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As it happenedended

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Italy vs Wales result: Two wins from two for Warren Gatland’s side in gritty win over winless Italians

Re-live the action from the Six Nations clash at the Stadio Olimpico

In association with

Jack de Menezes

Saturday 09 February 2019 18:47 GMT

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Six Nations match preview: Scotland v Ireland

Re-live the live action from Saturday’s second Six Nations as Wales equalled their longest winning Test run with a 26-15 victory over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Warren Gatland’s men have now won 11 games in a row thanks to second-half tries from Josh Adams and Owen Watkin, with four Dan Biggar penalties helping to establish an early lead that Italy would never recover from.

It home side did manage to get back into the game with a Braam Steyn try before the break, but despite another late flourish as Edoardo Padovani scored his second in as many weeks, Italy were not able to match Wales. Re-live the live action below.

What time does it start?

Italy vs Wales kicks off at 4:45pm (GMT).

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on ITV from 4pm. The match will also be available on ITV Hub.

Highlights will be shown on Sunday at 6pm on BBC Two.

Six Nations: Team of the week

Show all 15

1/15Six Nations: Team of the week

Six Nations: Team of the week

1. Mako Vunipola (England)

It might already be the performance of the championship. The England loosehead made a game-leading 25 tackles and was a rock in the scrum, not to mention a wrecking ball when carrying. Continues to defy logic as he plays like a 19-stone back-row.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

2. Jamie George (England)

Put any lineout demons from the autumn behind him with a creative and accurate display. Impressive with ball in hand as he looked to make the most of holes in the Ireland defence and is very much becoming England’s No 1 No 2.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

3. Tomas Francis (Wales)

Wales had little to should about in the first half in Paris but Francis stood out among the rest of those in red. Carried well and took on responsibility when others lost their heads. Stood up well in the scrum against a mammoth French pack.

Getty Images

Six Nations: Team of the week

4. Ben Toolis (Scotland)

His long locks make him stand out regardless, but the Edinburgh lock was one of the noticeable carriers in dark blue and managed to win the physical collisions by always going forwards in contact. Mention to England’s Maro Itoje, who was on course for the shirt until injury cruelly forced him off the field.

Action Images via Reuters

Six Nations: Team of the week

5. George Kruis (England)

Brought in to run the England lineout and delivered emphatically. Lost just two of their 10 lineouts and even managed to pinch one off Ireland, which is easily said than done. Supported England’s big impact runners really well to retain the ball.

Getty Images

Six Nations: Team of the week

6. Mark Wilson (England)

An area of big competition this weekend but the Englishman shades it ahead of Wales’ Josh Navidi, who it must be said was exceptional against the French. However, Wilson continues to prove why he belongs on the Test arena, and could well have delivered a performance in Dublin that pushes him ahead of Brad Shields in the No 6 shirt pecking order.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

7. Justin Tipuric (Wales)

A brilliant defensive effort from the openside sees him take the shirt ahead of Tom Curry, though Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie also deserves a strong mention for an all-round impressive showing. However, it was Tipuric’s composure in the breakdown that kept Wales in the game and allowed them to seize the opportunities that France threw their way.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

8. Billy Vunipola (England)

His first Six Nations outing in two years did not disappoint as the No 8 announced his return to international rugby with a bang. Looks to be getting back to the level he was before his injury nightmare began, which given this was only his fourth appearance since returning from injury is nothing short of astounding. A special mention to Louis Picamoles too, who showed what a farce it has been in omitting him from the national team.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

9. Ben Youngs (England)

The scrum-half’s best performance for quite some time as he injected pace into England’s game and produced what felt like his best kicking display of his career. Smart, tactical decisions kept Ireland pegged back and made good use of the blindside to bring both Jonny May’s and Henry Slade’s tries.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Played a key role in Scotland’s victory over Italy, proving the creative spark in four of their five tries. A lovely cross-field kick off the outside of his boot set-up Blair Kinghorn for his first, a loop move lead to the wing’s second, a chip behind the Italian defence laid on the third for Stuart Hogg and his delayed pass ultimately lead to Chris Harris’ final score.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

11. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

On that note it is no surprise to see the hat-trick hero take his place in the side. Showed his clinical finishing with his first two tries, while the third was undoubtedly his best as he linked well with Greig Laidlaw to deceive the defence and race through to score.

