Match report
Time to sign off with Daniel Gallan’s match report from the Principality Stadium. Thanks for joining me, that was quite something. For now though, it’s arrivederci.
It will be interesting to see where both teams go after this unforgettable afternoon. Italy have answered those persistent questions over whether they belong in the Six Nations, and with emerging stars in the team and at under-20 level, the next target will be to hand some other side the wooden spoon next year.
As of right now, the most likely candidates are Wales, who will finish fifth, one year after winning the title. This is a dark day for them, completing a spectacular fall from grace – but perhaps having a point to prove and pride to recover will work for them in the long run, after a curiously flat campaign.
Daniel Gallan was our man at the Principality; his match report will be here soon. You can also follow Ireland v Scotland here, with Lee Calvert.
Josh Adams was awarded man of the match, for saving one try and then scoring what looked to be the winner. But after Ange Capuozzo’s moment of magic, Adams gave his man-of-the-match medal to the Italian full-back. A lovely moment, and an incredible show of sportsmanship.
What a lovely gesture.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 19, 2022
Welsh try-scorer Josh Adams was given the man of the match award just before Italy's incredible comeback.
He handed the honour over to Ange Capuozzo at the final whistle 👏#WALITA reaction: https://t.co/CZ7xLhevwP#BBCRugby #SixNations pic.twitter.com/sXjha5HWfw
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And now the Italy coach, Kieran Crowley: “I’m just really proud. They were out on their feet the last 30 minutes but they kept playing, kept believing. There was a tear in my eye in the stands ... you’d think we had won the World Cup but this is so important, they’re a young group and they need moments like this. One game doesn’t make a team, we’ve got to build on this when we meet up the summer and build up to November.”
Wayne Pivac speaks: “Discipline wasn’t great in the first half, we conceded 12 points from ill-discipline ... and then to get back in the game, and throw it away at the end, it’s hugely frustrating. The Italians came here with more enthusiasm than us, which is hard to understand. We’re very disappointed. We had improved throughout the competition and today we’ve let ourselves down.”
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Here’s what Dan Biggar has to say after his 100th Wales cap ends in a shock defeat – and it’s not good.
“Simply not good enough,” he says. “We haven’t played well, but to not finish it off, when they’re 70m from their own line. It’s probably the last chance for some of those players. I think we were unlucky on the [disallowed] try, but it wasn’t given, so there we go.
“Too many boys not up to speed, we were second to loose balls, balls in the air – anything that required talent or work ethic, we came up short.”
Here is the Italy captain, Michele Lamaro: “I just want to celebrate with my family, celebrate this moment. This is the first step of a long process we’ve started – Capuozzo is the super star of our squad, that try was incredible ... [but] we couldn’t celebrate that if we weren’t close and hadn’t conceded.
“Being in the moment until the end, stay concentrating, was key to us winning.” How will they celebrate tonight? “We will not celebrate,” he smirks. “Definitely not.” Mine’s a Peroni.
More on the match-winning try – Padovani collected a high kick and swung the ball to Capuozzo in midfield. The full-back skipped to the right, burst between Adams and Faletau and left another red shirt on the deck with a body-swerve. Suddenly free down the right wing, but with Dan Biggar covering, he looked up and offloaded to Padovani, who went over under the posts. A try worthy of winning any game.
Wow. It’s hard to know what to say after that finale – but the numbers tell a story. This is Italy’s first win on Welsh soil, ever – and ends their 36-game Six Nations losing streak. It’s historic – and honestly, it’s deserved.
Full time! Wales 21-22 Italy
The clock ticks to 80.01, Paolo Garbisi converts from under the posts – and that’s it! Italy have won!!! The players collapse into a collective heap, cheering and crying. What a moment!
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TRY! Wales 21-20 Italy (Padovani)
Oh my days! Is this actually happening? A moment of absolute brilliance from Ange Capuozzo, from nowhere, sets up Edoardo Padovani to score – and if Garbisi can convert, Italy will lead with seconds to go ...
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78 mins: Adams had just been awarded man-of-the-match, but escapes embarrassment as Rowlands tips the lineout away ...
76 mins: Wales want a fourth try, and a shot at finishing third in the table – but a penalty against Josh Adams for dissent allows Italy to advance downfield.
75 mins: Bradley Roberts is on for try-scorer Dewi Lake. The Ulster prop’s lid is something to behold – a ginger mullet that almost looks ... permed? It’s breathtaking.
