Finished
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Wales keep title hopes alive
Defending champions Wales came from behind to keep their Six Nations hopes alive with an unconvincing 20-15 win over Italy on Saturday. More
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Live Commentary
Time:80'- Italy
- Wales
80' Italy knock on and ref blows for full-time. Good effort from Italy and Wales not at their best as the scrape out 20-15 victory to keep their title hopes alive. Thanks for joining us.
80' Penalty to Wales and Stephen Jones opts for long-range kick on goal. It's short and Italy have one final chance to score try.- 78' Italy going through the phases but making little ground. Canale claims chip ahead but is forced into touch.
- 76' Stepehen Jones is on for Hook as Wales lineout throw not straight. Italy win scrum by McLean kick is easily marked by Mark Jones, who slices his kick to touch. Lineout Italy in Wales half.
74' Excellent kick from Hook out wide moves Wales 20-15 ahead. Italy now need to score a try.
71' Wales pinch restart and work Shanklin into room on the left touchline. The centre dummies to support runners outside and races 20m to touch down for Wales' second try. 18-15 Wales.- 70' Shanklin concedes early penalty and allows Marcato another chance on goal. The full-back has nailed four from four and makes it five from five to regain the lead for Italy. Nice kick. 15-13.
69' Byrne is off and Shanklin on, with Henson moving to full-back.
68' Italy starting to look tired. They don't look like scoring a try so they must hang on in there and look for force a penalty from Wales errors!- 66' No idea what Powell is trying to do but the number eight is forced into touch on Wales 22m line and Italy have lineout. But Alun-Wyn Jones nicks Italy ball and Wales clear up field.
- 65' Superb kick from Hook out wide and Wales are back in the lead with 15 minutes left. 13-12 Wales.
64' Byrne is down now with what looks like an ankle injury.- 63' Wales win lineout on Italy 22 and launch series of attacks. Wales move ball wide and although Italy defence holds firm their players go over top of ruck and concede penalty out wide.
- 63' Ryan Jones and Mirco Bergamasco are down after nasty collision.
- 62' Griffen spills ball into touch on his 22 from long Wales kick and Wales take quick throw. But Italy force turnover and clear to touch.
- 59' This time Italy concede penalty and Hook cuts lead from just inside 10-yard line. Superb kick. 12-10.
- 57' It's not working for Wales at the moment. Shane Williams caught in possession and concedes penalty inside Wales half. Gatland ready to make changes, but first Marcato judges breeze superbly to extend Italy lead to 12-7.
- 56' Wales enjoying a period of possession now and Roberts makes a few yards for the first time in the game. But Wales turned over and Italy have men spare on the right, but a rare mistake from Parisse sees ball knocked on.
- 54' Griffen chips through and Mark Jones caught clearing up on his own line, but Phillips back well to clear the danger.
- 51' Italy concede penalty at scrum and attacking position wasted. Not the start Castrogivanni would have wanted!
- 50' Italy again enjoying greater possession and territory. Castrogiovanni on for Nieto and Del Fava for Dellape.
- 49' Shane Williams launches counter attack and tries to feed Byrne on a good line, but ball is knocked on and Italy have scrum in Wales' half.
- 46' Parisse launches counter attack from deep, draws in defenders and sets up Zanni, who breaks into Wales 22. Move comes to an end when Canale takes wrong option and chips through, allowing Wales to reply with interest.
- 45' The breeze is very much in Wales' favour this half and is apparent from their early kicks, which are getting much more distance.
- 42' Italy drive through their forwards before McLean chips through for Wales lineout in Wales 22. Wales knock on and Italy have scrum 20 yards from visitors' try-line.
- 41' Early error from Hook as he kicks directly to touch and hands attacking lineout to Italy.
41' McLean gets the second half started. Can Italy produce a shock and record what would be the finest victory in their rugby history?- 40' Decent first half from Italy who deserve their 9-7 lead. But they could live to regret their failure to create another score just before the break.
- 40' Italy going for push over try. Ref warns Yapp as scrum re-sets. Italy go for a third time, Parisse tries to break from base of scrum but is held up. Italy pick and drive but defense is good. Italy retain possession and again attack through their forwards but superb Charteris tackle drives them back. Marcato goes for drop goal but it's wide and ref blow for half-time.
- 38' Nice touch by Griffen sets up attacking position in Wales half. McLean chips through and causes panic in Wales defence before Mark Jones gets the final touch. TMO awards no try but scrum five to Italy. Big moment for the home side!
