ITALY
No.Name
15Jayden Hayward, -
14Edoardo Padovani, -
T
13Michele Campagnaro, -
12Luca Morisi, -
11Angelo Esposito, -
10Tommaso Allan, -
9Guglielmo Palazzani, -
1Nicola Quaglio, -
2Leonardo Ghiraldini, -
3Simone Ferrari, -
4David Sisi, -
5Dean Budd, -
6Sebastian Negri, -
7Braam Steyn, -
T
8Sergio Parisse, -
Replacements
16Luca Bigi, -
17Cherif Traore, -
18Tiziano Pasquali, -
19Federico Ruzza, -
20Marco Barbini, -
21Edoardo Gori, -
22Ian McKinley, -
23Tommaso Benvenuti, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Stadio Olimpico
4:45 PM, February 9, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'

So Wales notch up their record-equalling 11th straight victory, the first such Welsh winning streak in a century.

Earlier in the day, Ireland got their Six Nations campaign back on track with a 22-13 victory over Scotland.

Johnny Sexton went off with a head injury during the pulsating first half, but head coach Joe Schmidt said he was confident the World Player of the Year will bounce back quickly.

Join us tomorrow as England face France at Twickenham, and don't forget to check your Fantasy Rugby scores! Tip of the hat if you have Italy's try-scoring flanker Braam Steyn in your team, he's today's top-scoring player with 15 points.

82'

So no bonus point for Wales, which means England can go top of the Six Nations table if they beat France at Twickenham on Sunday.

82'

Just the two tries for Wales, then, but a win nonetheless. They extend their winning run to 11 matches, equalling their record run, and move to the top of the Six Nations table. Wales weren't great but had made 10 changes and will quickly forget about this one as they prepare for a massive clash against England in Cardiff in two weeks time.

Italy put up a good fight and scored two tries to worry Wales for a moment, but ultimately fell to their 19th Six Nations defeat in a row.

81'+315-26 End of second half
80'No try Ah, it wasn't to be for Young. The try is disallowed due to a forward pass in the build up by Anscombe.
80'
TRY
There it is! What a moment for Thomas Young on his Six Nations debut. But this one's being checked, too...
79'Wales win the ball back just as the clock ticks into the red... They're looking for more.
78'Josh Navidi is named Man of the Match for Wales. Not long left now.
75'
TRY
That's a lovely try, and it was coming. Parisse finds Allan running on an inside line with a great reverse pass. The No. 10 then bursts forward and hands it off to Edoardo Padovani who crosses for the score. Allan adds the two points with the conversion.
75'15-26 Try - Edoardo Padovani , Italy
74'Italy have a scrum inside the Wales half. They have not given up this fight.
72'That should do it for Wales, with Italy now needing 16 points with only a few minutes left.
71'10-26 Conversion - Gareth Anscombe , Wales
70'
TRY
Brilliant from Gareth Anscombe! Wales win the lineout and look to spread it wide to the left. Anscombe receives the ball with options out wide but plays a deft chip behind the Italy scoreline, which Owen Watkin gathers to score. Anscombe adds the conversion.
70'10-24 Try - Owen Watkin , Wales
67'Wales are awarded the penalty after the scrum wheels to the right. Anscombe kicks into touch and Wales have a lineout on the 5 metre line.
67'Substitute on - Hallam Amos , Wales
67'Player substituted - Liam Williams , Wales
67'Player substituted - Elliot Dee , Wales
67'Substitute on - Ryan Elias , Wales
67'Substitute on - Ross Moriarty , Wales
67'Player substituted - Josh Navidi , Wales
66'Italy clear but Wales come straight back through Josh Adams, who again looks bright whenever he gets the ball. Italy do well to stop the Wales attack and turn it over.
64'No try

The TMO says Davies knocked the ball on as he gathered the kick. Italy have a scrum on their 5 metre line.