73 mins: Wales produce another push downfield through Nick Tompkins, one of a number of replacements who has made a big difference in the second half. Italy’s bench is now emptied, with David Sisi on for Pettinelli.
72 mins: The red wave pours forward again and under the posts, Wyn Jones belly-flops over the line with support from Faletau. Braam Steyn had his arm underneath the ball, and no try is awarded – the TMO confirms the on-field decision.
71 mins: Suddenly, Italy need a converted try to retake the lead, and Wales can sense a bonus-point victory against tiring opponents. Moriarty wins a penalty in midfield to roars from the home crowd, and Wales will push on again. Cherif Traore is on for Italy, replacing the excellent Fischetti.
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Wales edge upfield, with replacements Brown and Moriarty key in forcing some forward momentum. The ball is worked to Adams on the left flank – he darts infield, beats a weary challenge from Pettinelli and sprints for the line. Brilliant work from the wing, and Wales may have got out of jail here.
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TRY! Wales 19-15 Italy (Adams)
But now Wales have found the gap, and Josh Adams, the man who denied Ioane a try with a brilliant tackle, who scores – and Biggar adds the conversion.
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66 mins: Kieran Hardy, who I thought was impressive off the bench against France, is on at scrum-half for Gareth Davies. Biggar offloads to Rees-Zammit, who gets swallowed up by the blue wall. Wales must feel like they’re playing France again ...
This is still my gut feeling, but every change, penalty, Welsh handling error sends more seconds tumbling off the clock ...
@niallmcveigh Twenty minutes to go, valiant effort so far by Italy, but you still very much get the feeling that it's going to end in heroic defeat ... #WALvITA #6Nations #SixNations
— VoiceOfTheMysterons (@Mysteron_Voice) March 19, 2022
63 mins: The Italy No 8, Toa Halahifi, is replaced by Braam Steyn, who is earning his 50th cap. Wales get away with a spilled high ball, and there’s a bit of a kicking duel. Fusco claims a high ball easily – the Italy backs have looked comfortable with those all day.
Missed penalty! Wales 14-15 Italy Frustratingly for Padovani, his kick has plenty of distance – but not the accuracy, drifting well wide.
61 mins: Wyn Jones is also on in the front row, and Wales’ reshuffled pack gets in a mess, whistled for offside near the halfway line. It’s 53m from goal, and Padovani is going to have a go ...
60 mins: Dan Biggar knocks on from an awkward pass as Alun Wyn Jones is replaced. He gets a huge ovation, but this isn’t how he’d want to exit the game, a point down to Italy at home.
Will Rowlands replaces him, while Callum Sheedy is on for McNicholl. Italy bring on Alessandro Fusco at scrum-half, replacing Callum Braley – so the total Callum count holds steady at one.
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59 mins: Italy have been really disciplined and organised today, the usual set-piece errors far less frequent today. They’ve also missed nine tackles, out of 125 attempted today.
Penalty! Wales 14-15 Italy (Garbisi)
An easy three points for Paolo Garbisi and Italy have edged back in front with just over 20 minutes to play.
55 mins: What a passage of play this is from Italy. Capuozzo is under huge pressure after collecting a kick behind the try-line, but he finds Ioane, who gallops away downfield. Italy kick and chase, Faletau is back to smother it – but he’s penalised for sealing off, and Italy can retake the lead here ...
Italy change two of their front row after being outgunned in the maul – Luca Bigi and Filippo Alongi replace Nicotera and Ceccarelli. Marco Zanon is also on, replacing centre Leonardo Marin.
TRY! Wales 14-12 Italy (Lake 51')
Wales win the lineout and try brute force one more time, Dewi Lake keeping the ball at the back of the maul, then darting for the line for a couple of metres out. And he gets there, to score his first try for Wales! Biggar’s conversion hits the post, but goes over, and Wales retake the lead.
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49 mins: Biggar is OK to continue, while Ross Moriarty has come on for Seb Davies as Wales look to bolster their pack. From the scrum, Fischetti is penalised – but Wales keep going for the line, Biggar kicking for touch rather than the posts ...
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48 mins: Wales win the lineout but are held up again, and Dan Biggar is left crumpled in a heap after a tackle by Garbisi. Play is stopped for the captain to receive treatment.
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47 mins: A Wales penalty, Marco Fuser offside, and Biggar kicks for the corner. Italy bring on Niccolo Cannone in place of Fuser in the second row. Wales lineout ...