EPA

Six Nations: Team of the week

12. Manu Tuilagi (England)

Like Billy Vunipola, Tuilagi took to international rugby after a lengthy lay-off like a duck to water. The centre offered plenty attacking-wise, but it was his defence that really stood out as he put in bone-crunching tackles on Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki and Tadhg Furlong. Played a key role in executing England’s plan.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

13. Henry Slade (England)

His coming of age as an international player. All the talk had been of Tuilagi’s return, but Slade delivered a masterclass performance to show why he remains so crucial to England’s creativity. Two tries - his first in the Six Nations - were just rewards for his smart play in Dublin.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

14. George North (Wales)

Opportunistic, and then some. Coaches will tell children to never give up on lost causes on the rugby field, and North is a prime example of that. His committed performance saw him end the weekend with two tries to his name, the first no doubt through luck as Yoann Huget spilled the ball, but the second stemmed from choosing the right decision to race up and intercept the ball.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

Look around the SIx Nations and there is a wealth of attacking full-backs, but Hogg just rises above the rest. Quick hands set-up Kinghorn’s second try, before his pace secured him his own as he won the race to Russell’s chip through. Still had time to display his running skills as he cut Italy in half that brought up the final score for Harris.

EPA

Teams

Italy: Hayward, Padovani, Campagnaro, Morisi, Esposito, Allan, Palazzani, Quaglio, Ghiraldini, Ferrari, Sisi, Budd, Negri, Steyn, Parisse (c)

Replacements: Bigi, Traore, Pasquali, Ruzza, Barbini, Gori, McKinley, Benvenuti

Wales: Williams, Holmes, J Davies (c), Watkin, Adams, Biggar, A Davies, Smith, Dee, Lee, Ball, Beard, Wainwright, Young, Navidi

Replacements: Elias, W Jones, Lewis, A W Jones, Moriarty, G Davies, Anscombe, Amos

Form guide…

Italy: WLWLLL

Wales: WWWWWW

Head-to-head…

Wales 38 (Parkes, North x2, Hill, Tipuric) Italy 14 (Minozzi, Bellini), Six Nations, March 2018

Italy 7 (Gori) Wales 33 (J Davies, L Williams, North), Six Nations, February 2017

Wales 67 (Webb, Biggar, J Davies, Roberts, North, L Williams, Moriarty x2, G Davies) Italy 14 (Palazzani, Garcia), Six Nations, March 2016

Odds…

Italy to win: 10/1

Wales to win: 1/16

Draw: 45/1

Prediction

Wales by 20 points: Despite heavily rotating his side, Warren Gatland can still expect his team to do a professional job on an Italy side that looks lost at sea at present. Even though Conor O'Shea's men are on home turf, it will take a monumental upset for Italy to record their first win over Wales in a dozen years.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Six Nations, with today's second fixture coming to you from Rome as Italy look to end their losing run against championship second-favourites Wales.

Last weekend saw mixed fortunes for these two sides, as despite late rally, Italy were comprehensively beaten by Scotland 33-20 at Murrayfield to leave them bottom of the table. Wales on the other hand managed to fight back from a 16-0 deficit to beat France 24-19 in a thrilling opener that leaves them finely balanced to challenge England and Scotland at the top of the table.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4:45pm, and our in-depth coverage will begin at 4pm as we look ahead towards the clash at the picturesque Stadio Olimpico.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 10:04

Ahead of the game, read Sam Peters' preview on why Italy will need to try and rekindle their old spirit to beat a familiar foe in Wales.

Italy harbour hopes of shock victory over old foe

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:33

Here's how the team line up today:

Italy: Jaydon Hayward; Edoardo Padovani, Michele Campagnaro, Luca Morisi, Angelo Esposito; Tommaso Allan, Guglielmo Palazzani; Nicola Quaglio, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Simone Ferrari, David Sisi, Dean Budd, Sebastian Negri, Braam Steyn, Sergio Parisse.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Cherif Traore, Tiziano Pasquali, Federico Ruzza, Marco Barbini, Edoardo Gori, Ian McKinley, Tommaso Benvenuti.

Wales: Liam Williams; Jonah Holmes, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Aled Davies; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Hallam Amos.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France).

Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) and Shuhei Kubo (Japan).

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:34

And here come the teams! Led out by Sergio Parisse and, for the first time, Jonathan Davies, the two teams emerge to great applause.

Time for the anthems.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:40

That's the anthems over and done with. Time to get this one underway!

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:44

Maybe not...none of the referees have their communications working so we've got a delay here...

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:46

1 min: WALES KICK-OFF AND THE GAME IS UNDERWAY!

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:47

1 mins: A brilliant start for Wales. Young gets straight into Parisse and allows Dee to get over the ball, winning the penalty right in front of the posts. Biggar wastes no time at all, and with 1:02 on the clock Wales lead! 0-3

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:48

5 mins: That's more like it from Italy. Defiant defence forces a knock-on from Wales wing Adams and they break through Campagnaro on the left. He chips forwards and despite Williams taking is cleanly, he's turned over and Italy counter. The break through Esposito after Holmes rushes up, but the Welsh defence gets back into shape and holds the ball up to get the scrum put-in.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:53

7 mins: Wales assert their dominance in the scrum as Smith wins a penalty in the first set-piece, giving Wales possession and territory inside the Italian half.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 16:54

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