Italy hold on to leave Wales with little hope

ITALY, not without late alarms after finishing the game with 13 players, won the so-called battle of the wooden spoon as Wales slipped to a 14th straight defeat.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

On a treacherous afternoon, Italy’s kicking game was far superior to Wales, as was their chase, but the Azzurri suffered a bad case of altitude sickness as the novelty of a second consecutive win over Wales hove into view. Closing out big games is still not automatic for them.

They missed three second-half kicks at goal and then conceded two late tries from lineouts – one of them a penalty try – as Wales belatedly discovered a way of attacking the Italians. Both tries also saw the Italians lose a man to the bin and it needed a nigh on perfect defensive set from their 13 remaining players high up in the Welsh half to ensure the win as Wales looked for ways to force a draw.

All of which made for exciting viewing even if the quality was lacking a little although allowance must be made for the conditions.

For Italy, with a fallow week now in prospect, it’s a decent launching pad for their next game, at home to France, while Wales must prepare for the visit of Ireland. Nine of yesterday’s Welsh 23 have yet to experience what a Test win feels like and that is half the problem. Confidence and Test playing nous is at a premium.

The Welsh support was excellent yesterday and the sight and sounds of thousands of Welsh fans singing on the Spanish steps yesterday morning was one of the images of the weekend … but singing doesn’t win you rugby games.