46 mins: Nick Tompkins is on, replacing Uilisi Halaholo at centre. Wales really are fortunate to only be five points behind at this stage – their benches may be key in turning the match back in their favour.
45 mins: Italy turn it over and launch a counter attack, with danger man Ioane chipping through and collecting his own kick. Italy are two-on-one, and Ioane goes for the corner – but Josh Adams produces a superb, try-stopping tackle!
42 mins: Smart work by Navidi at the breakdown to win a penalty, which Biggar kicks downfield. Wales work through the phases but they’re going backwards; Biggar launches the up-and-under, which Capuozzo collects under pressure from Rees-Zammit.
41 mins: Garbisi misjudges his kick – a rare error from the Italy fly-half – and Wales win the lineout.
Second half
One change for Wales, with prop Dillon Lewis replaced by Leon Brown.
Some half-time reading before Le Crunch in Paris later tonight:
Half time! Wales 7-12 Italy
Italy lead by five at the half, but Wales may be relieved it isn’t more after that late surge for the line. More soon ...
42 mins: Will Italy take the three points, or take the scrum? No, Garbisi taps out for a lineout – and they win the ball. Admirable aggression, but can they get over the line? No, it’s a Welsh penalty – and half time.
40 mins: We’re into the red, with Italy gaining a penalty advantage and Garbisi kicking out wide to Ioane. McNicholl beats him in the air, but spills behind the line, Rees-Zammit gets a hand to it ahead of Capuozzo – and Owen Watkin just grounds it before Braley can pounce. Wales are living very dangerously here – but Italy will go back for the penalty.
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39 mins: A terrific break from Monty Ioane, barrelling through McNicholl and galloping clear – but he’s held up and Italy don’t have the numbers to force their way over the line. The ball goes out, and Italy have a scrum, 5m out ...
37 mins: Italy clear their lines, and Wales must build from the back – but Rees-Zammit is swamped by blue shirts, and soon after, the ball pops from Adam Beard’s grasp, and Italy turn it over. Brex’s kick downfield is gathered by Josh Adams, but Italy are standing firm here.
35 mins: Italy may have found a strategy to try and win this game without ever carrying the ball deep into Welsh territory. They manage to stall Wales in midfield again, with Biggar kicking diagonally to touch.
Penalty! Wales 7-12 Italy (Padovani)
And here’s another Wales error, admittedly forced by fine work from Giacomo Nicotera at the breakdown. Padovani lines it up from 48 metres ... and nails it!
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Penalty! Wales 7-9 Italy (Garbisi)
An immediate response from the visitors, Garbisi getting off the floor to kick from distance after Wales are penalised. Too many errors from Wayne Pivac’s side ...
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TRY! Wales 7-6 Italy (Watkin 28')
Italy struggle to keep pace as Wales work through the phases. Faletau offloads to Owen Watkin, who finds a gap in the blue wall, sidesteps the last man, and ends the try drought! Biggar adds the extras from an angle.
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25 mins: There’s a roar of anticipation as Rees-Zammit skips down the touchline, but Lamaro does well to get across and haul him down. Wales build down the opposite side, Adams darting forward and getting the hosts inside the 22 ...
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23 mins: The positive for Wales is that they’ve piled on the pressure since going 6-0 down; the negative is they appear to have forgotten how to score tries. Plenty of time, though.
21 mins: Rees-Zammit looks the most likely, and he cuts through Italy for the first time with a burst toward the corner. He is just about held up, and the ball worked right towards Halaholo – but again, it’s spilled. Wales at least have a penalty ... but from the quick take, they knock on, and Italy survive!
19 mins: Wales try a carbon-copy move, but this time McNicholl’s pass wide to Rees-Zammit is poor, the wing just unable to hold on and knocking it forward with the line in sight.
18 mins: Penalty advantage Wales in the maul, and the ball is swept out wide – but too quickly for McNicholl, whose tip on to Rees-Zammit is forward ...
17 mins: Wales immediately earn a penalty. Biggar kicks to the corner, Wales win the lineout this time and drive for the line. Italy stall them, but Fischetti goes in off his feet, and Wales will go again ...
Penalty! Wales 0-6 Italy (Padovani) He slots it from close to the halfway line, and Italy extend their early lead.
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15 mins: It’s another Italian penalty, with Seb Davies getting isolated. It’s a long-range effort, with Edoardo Padovani lining it up ...