- 37' More aerial ping pong from both sides making end of first half rather dull affair.
- 36' Byrne kicks ahead but Wales players fail to retire and Italy have choice of penalty oo scrum in Wales' half. They opt for the scrum. Another decent scrum from Italy and Parisse lanches attack. Alun-Wyn Jones comes offside at ruck and Italy have another chance which Marcato nails. Italy lead 9-7.
- 31' Italy are murdering Wales up front and they earn themselves another shot on goal as the Welsh scrum breaks up after getting shoved backwards. Marcato makes it two from two. 7-6 Wales.
- 30' Poor kick from Pratichetti but Powell makes wrong option and Wales unable to take advantage.
- 29' Italy work players into space down the right touchline but Bortolami knocks ball on.
- 28' Hook adds the conversion and Wales lead 7-3.
- 27' Bortolami is offside and Wales recycle ball before spreading it wide. Henson loops Alun-Wyn Jones and feeds Shane Williams to cross for the game's first try. Well played. 5-3.
- 25' Wales scrum again under huge pressure but manage to retain possession to go through several attacking phases. Luke Charteris makes good ground and Henson jinks and passes inside to Thomas.
- 23' The home side will be delighted with their start to the game, though on this occasion they concede field position when Marcato knocks on huge Byrne kick.
- 19' Lovely gliding break from Hook, but fly-half unable to find Henson in support and ball is knocked on. But Italy are offside and Hook has chance to level the scores, but misses straight-forward effort from just outside 22. Poor kick!
- 17' Powell tries to run from deep but is tackled by Marcato. Italy concede penalty and Wales kick poorly down field, allowing Canale and Mirco Bergamasco to launch counter.
- 16' Lovelt kick for Griffen moves Italy back into Wales half, for lineout just outside Wales 22. Wales win their throw and Phillips kicks downfield.
- 14' Italy turn over Wales scrum but excellent work by Rhys Thomas forces another turnover and Wales able to clear the ball.
- 13' McLean chips through and Mark Jones caught in possession. Wales forwards go off their feet and concede penalty which Marcato kicks to the corner. Brave choice from Italy, who win lineout but then knock on. Should have gone for three points!
- 10' Wrong option from Hook, whose chip ahead is easily marked by Marcato, only for the full-back to miss touch and allow Powell to launch a counter attack.
- 8' McLean puts up high ball but Wales' ever-dependable full-back Lee Byrne secures the kick despite the bright Rome sunshine. Excellent from Byrne.
- 6' Wales pinch the restart and set up attack deep in Italy half, but Powell makes a run too early and concedes penalty for obstruction.
- 5' Pressure from Italy front row tests the Wales pack and earns penalty for the home side. Easy for Marcato from in front of the posts and Italy lead 3-0.
- 3' Lovely break from Mirco Bergamasco from base of a scrum sets up the game's first attacking position for Italy in the Welsh 22.
1' Wales to kick off and Hook gets the game started.- - The teams are out of the pitch and ready to join in two stirring national anthems, none more so than Alun-Wyn Jones on his debut as Wales skipper.
- - Wales have never lost a Six Nations game when Henson has started and they will be aiming to extend that run this afternoon to 10 games.
- It's a glorious afternoon in Rome and Wales' back-line will hope to take advantage of the firm conditions to rack up the points they will need to retain the title.- - Wales have taken a gamble making so many changes but will be confident they have the quality in their squad to set up a potential championship decider with Ireland in Cardiff next weekend.
- - Italy have gone down heavily in all three of their games in this championship and the pressure is on Mallett to secure a victory and prove that his team are able to challenge Europe's finest.
- - Wing Giulio Rubini comes in for Gonzalo Garcia with Mirco Bergamasco moving back to centre having played out wide at Murrayfield, while prop Carlos Nieto replaces Martin Castrogiovanni in the front row.
- - Italy have struggled in all of their Six Nations matches this campaign and coach Nick Mallett has made just two changes to the side beaten 26-6 in Scotland two weeks ago.
- - Luke Charteris packs down in the second row with his captain, and Powell is joined by flankers Jonathan Thomas and Dafydd Jones, who replace Ryan Jones and Martyn Williams respectively.
- - Alun-Wyn Jones and number eight Andy Powell are the only two forwards retained in Gatland's starting XV, while John Yapp, Huw Bennett and Rhys Thomas forming a new front row.
