Wales 23
Italy 15
WALES EKED OUT a 23-15 victory over Italy in Cardiff to begin their quest to win an historic third Six Nations crown in a row.
Warren Gatland’s side struggled to impose themselves at times against a determined Italy side, whose centre Michele Campagnaro was named man of the match for his two-try attacking effort. For the home team, significant improvement will be needed when they come to Dublin next weekend.
Expectations for this Welsh squad have been hugely increased by their two European titles in the past two seasons, and Gatland will not have been impressed with much of their play. Despite a wonderful start, when Italian debutant Angelo Esposito gifted Alex Cuthbert a third minute try, Wales failed to build sustained periods of the high tempo attacking that they strive for.
There were positives in the battling performance of Toby Faletau and some of the more direct running from the likes of Jamie Roberts – who looked to go over on his ankle in the closing minutes – but a lethargic Mike Phillips failed to provide out-half Rhys Preistland with enough clean possession to bring the likes of George North and Scott Williams into the game more often.
Great credit goes to Italy, who fought their way back into the game despite trailing 17-3 at the interval. Williams’ try, courtesy of a Roberts line break, could easily have deflated Jacques Brunel’s men, but instead it served to inspire them in the second 40 minutes.
Campagnaro raced clear to score his first try immediately after the break, before intercepting a telegraphed Leigh Halfpenny pass in the 68th minute to give Italy hope of stealing the game late on. However, the Wales fullback’s third penalty of the afternoon was enough to seal the home side’s victory.
For the watching Joe Schmidt, Wales’ inconsistency at the breakdown – where turnovers were followed by sluggish penalty concessions – will offer an area for Ireland to target in Dublin next weekend. There is little doubt that Gatland’s side will improve before that meeting, and the return of Sam Warburton may aid that progress.
Still, there were signs of weakness in the Welsh performance to offer encouragement and slowing the tempo of the reigning champions’ attacking possession looks important. Italy once again showed that they will need to be taken seriously in the Six Nations, with signs that their back play is developing offering Brunel genuine hope.
Wales scorers:Tries: A Cuthbert, S Williams
Conversions: L Halfpenny (2)
Penalties: L Halfpenny (3)
Italy scorers:
Tries: M Campagnaro (2)
Penalties: T Allan
Wales: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, S Williams, J Roberts, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips (R Webb); P James, R Hibbard, A Jones (R Jones); L Charteris (A Coombs), AW Jones; D Lydiate (S Warburton), S Tipuric, T Faletau.
Italy: L McLean; A Esposito, M Campagnaro, A Sgarbi, L Sarto (T Ionnane); T Allan, E Gori (T Botes); M Rizzo (A de Marchi), L Ghiraldini (D Giazzon), M Castrogiovanni (L Cittadini); Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami (J Furno); A Zanni, M Bergamasco (F Minto), S Parisse.
