Wales late show stuns valiant Italy in Rome

LEIGH HALFPENNY KICKED 18 points while Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams and George North touched down in a far improved second half as Wales got their Six Nations campaign underway with a 33-7 win over Italy in Rome.

Wales travelled to the Stadio Olimpico expected to coast against an Azzurri side they had beaten 22 times in 24 encounters.

But Italy’s shock 20-18 upset of South Africa in the November tests was a reminder of their marked improvement under Irish coach Conor O’Shea and for nearly an hour Wales were on the back foot.

Italy took a 7-3 half-time lead into the dressing room thanks to a battling defensive display that was shorn of many of the errors routinely produced under former coach Jacques Brunel.

But a superb second-half display saw Warren Gatland’s men score 30 unanswered points as Italy were handicapped by Andrea Lovotti being sent to the sin bin on the hour.

At the start Wales didn’t do themselves any favours.

Halfpenny missed a second-minute penalty from distance and the visitors suffered another setback when captain Alun Wyn Jones was temporarily forced off for treatment.

When Williams collected Dan Biggar’s cross-field ball wide on the left on the quarter-hour, he was brought to heel by Carlo Canna.

Wales had Italy’s defence pushed to the max yards from the tryline as they went through 10 phases, a solid defensive display from Italy that was matched by a huge performance form captain Sergio Parisse.

Parisse, claiming his 122nd cap, was inspirational in the opening half, producing a great offload to Abraham Steyn just outside the tryline that allowed Edoardo Gori to drive under the posts for their opening try on the half hour.

Carlo Canna hit the conversion for a 7-0 lead and the hosts finished the half buoyed after setting up camp deep in Welsh territory for the final two minutes of the half.

Sam Davies replaced Biggar at fly-half for the start of the second half but it resumed in ominous fashion, lock Jake Ball requiring treatment for a head wound following a clash in the opening minutes.

But three penalties in quick succession from Halfpenny, including one awarded after a dangerous tip tackle by Steyn on Ross Moriarty, soon had Wales back in contention.

By the 56th minute, Wales were 12-7 to the good and were soon in command as Italy lost all hope following Lovotti’s sanction.