63'Wales turn the ball over following a lineout and look to start a move working from right to left. Anscombe tests Italy with a low kick, which fullback Jayden Hayward spills. Jonathan Davies gets on the end of it and crosses the line for the score! But wait, this is being checked...
63'Player substituted - Aled Davies , Wales
63'Substitute on - Gareth Davies , Wales
63'Substitute on - Wyn Jones , Wales
63'Player substituted - Nicky Smith , Wales
60'Substitute on - Luca Bigi , Italy
60'Player substituted - Leonardo Ghiraldini , Italy
60'Substitute on - Edoardo Gori , Italy
60'Player substituted - Guglielmo Palazzani , Italy
60'Substitute on - Tiziano Pasquali , Italy
60'Player substituted - Simone Ferrari , Italy
58'Gareth Anscombe misses a speculative drop-goal attempt. Italy remain within nine.
58'Drop goal-missed
57'Player substituted - Sebastian Negri , Italy
57'Substitute on - Marco Barbini , Italy
55'That conversion was Biggar's final involvement. 14 points in total amid a strange performances from the fly-half, as Gareth Anscombe comes on. Is it enough to earn a starting spot against England in Week 3?
55'Player substituted - Dan Biggar , Wales
55'Substitute on - Gareth Anscombe , Wales
55'Player substituted - Ian McKinley , Italy
55'Substitute on - Tommaso Allan , Italy
55'10-19 Conversion - Dan Biggar , Wales
54'
TRY
But there it is, out of nowhere any Welsh worries are eased through Josh Adams. Aled Davies gets the move going before Wales work it from right to left. Jonathan Davies finds Liam Williams, who breaks through a couple of tackles to give Adams the simplest of finishes in the corner.
54'10-17 Try - Josh Adams , Wales
52'10 minutes into this second half and we haven't seen a spark yet from Wales. In fact, Dan Biggar has just made an uncharacteristic mistake by kicking the ball straight into touch. The longer this match stays close, the more Italy will believe they can grab an unlikely result.
52'Substitute on - Federico Ruzza , Italy
52'Player substituted - Dean Budd , Italy
51'After leaving his captain on the bench, do you really think Warren Gatland wanted to have to call on Alun Wyn Jones for this one? The Wales skipper is on for Jake Ball.
51'Substitute on - Dillon Lewis , Wales
51'Player substituted - Samson Lee , Wales
51'Player substituted - Jake Ball , Wales
51'Substitute on - Alun Wyn Jones , Wales
51'Player substituted - Nicola Quaglio , Italy
51'Substitute on - Cherif Traore , Italy
49'Here come Wales, as Dan Biggar drives forward before working it wide to Jonah Holmes. But the Italians win it back deep inside their half and substitute Ian McKinley clears to give the hosts great field position.
48'Player substituted - Tommaso Allan , Italy
48'Substitute on - Ian McKinley , Italy
46'That's great defending from Italy, though, who hold Wales on the 5 meter line before forcing the turnover. Allan clears into touch, but Italy then concede a penalty which hands Wales a scrum, just inside the Italian half.
45'Italy concede a penalty on the halfway line after a high tackle, allowing Dan Biggar to boom the ball deep into Italy territory.
44'
No mistake this time from Allan, Italy are within two.
44'10-12 Penalty goal - Tommaso Allan , Italy
42'We're back underway in Rome. We saw an incredible comeback in Wales' last match, can Italy cause another?! They've just won a penalty in front of Wales' posts...
41'And that will be it for the first half. Wales looked to be cruising after four penalties from Dan Biggar built up a 12-point lead. But Italy, despite showing very little all match, found a way back in and scored the only try of the game through Braam Steyn following a lineout. Tommmaso Allan was then within inches of reducing Wales' lead even further, which will act as a wake-up call for Warren Gatland's side at the break.
41'+17-12 End of first half
40'Missed penalty

Oh Italy! Oh Tommaso Allan! The hosts are inches away from indeed reducing Wales' lead, but Allan's kick from the left touchline hits the outside of the near post and bounces out.