Penalty! Wales 0-3 Italy (Garbisi) The fly-half kicks the three points, and Italy lead!
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12 mins: Italy come again, Juan Ignacio Brex finding a gap after a dummy pass towards Garbisi – and Wales concede the penalty ...
10 mins: The Welsh lineout is overthrown, and Paolo Garbisi can kick away. It’s returned by McNicholl, who then has to scurry across to the left and collect another awkwardly bobbling ball downfield, just beyond the try-line. Back to square one.
8 mins: Italy get their first chance to push into the Wales half – but Capuozzo is quickly penalised for not releasing, and Biggar can kick towards the corner ...
6 mins: Wales run aground in midfield, and Dan Biggar sends a spiralling box kick high into the air – but the move fizzles out after a red shirt is offside.
4 mins: A couple of hopeful high kicks are dealt with comfortably by the Welsh backs, allowing the hosts to build some early pressure ...
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2 mins: An awkward early moment for full-back McNicholl, caught out by the bounce from a kick downfield. He collects at the second attempt, but gets floored by Monty Ioane for his trouble.
Kick off!
Even in bright sunshine on a Saturday afternoon, the Welsh anthem almost takes the roof off. It’s game time; Dan Biggar kicks off.
The players stand together in solidarity against racism, and in support of the people of Ukraine, to warm applause from around the ground. Time for the anthems ...
Dan Biggar leads the hosts out as captain, earning his 100th cap today. He’s followed by Alun Wyn Jones, who brings his two young daughters out on to the pitch with him. He is winning a historic 150th cap – between them, the two men have more caps than the entire Italy side put together.
This is the first part of a Saturday triple-header, with Ireland v Scotland at 4.45pm and then France v England at 8pm. Here’s some essential afternoon reading:
The return of Louis Rees-Zammit to Wayne Pivac’s starting XV could be key to Welsh hopes of racking up points today. After a breakthrough campaign and Lions squad call-up last year, it’s been a tough tournament for the flying Gloucester wing, but teammate Josh Adams is among those expecting a big impact today.
The big news for Wales is that Alun Wyn Jones makes an unexpected return, earning his 150th cap – the first player to reach that total for one country. Dan Biggar retains the captaincy, and will earn his 100th cap today.
Jones replaces Will Rowlands in the second row, one of seven changes from the defeat to France. Johnny McNicholl, Louis Rees-Zammit, Willis Halaholo and Gareth Davies come into the backline, with Dewi Lake and Dillon Lewis joining Jones in the pack.
Kieran Crowley makes two changes to his Italy side, with Ange Capuozzo earning a start after scoring twice from the bench against Scotland, and Marco Fuser brought in to the second row.
Team news
Wales: J McNicholl, L Rees-Zammit, O Watkin, U Halaholo, J Adams; D Biggar (c), G Davies; G Thomas, D Lake, D Lewis, A Beard, AW Jones, S Davies, J Navidi, T Faletau.
Replacements: B Roberts, W Jones, L Brown, W Rowlands, R Moriarty, K Hardy, C Sheedy, N Tompkins.
Italy: A Capuozzo, E Padovani, JI Brex, L Marin, M Ioane; P Garbisi, C Braley; D Fischetti, G Nicotera, P Ceccarelli, M Fuser, F Ruzza, G Pettinelli, M Lamaro (c), T Halafihi.
Replacements: L Bigi, C Traore, F Alongi, D Sisi, N Cannone, B Steyn, A Fusco, M Zanon.
Preamble
Wales’s defence of the Six Nations title was all but over after their first game, knocked repeatedly to the canvas by Ireland in Dublin. Since then, Wayne Pivac’s side have played the role of spirited spoilers in this tournament, digging deep across three bruising contests with Scotland, England and France – all settled by a margin of four points or fewer.
For a team in transition, hit once again by a long list of injuries, Wales can take pride from their campaign. That said, the narrow losses may hurt more – particularly last time out, when they disrupted France’s rhythm but could not land the killer blow. Today offers the chance to find some attacking fluency and end with a flourish against Italy, already assured of their seventh wooden spoon in succession.
Wales could still scrape into third place with a bonus-point victory, if other results go their way. Win well today, and their 2022 campaign will go into the history books as a tough job well done. Another close-run thing might change that narrative, though, and if they were to do the unthinkable and lose, all that hard work will have been for nothing. The trophy will be won elsewhere, but the stakes are still high.
