Wales v Italy LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as brilliant Azzurri stun struggling hosts
Wales 21-24 Italy: The Azzurri outclassed Wales to seal a best-ever Six Nations campaign of two wins and a draw
Wales slipped to a dismal end to a testing Six Nations campaign as a spirited and resurgent Italy impressed in Cardiff to win 24-21 in the first of three fascinating contests to round out the 2024 championship.
Warren Gatland’s side had the emotional factor of George North playing his final game for his country after announcing his shock retirement following 120 caps but an appalling first half saw them trail the Azzurri 11-0 at the break.
Lorenzo Pani added to their woe with a gorgeous solo score after the break and a couple of penalties put them out of sight before Will Rowlands and Mason Grady grabbed consolation tries at the death, although it couldn’t stop Wales slipping to a deserved wooden spoon.
The hosts had been hoping to snap a poor run in the Six Nations but have claimed just two wins from the last 16 games, while the Azzurri have fresh optimism of a great era after securing their best-ever Six Nations campaign with two wins and a draw.
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Ireland could secure successive Six Nations crowns with a positive result of any kind against Scotland on the final weekend of this year’s championship.
Andy Farrell’s side had the chance to lock up another title with a win at Twickenham in round four but were stunned by England, ensuring that the destination of the crown remains in doubt ahead of “Super Saturday”.
Wales and Italy kick things off on the final day of men’s tournament action for 2024 with both sides out of the title chase, before attention turns to the Aviva Stadium for Ireland vs Scotland.
France, who still have the faintest of chances of topping the table themselves, and England conclude affairs with a clash in Lyon.
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Wales suffer ignominy of Six Nations wooden spoon as Italy shine in Cardiff
Wales suffered the ignominy of a first Six Nations wooden spoon since 2003 after Italy posted a 24-21 victory over them in Cardiff.
Not even George North’s farewell appearance before international retirement – he suffered an injury late in the game and was helped off – could lift a dismal Wales effort in suffering a fifth successive Six Nations defeat this season and finishing bottom of the table.
It was a thoroughly deserved Italian win and came via tries from wing Monty Ioane and full-back Lorenzo Pani, with fly-half Paolo Garbisi kicking three penalties and a conversion and Martin Page-Relo landing a late penalty.
While Wales boss Warren Gatland has pleaded for patience as he embarks on an extensive post-World Cup rebuilding job, stark statistics cannot be avoided as late tries from Elliot Dee, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady, with Ioan Lloyd kicking two conversions and Sam Costelow one, provided scant consolation.
Wales suffer ignominy of Six Nations wooden spoon as Italy shine in Cardiff
Home hopes of avoiding a bottom-placed finish went south as George North’s farewell ended in disappointment
Six Nations: Italy celebrate win over Wales
Warren Gatland reacts after Wales handed wooden spoon in Six Nations
"They [the fans] will find it painful, we find it painful as well. We didn't get enough forward momentum. Thomas Williams started to open up a bit.
“We needed to get some momentum, it didn't happen in the first half, a bit too lateral. Allowed them to defend us pretty easily.
“It’s not harder than I thought it would be, we knew the experience we had in the squad, it’s about learning from that. Taking the good moments out of the game.
“We’ve got to get on the front foot and win those collisions. Force those situations when it’s not quite on? You’ve got to be a bit more conservative.
“We didn’t put them under a lot of pressure. You’d like to have everybody in the pool available, until that gets looked at or changed...
“Not at all, I’m excited by this group, some youngsters who will improve from the experience. We need to be clear on things, simplify it a bit and get on the front foot.”
Six Nations: Ignacio Brex reacts to Italy’s win over Wales
"It means a lot, we worked really hard for this, we're still moving, we're so happy,” Brex tells BBC Sport.
“He [Tommaso Menoncello] is easy to play with, he's an amazing player, he's a real horse. He's a young guy and has a great future.
“A lot of things, after the World Cup, we had a good meeting, we tried our best, improved our kicking game and our defence. That's everything. "I hope for a party, I won't tell that to my wife, but I'll take it.”
Michele Lamaro reacts to Italy’s best-ever Six Nations championship
"It's everything for us, I want to say thank you to all the Italians here tonight, not getting the wooden spoon, we want to achieve more, we did a good tournament but we can do a lot better than this.
“I think there are a few things we've changed: the mindset with what we go onto the pitch, something we never had before. We have lots of confidence, in the last few years we worked for each other, going through difficult moments.
“Two games doesn’t define a team, we said it after the World Cup, we say it again now, we have to be more consistent. We have to be comeptitive with ever team in the tournament and to achieve the respect we want.”
Wales secure Six Nations wooden spoon for first time since 2003
It was another wretched day for Welsh rugby. Too many errors, too much inaccuracy, too little intensity - those late scores add gloss but that was bad from Warren Gatland’s side. There’s youth in their squad, yes, but too many of their senior figures were below par today.
Italy beat Wales to condemn Warren Gatland’s side to the wooden spoon
But those two late Welsh tries will matter little to the Italian players, who have secured back-to-back Six Nations wins and avoided the wooden spoon! Wales finish bottom of the ladder, comfortably outplayed in Cardiff and with a great chasm between them and the rest in this year’s championship.
TRY! WALES 21-24 Italy (Mason Grady, 82 minutes)
Victory will be Italy’s but Wales finish with a flourish.
Those little kicks beyond the Italian defensive line have threatened to work all game, and Wales at last latch on to one, Mason Grady toeing ahead twice and romping home.
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