Italy have recorded back-to-back wins against Wales for the first time in their history after battling to a 22-15 victory.
After losing in their Six Nations opener to Scotland last week, the Azzurri scooped their first win of the 2025 campaign at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
The hosts led 16-3 going into the second half thanks to Ange Capuozzo’s 20th minute try, with Tommasso Allan kicking a conversion and two penalties.
Their 13-point lead at half-time was their second largest margin ever at the Six Nations – their biggest since leading Scotland 24-10 in 2007.
Wales threatened late on in Rome after Aaron Wainwright scored a try in the 69th minute, with a penalty try then awarded ten minutes later.
But Italy, who were down to 13 players for the final minute following yellow cards picked up by Marco Riccioni and Dino Lamb, heln on for the win.
As a result, they have inflicted Wales’ first defeat in Rome in 18 years.
While it is the first time in the 34th meeting between the two countries that Italy have emerged victories in two successive matches after a closely-fought 24-21 win in Cardiff last year.
It’s now three wins for Italy against Wales in their last four Six Nations clashes.
That is incredibly more victories than they had managed [two] in their first 23 games against them in the tournament.
Meanwhile for Wales, the loss has seen them drop to bottom of the table, having now been defeated in five consecutive matches in all competitions.
And should results go against them this weekend, they could drop to 12th in the World Rugby rankings, the lowest they would have ever sat.
More to follow…