How they rated
JOHNNY MCNICHOLL
Back to see if he could set off a few fireworks in Wales’ attacking game, but it was his aerial skills which stood out early on. It went downhill from there. Blew an opportunity with pass that died on Rees-Zammit and took a heavy bang before break. There were other mistakes.
LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT
A buzz of anticipation every time he had the ball, but Rees
Zammit wouldn’t have thanked McNicholl for low, fading pass with the line beckoning. He did have a couple of dangerous runs but needs to improve his defence and gameawareness. It hasn’t been his tournament.
OWEN WATKIN
Had received praise from attack coach Stephen Jones beforehand, and did his best to merit it with a well-taken try finished with a sharp step. Also, some good defensive interventions. Far from the worst.
WILLIS HALAHOLO
Wales were looking to the Cardiff player to create from 12, but Italy policed him well in the first 40, restricting his time and space. Couldn’t hold on to Dan Biggar’s pass with the Italy defence hopelessly stretched. No impact and was subbed on 47 minutes.
JOSH ADAMS
Involved in the move that led to Watkin’s try and came up with a try-saving moment when he chased back to haul down Monty Ioane with a wonderful tackle. Well-taken try, but indiscipline at end and missed tackle as Italy came through in dying moments.
DAN BIGGAR (C)
His hundredth Wales cap, but it’s an understatement to say the script didn’t play out as he would have wanted. An imprecise pass in a good position summed up Welsh inaccuracy in the first 25 minutes. Biggar came up with decent work in build-up to first try but was unable to truly make mark.
GARETH DAVIES
First start for Wales in 12 months, he flicked out a lot of passes and took one high ball but dropped another and failed to up the tempo.
REPLACEMENTS ITALY REFEREE
Andrew Brace (Ireland).
GARETH THOMAS
He’s improved Wales’ carrying in the front row and there was some useful yardage made from Thomas here. Also put in a few solid tackles.
DEWI LAKE
In a Wales run-on team for the first time, underlining the progress he has made, but didn’t start well with a line-out misfire and then a messed-up tap-penalty. It did get better, with a good counter-ruck, powerful running and a well-taken try that showcased Lake’s strength.
Two possession steals crowned a fine performance.
DILLON LEWIS
Manned the defensive front line in the opening stages, putting in five tackles before some team-mates had put in one, but he couldn’t get his carrying game going and Welsh scrum did hit problems before break. Didn’t appear for the second half.
ADAM BEARD
He’s gone from outcast to becoming one of Pivac’s most trusted picks, starting every Test Wales have played this season. But Wales couldn’t impose themselves at forward and the big man went down with the ship.
ALUN WYN JONES
The 150-cap man, boldly going where no rugby player has gone before. Jones started quietly but upped his effort with runs, offloads and tackles.
Powerless to stop the Italian success, though.
SEB DAVIES
Wales needed a blindside to smash Italian ball-carriers back behind the gain-line.
Davies did well to pull down
Padovani and carried strongly, but he wasn’t the man for this particular assignment. Taken off on 50 minutes.
JOSH NAVIDI
Achieved an early possession steal and followed it up with two more in the second half. There were also a lot of good tackles. He wasn’t to blame for this setback, despite Italy holding sway at breakdown.
TAULUPE FALETAU
Impeccable in defence and upped his carrying game in the second half. Worked hard, covered and grafted but not even he could tip the scales this time.
Roberts (for Lake, 76), W. Jones (for Thomas, 60), Brown (for Lewis 41), Rowlands (for AW Jones, 60), Moriarty (for S Davies, 50), Hardy (for G Davies, 67), Sheedy (for McNicholl, 60), Tompkins (for Halaholo, 47).
Capuozzo; Padovani, Brex, Marin, Ioane; Garbisi, Braley; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ceccarelli, Fuser, Ruzza, Pettinelli, Lamaro, Halafihi.
Replacements: Bigi, Traore, Alongi, Sisi, Cannone, Steyn, Fusco, Zanon.