How Wales rated
CAMERON WINNETT 5
His mix-up with Sam Costelow over a high ball summed up a poor first-half performance by Wales. The Cardiff man put Rio Dyer clear with a lovely pass after the break but was caught out of position once or twice.
Has a high ceiling but remains a work in progress.
JOSH ADAMS 5
This really hasn’t been his Six Nations. The Cardiff wing has been way below his best but has been suffering with a knee issue of late. Tried hard but the ball didn’t come his way.
GEORGE NORTH 6
The 31-year-old will go down as one of Wales’ greatest ever backs and it was a crying shame to see him bow out with a Wooden Spoon. North was the only Welsh back who gave his country some penetration and was generally solid.
One of the very best players of his generation.
NICK TOMPKINS 4
Started well with one good turnover and a big carry but spilt the ball forwards too often while the Wales midfield lacked any sort of penetration. Replaced by Mason Grady who made a big difference
RIO DYER 6
The Dragons wing has been one of his country’s better players. Looked dangerous whenever he got the ball and broke clear in the early stages of the second-half while he was excellent in the air.
SAM COSTELOW 4
Made far too many errors, missing touch three times from penalties, while one cross-kick even went backwards. Nobody can doubt his talent, and the hope is he’ll come out the other end a better player, but clearly isn’t quite up to the standard required yet.
TOMOS WILLIAMS 7
Wales’ best player. Played his heart out and looked dangerous whenever he had the ball. The 29-year-old’s support play was excellent while he was probably the only Wales player who was capable of thinking outside the box.
GARETH THOMAS 5
Thomas had a tough time in the scrum as Wales got on the wrong side of Mathieu Raynal. Ospreys prop worked very hard around the park making seven tackles.
ELLIOT DEE 7
The Dragons hooker has had a fine Six Nations from a personal point of view and he certainly didn’t disgrace himself against the Azzurri despite the defeat. Dee carried hard throughout, claiming a try, and made 11 tackles.
DILLON LEWIS 5
Gave Wales a jackal threat at the breakdown but had a torrid time at the set-piece in the first-half with the Italians gaining dominance at the scrum. Got better after the break but was part of a Wales pack who struggled to get over the gain-line.
DAFYDD JENKINS (C) 5
The Wales captain is one player who can be proud of his efforts over the past couple of months. Jenkins made 11 tackles and provided his side with some much needed lineout ball but in general the Wales pack struggled to impose itself.
ADAM BEARD 4
Gave away a cheap penalty for a neck roll early in the second-half when Wales were on top which handed momentum back to Italy. Wales’ main source of lineout ball but failed to impose himself physically before getting replaced by Will Rowlands on 51 minutes.
ALEX MANN 5
Works very hard but looks underpowered at this level, and was unable to make much of an impact with ball in hand. But the Cardiff man put in a big defensive shift with 13 tackles.
TOMMY REFFELL 7
Wales’ best player throughout the course of the Championship and grafted hard against the Azzurri. The Leicester openside put in 15 tackles and four carries
AARON WAINWRIGHT 6
Worked very hard and has been one of Wales’ better performers over the past couple of months. Made five carries but struggled to get any go forward.
Replacements
Evan Lloyd 5 - Carried well added a physical presence but is a work in progress.
Kemsley Mathias 5 - Scarlets prop carried hard, didn’t leave side down.
Harri O’Connor 5 - Didn’t have much time to make an impact but did nothing wrong.
Will Rowlands 7 - Why wasn’t he starting? Rowlands is Wales’ best front-five forward and he gave them some much needed grunt while he also grabbed a try. Mackenzie Martin 5 - Tried to carry hard but one crucial knock on off the lineout was another momentum killer for Wales. Kieran Hardy 5 - Gave away a cheap penalty when Wales had momentum but was otherwise solid.
Ioan Lloyd 5 - Tried his best to spark play but didn’t have enough time.
Mason Grady 8 - Made an instant impact with a number of explosive carries. Grady gave Wales some much needed go forward and scored a deserved try. Despite only being on the field for circa half an hour he ended the game with the most carries.