40'7-12 Start of second half
39'And they earn another penalty! That was after their receiver from the lineout was tipped. Allan will kick at goal to reduce Wales' lead to just two points...
39'Big couple of minutes now for Italy as they try to keep Wales within five before half-time. They win the penalty from the scrum and will have the ball inside the Wales half for the final seconds of the first period.
36'
Allan adds the extra points and suddenly the Italians are only five behind. The crowd in the Stadio Olimpico are delighted.
36'7-12 Conversion - Tommaso Allan , Italy
34'
TRY
What a decision that was! Italy score the first try of the game! The Italians won the lineout and forced Wales into their five metre line. Wales held them off at first, but Italy stayed patient and worked it right before a collective effort drove flanker Braam Steyn over the line.
34'5-12 Try - Braam Steyn , Italy
32'This time it's Italy's turn to win a penalty, and Tommaso Allan elects to kick into touch instead of taking the three points. They want the try...
30'
Four from four for Biggar. You will be laughing if you have him as your designated kicker in Fantasy Rugby...
30'0-12 Penalty goal - Dan Biggar , Wales
29'That was a missed opportunity for Wales, but they will get the chance to increase their lead from the tee after Italy concede another penalty.
27'Oh that is a brilliant take from Dan Biggar. The fly-half makes almost 50 yards to take Aled Davies' high kick, and suddenly Wales are on the attack. Holmes was in acres of space on the right, but Jonathan Davies' pass was a little slow and Wales are held. They've still got the ball five metres out...
25'The scrum finally gets set and Biggar clears down the field.
21'Biggar tries a cross-field kick towards Josh Adams but Edoardo Padovani gets up well to intercept, giving the home side strong field position. Wales recover into their defensive formation before forcing another penalty at the breakdown.
19'
Through it goes. Wales are slowly building a comfortable lead.
19'0-9 Penalty goal - Dan Biggar , Wales
17'Wales come back at Italy with the ball in hand. Biggar looks to chip the ball over the Italian defense and it results in another penalty, this time close to the halfway line. This one is further out, but still pretty central. Biggar has the tee in hand.
15'
Biggar could make those in his sleep. Six points already for the No. 10.
15'0-6 Penalty goal - Dan Biggar , Wales
13'Wales force the penalty from the resulting scrum after Parisse gets the ball stuck under his feet. Biggar will kick at goal from a similar position to his first score.
10'It's been a slow opening 10 minutes, but Wales get things going following a scrum inside the Italian half. Prop Samson Lee charges into the Italy pack before Adam Beard knocks on a Biggar pass.
7'Wales work it into the Italy half and quicken things up as they move it wide to winger Jonah Holmes. Italy then force Wales into of touch and win a lineout.
6'Wales turn it over and win a scrum inside their half.
3'Wales start to build but the Italians get it back and work it from right to left through Michele Campagnaro. Nice passing from Italy.
2'
That didn't take long (30 seconds).
2'0-3 Penalty goal - Dan Biggar , Wales
1'Dan Biggar gets things underway with a kick towards Parisse, but the Italians give away a penalty right in front of their posts pretty much straight away. Biggar will kick at goal.
1'Here we go, Wales are aiming to back up last weekend's win in Paris with another here in Rome, with what would be their 11th in a row. For Italy, any win would do. Their last in the Six Nations came in 2015.
1'The teams are out and it's time for the anthems, two absolute crackers if I say so myself.
1'Fantasy Rugby: Players to watch

With Wales winger George North, who scored 18 points against France last weekend, not involved, Josh Adams could have been smart pick. Adams is selected by just nine percent of Fantasy managers, so a couple of tries against the leaky Italians would certainly do the trick.

Also watch out for Dan Biggar who could rack up the points for anyone who has the fly-half as their designated kicker.

For Italy, legendary captain Sergio Parisse is owned by 46 percent of Fantasy managers. A try for the No. 8 would be celebrated by pretty much everyone, you would expect.

1'

Gatland rings the changes

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made 10 changes from the side that came from 16 points down to defeat France in Paris last weekend.

Jonathan Davies captains the side and is just one of five players to keep their place, alongside fullback Liam Williams, winger Josh Adams, lock Adam Beard and Josh Navidi, who moves to No. 8.

Dan Biggar starts at fly-half in place of Gareth Anscombe while Aled Davies comes in for Tomos Williams at scrum-half.

1'

Good afternoon and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Six Nations match between Italy and Wales.

We've just seen Ireland roar back to form with a big win over Scotland in Edinburgh which means Wales can go top of the Six Nations table with two wins from two if they can defeat the Italians in Rome. Kick off is coming up very soon.

1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations 2019 News