Callender on song to steer Wales into third place

WALES ended their Six Nations campaign in style as they brushed aside Italy in Parma behind Alex Callender’s barnstorming performance to claim third place.

The visitors never trailed in their five-try performance and secured back-to-back top three Six Nations finishes for the first-time ever while ensuring that they will be playing in the top tier of the new World XV competition this autumn.

“We made it hard work, but we stuck to our process throughout the whole 80 minutes,” said Callender. “I couldn’t be more proud of the girls, we wanted to take their legs away as soon as we came out, and that is exactly what we did. The World XV is a testament and will test us as a team. We want to be playing against the best teams in the world.”

It was a cagey start in front of a raucous Italian crowd as both sides tried to get a foothold in the game, with Kiera Bevan’s penalty providing the only points of the opening quarter.

Wales then kicked into gear as a move sparked by a quick penalty tap from Bevan was eventually rounded off by flanker Bethan Lewis.

However, the Italians hit back instantly. After regathering the kickoff, the hosts created an immediate chance for Auro Muzzo down the wing who was only denied a try by a sensational cover tackle by Hannah Jones but, as the hosts recycled possession, fly-half Veronica Madia darted over in the corner.

Michela Sillari’s added the conversion before landing a penalty five minutes later to draw the scores level.

But Wales managed to snap the Italians’ momentum just before half-time as Sisilia Tuipulotu crashed over from short range to give the visitors a seven-point lead at the end of a frantic first-half.

After the break, Wales began to tighten their grip as Sioned Harries stretched the lead to 14 with a wellworked try from the back of the maul in the 49th-minute.

Callender added the bonus-point score, finishing a flowing team move.

Kerin Lake finished the job as the replacement scooped up Ffion Lewis’s grubber ten minutes from the end to secure Wales’ first win over the Azzurri in six years.