Scotland in Murrayfield, by extending their losing streak in the tournament going back to February 2015.
Conor O’Shea’s side next host Ireland in Rome in two weeks time after the Irish bounced back from their opening loss to England to beat Scotland 22-13.
Man of the match: Moves like Biggar made all the difference with Dan the man’s kicking prowess the difference in the end.
Moment of the match: Edoardo Padovani muscled his way over the line with 74 minutes gone on the clock, giving editors (more) grey hairs and neutrals hope that a magnificent comeback might be on the cards.
Villain of the match: Almost any player in a blue shirt. Italy conceded 11 penalties in the match compared to Wales’ six. No sin bins, amazingly, but in a scruffy encounter decided by a kicking boot, that’s not a great look.
The scorers
For Italy
Tries: Padovani, Steyn
Con: Allan
Pen: Allan
For Wales
Tries: Watkin, Adams
Cons: Anscombe, Biggar
Pens: Biggar(4)
Italy: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Edoardo Padovani, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Sergio Parisse (Captain), 7 Abraham Jurgens Steyn, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Dean Budd, 4 David Sisi, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Nicola Quaglio.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Marco Barbini, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Ian McKinley, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Jonah Holmes, 13 Jonathan Davies (captain), 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Hallam Amos.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