- - The other backs to keep their starting places are Lee Byrne, Shane Williams and Jamie Roberts, with the latter forming a centre partnership with Gavin Henson that many have been waiting to see.
- - Only five of the starting XV that went down 21-16 in Paris were originally retained, although Mike Phillips has been recalled to replace the injured Dwayne Peel at scrum-half and forms a half-back pairing with James Hook.
- - Wales coach Warren Gatland has decided to test his squad strength by ringing the changes for the challenge in Rome, with lock Alun-Wyn Jones taking over as captain from Ryan Jones.
- - After their defeat in France last time out Wales will be looking to get their Six Nations challenge back up and running with a comprehensive victory over a winless Italy side that have made little progress in this championship.
- - Good afternoon and welcome to the first of this weekend's three Six Nations games - Italy against Wales from Stadio Flaminio in Rome.
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Summary
Italy versus Wales Tries Williams 27’, Shanklin 72’ Conversions Hook 28’, 74’ Marcato 6’, 32’, 36’, 57’, 70’ Penalties Hook 59’, 65’ Drops
Live Team Line-Up
- Referee: Alan Lewis
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ItalyManager: Nick Mallett
On the Field
- Perugini
- Ghiraldini
- Nieto
- Dellape
- Bortolami
- Zanni
- Bergamasco
- Parisse
- Griffen
- McLean
- Pratichetti
- Bergamasco
- Canale
- Rubini
- Marcato
Subs
- Del Fava
- Orquera
- Canavosio
- Sole
- Castrogiovanni
- Sbaraglini
- Quartaroli
Injured
None
Suspended
None
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WalesManager: Warren Gatland
On the Field
- Yapp
- Bennett
- Thomas
- Charteris
- Jones
- Thomas
- Jones
- Powell
- Phillips
- Hook
- Williams
- Henson
- Roberts
- Jones
- Byrne
Subs
- Jones
- Shanklin
- Jenkins
- Rees
- Davies
- Fury
- Jones R.
Injured
None
Suspended
None
That James Hook is a brilliant kicker - his composure under pressure yesterday was well impressive. Very good stuff by Wales in getting a result from that game. I'm glad we beat the french but it's a shame they aren't in the running for the championship to add a bit more spice next weekend.
david.jonesey you say your such a passionate Welshman but you support a English Football team instead of a Welsh one mmmmmmmmmmmmmm interesting.
Anyway back to a proper sport, Ive followed Rugby for over 25 years and have always said this Welsh team as got to be the most over rated team ever. And when the Ref isnt on there side we see what happens, there @#$%.
Wales and Ireland to say the least are 2 teams that take there chances at the 5 and now 6 Nations only when England and France are having a down turn. Once England get there act together its back to woodern spoon contenders for the Welsh
david.jonesey you say your such a passionate Welshman but you support a English Football team instead of a Welsh one mmmmmmmmmmmmmm interesting.
Anyway back to a proper sport, Ive followed Rugby for over 25 years and have always said this Welsh team as got to be the most over rated team ever. And when the Ref isnt on there side we see what happens, there @#$%.
Wales and Ireland to say the least are 2 teams that take there chances at the 5 and now 6 Nations only when England and France are having a down turn. Once England get there act together its back to woodern spoon contenders for the Welsh
The best game so far in the Six Nations - a really exciting match. Italy played really well but the best team won in the end!
Nah that aint workin! Cheers tho
google justin.tv it should be on there
Irish dude here in Puerto Rico, anyone know a site where i can watch this and irelands game live, really wanna catch the last 10 mins of this one
I don't think us Irish have much to worry about.
I have been saying it all season Powell is over rated. One dimensional, worse still he seems to believe his own hype. Twice caught running out of his own 22 holding the ball in one hand. Showboating
C'mon boys, one more try, send them on there way, "bread of heaven"...
packerd_00 we beat england didnt we
enough saidah tid ymlaen my wifes english thats racism dont be stupid
wales should win though this game is @#$%
come on walesIs this Yahoo thing working, those scores are they wrong way around arnt they.
Whats going on
This must be some kind of Daymare, somebody pinch me quickly
This is a friggin joke is Italy that hard to score on.
well bugger off then
martinramsden,
i take it your english and a cricket fan
wales are palying @#$%
come on walesThen don't watch the game, martinramsden, you should watch golf or syncro swimming or maybe snooker !!!
Come on Wales, you're breaking the bets!!
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