Italy 16 – 24 Wales
Wales claimed their second away victory of the 2011 RBS 6 Nations in a frantic encounter in Rome.
Victory never looked in doubt but Italy did push the visitors close with a determined second-half performance.
The full-throttle opening ten minutes saw relentless phases from both sides but it was Wales who struck first with Stephen Jones, back in the number ten jersey kicking his side ahead with a penalty after three minutes.
The response from Italy was immediate as Gonzalo Canale won the footrace to the line after pouncing on a loose pass from Bradley Davies in midfield.
At outside centre James Hook found space with every touch of the ball and it was he who made the initial break which led to Morgan Stoddart rounding of a stunning attack to touch down and re-take the lead for Wales after nine minutes.
Mirco Bergamasco levelled things up with a penalty but Wales struck straight back with a trademark break from birthday boy Shane Williams.
His run across field allowed Lee Byrne to cut back across the defence on the angle and a quick interchange with Hook took Wales into the twenty-two and Sam Warburton was on hand to take the inside ball from Hook and score his first try for Wales under the posts.
Bergamasco kicked his second penalty after a period of sustained pressure from the hosts and they came close to scoring their second try but a great tackle from Stoddart on his own line turned Alessandro Zanni away from the line and prevented a certain try.
Byrne saw his second try ruled out for a forward pass just before the break but Jones stretched Wales’ advantage going into half-time with two further penalties.
The second forty minutes started in the same vain as the first wave after wave of attacks from both side but Bergamasco missed the opportunity to close the gap, his penalty drifting wide after a high tackle from Matthew Rees.
Azzuri skipper Sergio Parisse brought his side right back into contention, rounding the covering defence to score in the corner to the delight of the adoring home supporters, but Bergamasco was again off target with the conversion.
With the crowd at full voice Italy continued to press forward, but it was the thousands of visiting supporters who rose to their feet after the Welsh pack shoved the Italians off their own ball at a five-metre scrum to relieve the pressure and take the upper hand up-front.
A new kicker for the hosts could deliver a different result, Luciano Orquera off target with his first shot at goal after coming on as a replacement.
In a rare visit into the Italian twenty-two James Hook struck a killer blow with a 74th minute drop goal to take Wales more than a converted try clear.
