Shattered Wales fall at the feet of Dominguez

Italy 30 Wales

The win Italy craved so badly, the loss Wales feared above all others. After 14 straight defeats in the Six Nations since that dream introduction to the tournament here three years ago, Italy finally discovered how to repeat the trick, condemning a desperate Welsh team to that long list of Roman ruins.

The lap of honour may not have been as emotional or as spontaneous as the one in 2000 but it was just as joyous after Italy had commanded supreme in a second half that must go down as one of the worst in Welsh rugby's once-illustrious history. The home side's heroes in this particular hour and a half were the back row, led superbly by their adopted Kiwi at No 8, Matthew Phillips, and backed up by devastating displays from the man of the match, Andrea de Rossi, and the openside, Aaron Persico. The trio never gave an inch all afternoon, not that the Welsh back row would have known what to do with that much room. The skulking figure of the captain, Colin Charvis, mercifully hauled off with 15 minutes remaining, summed up a miserable afternoon for the Welshmen.

From the Italians, however, there were nothing but smiles, especially from their coach, John Kirwan, who has already achieved his objective for this Six Nations – a win. "This afternoon was all about finding our spirit and finding our passion," he said. "We needed this victory and from Monday we've got to move forward. But right now, I'm just so happy for Italy – it was such an important win." And it was deserved, the eight-point margin at the end fairly flattering Wales after a second-half pounding.

At half-time, however, there was nothing in it. "No war – play rugby", read the banner, but it seemed that the teams had taken the message of peace rather too literally, barely landing a tackle of note between them in 40 minutes that would have had touch-rugby purists purring.

Whereas Italy could only muster four tries in the whole of their last Six Nations campaign, here they were allowed to score two in the opening 20 minutes. As early as the fourth minute Cristian Stoica went over the try-line, and although the French referee, Joel Jutge, adjudged the Welsh defence to have held up the centre, Italy did not have to wait long for the real thing. From the resulting five-metre scrum, Alessandro Troncon fed the ball to the hooker, Carlo Festuccia, who bundled it on to Giampiero de Carli to crash over. Dominguez, as he does, slotted over the conversion.

The Stadio Flaminio ignited but the crowd were still perfecting their "Italia, Italia" when, three minutes later, Tom Shanklin made the most of some neat interchange play between the Welsh back- line. He released the lock, Steve Williams, to go over and enable Iestyn Harris to level the scores.

After that rarest of occurrences, a Dominguez missed penalty, the basketball match resumed with Shanklin getting a try of his own in the 14th minute. Gareth Thomas had stepped inside two would-be tacklers before his cute pass inside allowed the Saracens centre a clear 50-metre run to the line. Once again Harris converted, but once again the reply was quickly delivered, this time Festuccia barging his way through the brittle Welsh line to record a try on his debut. Dominguez restored parity before a Harris penalty, six minutes later, poked the bloodied Welsh noses back in front. Not for long, though, as two Dominguez penalties sent the Italians in with a lead they were never to lose.

The second half began much as the first half had ended – flatly – but as the minutes ticked by so Rome began to believe. Dominguez's attempt at a drop goal came up tantalisingly short approaching the hour, but no matter, what little fight Wales had was now fading fast. And when Phillips gratefully accepted a pass from De Rossi with 18 minutes left, to send Italy 10 points clear, that fight evaporated.

Wales could not raise themselves to get out of their 22, never mind their own half, and Dominguez turned the screw still tighter with a drop goal with 12 minutes to go. From then on, the game as a contest was effectively over and all that was left was for Salvatore Perugini to make what must be the shortest appearance in the tournament's history – the prop lasted one scrum and approximately 60 seconds before he hobbled off – and for Italy to start the celebrations.

Wales did briefly get excited in the closing minutes when Dwayne Peel scored in the corner, but it was far too little, far too late. The sole bright spot was the sight of Mark Jones walking around afterwards – the wing having been carried off after a career-threatening high tackle from Cristian Bezzi with five minutes left – but that was it as far as Welsh consolation went. Goodness knows what England will do to this rabble in Cardiff on Saturday.

Italy 30 Wales 22

Tries: De Carli, Festuccia,, Phillips; Tries: S Williams, Shanklin, Peel
Cons: Dominguez 3 Cons: Harris 2
Pen: Dominguez Pen: Harris
Drops: Dominguez 2

Half-time: 20-17 Attendance: 20,000

Team line-ups

Italy: P Vaccari (Calvisano); Mauro Bergamasco (Treviso), C Stoica (Castres), G Raineri (Calvisano), D Dallan (Treviso); D Dominguez (Stade Français), A Troncon (Treviso, capt); G De Carli (Calvisano), C Festuccia, (Gran Parma) R Martinez (Treviso), C Bezzi (Viadana), M Bortolami (Padova), A De Rossi, M Phillips (Viadana), A Persico (Viadana). Replacements: Mirco Bergamasco (Padova) for Raineri, 28; S Perugini (Calvisano) for Martinez, 59; Martinez for S Perugini, 60.

Wales: R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), T Shanklin (Saracens), L Davies (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bridgend); I Harris (Cardiff), D Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), M Davies (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), S Williams (Northampton), M Owen (Pontypridd), C Charvis (Swansea, capt), M Williams (Cardiff). Replacements: G Williams (Bridgend) for M Davies, 50; D Jones (Llanelli) for S Williams, 50; M Watkins (Llanelli) for L Davies, 56; G Thomas (Bath) for C Charvis, 64; C Sweeney (Pontypridd) for M Jones, 77.

Referee: J Jutge (France).