Wales 61
Italy 20
WALES HAVE EMPHATICALLY set a target for England and Ireland to chase as they racked up a 41-point winning margin over Italy in Rome.
Despite being held to a single try in the first half, Warren Gatland’s men took advantage of sin-binnings and flagging Azzurri defence to run in seven second half tries.
The win leaves Wales top of the Championship with a points difference of 53 before Ireland and England kick off with respective totals of 33 and 37.
After a bright start for Italy and exchanged penalties, Leigh Halfpenny prised open the hosts’ defence with a deft dink through for Jamie Roberts to chase.
Halfpenny missed the conversion and would later be replaced due to concussion. Giovanbattista Venditti’s 25th minute try helped edge the Azzurri back into the lead before the break, but there was to be no shock in today’s early kick-off.
In Halfpenny’s absence, Dan Biggar kicked Wales back into the lead, 13 -14 the visitors’ advantage at the break.
In the second half though, the floodgates opened. Liam Williams taking the opportunity to speed the match tempo up and his score. That was swiftly followed up by a George North hat-trick as heads in blue shirts dropped in unison while Wales romped to a 61-13 lead.
Before full-time however, a lifeline for Ireland and England, Leonardo Sarto stealing in for a late score in the corner to bring Ireland’s required total down to 21 points.
